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When pedaling with a decent amount of force a very loud creaking sound can be heard coming from the bottom bracket area (it is very loud when standing on the pedals). It makes a creaking noise on each foot's down stroke. So with both feet pedaling equals two creaks per full revolution. If I unclip either foot and pedal with only one foot, a creaking noise will be heard once per revolution (on the down stroke of the pedaling foot). If I pedal softly, no noise is heard.

Things that I have done so far, yet the problem remains:

  • Changing pedals, regreasing their threads and making sure they are tightened.
  • Tightening chaining bolts.
  • Replacing the actual crankset.
  • Taking the crankset out, cleaning all the old grease and regreasing.
  • Making sure the crank arm is tightened correctly.

Is there anything left besides it being the bottom bracket causing the problem? I haven't had a chance to inspect that yet because it's a pressfit and I don't have the proper tools to take it out and reinsert it.

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    If all you've done is tighten the chainring bolts, I would suggest the further step of full disassembly and greasing of the bolts + sleeve nuts. Worked for me once.
    – MPoirier
    Commented Sep 14, 2015 at 16:26
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    second chainring bolt cleaning.
    – user26705
    Commented Jun 26, 2016 at 17:12

9 Answers 9

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Turns out it was the rear skewer of all things causing the creaking! It seemed like it was from the bottom bracket area because it was in sync with my pedalling but I put a dab of grease near the contact points of the skewers and the noise is gone.

So if anyone else is having similar problems, check your skewers first because it's a lot easier than taking your cranks and bottom bracket apart.

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  • Ha! I just posted that for another problem that I had the same issue. Grease didn't solve mine thought. Had to crank down on them. Out of curiosity who made the wheels?
    – user26705
    Commented Jun 26, 2016 at 17:20
  • Wheels are Reynolds, but I'm running aftermarket titanium skewers, I think it's a problem with the design of the skewers and not the wheels.
    – suskie
    Commented Aug 9, 2016 at 2:36
  • You might not even need to grease them. Last time I had creaking in time with my pedalling, cleaning the dirt from the rear dropouts fixed it.
    – David Richerby
    Commented Feb 11, 2018 at 10:43
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Frame damage (e.g. cracks) can cause creaking too. Since you said it happens while standing, that eliminates the seat post + saddle (which are often causes of creaking which are attributed to the bottom bracket). You've also eliminated the crankset+pedals.

Pressfit systems are notorious for having creaks, so it's likely the bottom bracket (to the point where its considered "normal" in some cases). Given how much tools for dealing with pressfit cost, it's probably going to mean going to a shop.

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    I will say that I have seen (or heard) a bike that sounded like a front headset problem when it was actually the seatpost that was dirty and ungreased. Friend is a sprinter. We took it to a LBS and that's what they said and did. It actually worked. Evidentally the frame (2015 Specialized Tarmac) twists just enough to make the long seatpost move against the seat tube. Call me a liar, and I would too but every so often I now take the seatpost when it starts to creak. Little grease and that's that.
    – user26705
    Commented Jun 26, 2016 at 17:16
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It took me 4 days to realize my "BB creaking" was actually my 1/8th halflink chain "stretching" :/

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Had exactly the same thing. I took off the chainring and cranks and regreased and tightened everything. Still creaking. Took off the pedals and refreshed and cleaned them up and tightened them back on, still creaking. Eventually I found it was the rear derailleur hanger bolt was slightly loose and was creaking against the frame, grease and tighten and noise is gone, relief. Hope this helps someone.

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I tried everything atound the bottom crank area. Drove me crazy. In the end it was the derraileur hanger fixing. Greased and tightened them and creaking gone. Sanity restored

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Amazing. Been trying to get rid of creaking for weeks now tried everything but the rear hanger mech. Removed it, bit of grease, sorted!!

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Yes, it's the bottom bracket. I replaced mine, and there is no more creaking. The sealed bracket itself looks and sounds fine when you examine it. It's only under full pressure while riding that it creaks.

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The proper tools shouldn't cost more than £60. If you think you'll be needing them in the future then it may be worth while investing in them as £60 is roughly the cost of having a shop do it twice.

If you don't want to buy the correct tools you can knock the bearings out easily enough with a block of wood and a hammer. Considering this is likely the source of the creaking then I wouldn't worry too much about damaging the BB further during removal. Reinstalling the new BB can be done with a length of threaded rod, some large washers and some nuts.

Do you know which style of pressfit BB you have? PF30, BB86 etc? You should be able to find the tools you need locally.

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I had a similar problem on my Ridley Noah fast and it was actually the head set on the front handle bar that needed greasing. Once it was greased there was no more creaking noise.

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  • Hi, welcome to bicycles. The question is specifically about the bottom bracket, and it seems pretty clear that it's not anything else.
    – DavidW
    Commented May 18, 2022 at 13:33

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