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My bike makes noises. Please fix it! 

 

Realistic expectations-

First, if you would like a shop to run down the noises in your bike and fix them, it could become an expensive endeavor, even if they can't get rid of it. As you'll below, it can be a very time-consuming task! 

Before getting into finding and eliminating noises, it's important to realize that modern bikes are not the silent, stealthy machines they were back in the day. Nearly all of the improvements to the modern bike, including more-aerodynamic wheels with fewer spokes, dramatically-improved shifting and disc brakes, add a fair amount of background noises and clicks. Indexed-shifting in particular has created a lot of clicking noises, sometimes more-prominent under heavier load, sometimes different gears.

And rider weight... there's no question that someone 6'2 and 210 pounds is capable of bringing out noises on a bike that's silent for someone 5'8 and 160. But for many noises, the information below should be of help. But again, there are some noises that are simply beyond the ability of a shop to get rid of, because they're essentially built into the system. 

Keep in mind many noises could be eliminated if bikes weren't designed to be as repairable as possible. Look at all the different items that you can separately replace on a bike. Cranks, for example, could be quieter if they were built with fewer pieces, but when something wore out, you'd have to replace the entire unit instead of, say, just a chainring or bottom bracket. There are clearly compromises that have to be made to have a bike that's serviceable, reliable, efficient, quiet and a good value.  --Mike Jacoubowsky, Partner, Chain Reaction Bicycles

A few basics first-

The first thing you need to realize that there may be multiple noise sources, and if you bring in your bike to have a mechanic check it out, don't get too annoyed when he/she starts finding various things that you're positively sure are not the noises you were hearing. You've got to take things one step at a time and rule out everything you can. Also, if you're used to a bike from yesteryear that ran silently, the gospel truth is that you'll never get a modern bike to run that quietly, at least not one with gears. The very things that have been done to improve gear shifting (primarily to the cranks and rear cogs, where a lot of machining has been done and sometimes even pins riveted in) result in quite a bit more drivetrain noise these days. Even the move to more gears, requiring ever-narrower spacing between sprockets and cogs, has been a factor.

  • Noises frequently sound like they're coming from someplace other than their actual source. This is because just about any material under tension tends to be an excellent transmitter of noise and vibration, including chains, spokes and even the frame itself.
     
  • Many noises aren't even coming from the bike, but rather accessories that are attached to the bike. A very common non-bike source of noise is the interface between a cleated shoe (the type that click into the pedals) and the pedal. Whether it's LOOK, Time, Speedplay or SPD, this can be a definite source of noise, which is why our mechanics will frequently ask that you bring in your shoes along with your bike.

    Another source of noise are the very shoes themselves!  Recently we've had two cases of noise that seemed to be coming from the drivetrain but was, in fact, coming from loose cleat hardware embedded in the shoe.  The solution was simple...we glued down (using silicon sealant or bathtub caulk) the loose fittings.
     
  • When describing noises, you need to categorize them as either high-frequency "clicks" or low-frequency "clunks." This is very important, since they indicate very different potential noise sources! Also note whether you actually feel something happening or just hear it.
     
  • Noises are not always an indication of impending trouble. The rear cassette (or freewheel on older bikes) will vary in loudness through its life...in general, being somewhat noisier when new and quieter as they age (and the internal parts become a bit less violent in their springiness).
     
  • There will be some gear combinations where a certain amount of grinding or scraping noise is unavoidable. Typically, on a 2-chainring (double) bike, this will be in the small front/small rear gear combination, as well as large front/large rear. On a 3-chainring bike, it will come from the middle front/small rear, small front and 2 smallest rear cogs, as well as large/large.

Now we're ready to take things on one at a time!

Handlebar, especially where the brake levers attach to it. This is extremely common, on new bikes as well as old. Keep in mind that the handlebar is constantly flexing and, especially on road bikes, the part that the lever mounts on is a veritable noise-magnet. The easiest way to tell if this is a noise source is to try flexing the bars around and listening for noise, and then loosen the screws that hold the brake levers to the bar and try again. If the noise is still there with the levers loose, then that's not likely the source. When re-tightening, make sure the threads on the bolts are lubed!  

Stem. Make sure the binder bolts that tighten the handlebar to the stem are well-lubed and tight. Also, pull off the stem and lightly grease the surfaces that contact the fork (or, on an older bike with a "quill" stem, the wedge that contacts the inside of the fork), and especially be certain the you grease the underside of the allen bolts, since that interface itself can be a source of noise. It can sometimes help to put a thin layer of grease on the part of the stem that grips the handlebar.

STI Road Bike brake levers.  Check out our separate article on this topic.  Applies only to 1998-and-later Ultegra and 1999-and-later '105 equipment. 

Cranks. Check to make sure that not only are your chainring bolts (the five bolts that hold the chainring to the crank) tight, but that they are lubed as well. This means backing them out, one at a time, and applying either a very heavy oil (Phil Tenacious, for example) or a lightweight grease (just about anything marketed for bikes) to both the threaded surfaces of the nut & bolt as well as the areas where they contact the chainrings. Also, especially if you're using aluminum chainring bolts (which we no longer recommend for most people), check them carefully to make sure they haven't developed cracks. They will fail eventually (aluminum just isn't strong enough for long life in this application) and, prior to completely breaking, they will make pretty severe ticking noises.

On newer "pipe-style" cranks (as found on nearly-all bikes over $500) the axle needs to be lubed where the left arm slides onto it, as well as all bolts. Tru-Vativ, SRAM, Bontrager, Shimano & FSA cranks should be tightened to spec with a torque wrench.

For older square-taper cranks, remove the crank arms and check to make sure there's no distortion of the square-cut surfaces. You're looking for any rounding of the edges where the crank arm mates with the spindle. Also, make sure somebody didn't apply a bunch of grease to the flats...this is not recommended, since the crank's machined surfaces will "ride" on the grease instead of making strong contact with the bottom bracket spindle, and this will rapidly accelerate wear of the mating surfaces (please note that, on this point, there is great disagreement on the 'net, while most experienced bike shop mechanics insist that the surfaces not be greased).

Pedals. A great number of creaking bikes can be traced to pedals that either aren't quite as tight as they should be, or haven't been removed & regreased in a very long time. Pedals need to generally be installed a bit tighter than most believe. The dangers of a too-loose pedal are not just added noise, but movement of the threads which can damage the crank. In addition, the sprung part of a clipless pedal (the movable part that snaps around the shoe's cleat) can be noisy if it's dry or worn out. Try some lube first, but old pedals may simply need to be replaced.

Bottom brackets. With the advent of cartridge-bearing bottom brackets, noise problems are more common here than before. Two things are going on...first, you have a design where your bearings are sitting in a cartridge, and that cartridge sits on top of the axle. Problem is, the axle flexes, changing the amount of contact between it and the bearing, which causes clicking noises. The other problem that shows up with cartridge bottom brackets comes from the interface between the cartridge shell and its bearing. This problem can sometimes be alleviated by removing the bearing from the shell and using anti-seize compounds on the contact points.

Wheels. We've had many customers who were absolutely, positively certain that the creaking noises were from the bottom bracket. Turns out quite often to be the front quick release! Took awhile to isolate it, but sure enough, that was the source of the noise...it just had to be reinstalled a bit tighter and the noise went away.  We had another customer who'd been complaining about noises on her bike for some time, and we just couldn't run them down, even after pretty much tearing her bike apart and reassembling it.  And then, on one of my Tuesday/Thursday rides up King's Mountain Road, I just happened to catch up to her riding up the hill and, thankfully, the noise was there, quite audibly so, and it was quickly apparent it was from the spokes in the rear wheel.  They were "unloading" as they approached the ground as they rotated, and then regained tension as they moved away.  We added just a bit more tension and all seems to be fine now (and Laura, if you're reading this and hearing noises again, please let me know!).

Spoke reflectors can be another cause of wheel noise, especially if it comes and goes as you go through corners.  Make sure the reflector is solidly wedged into the spokes (which usually requires sliding it up towards the rim as far as it will go). 

Saddles.  A BIG source of noise trouble, and frequently saddle noises will mimic crank noises since both tend to occur at the exact same frequency (same part of the pedal stroke).  Sometimes the noises occur from the saddle rail/seatpost interface, in which case you should disassemble the seatpost, grease all threaded surfaces and the underside of the head of each bolt, and reassemble.  Also put a bit of grease on the saddle rails themselves, where the seatpost clamps onto them. Rarely, the noise comes from the part of the rail that goes into the saddle itself.   We haven't found a permanent cure for this, but dropping some oil into the affected areas helps for awhile.

Freewheels & cassettes (the rear cogs).  Unless you've got a single-speed trackbike, your bike has gears and a freewheel in the back that allow your wheel to move while your pedals remain stationary.  We call this "freewheeling"...in the old days it was simply coasting.

The method used to allow this involve ratchets in the rear wheel mechanism...a very simple device that allows for free movement in only one direction, allowing you to either coast or pedal without needing to engage any levers etc.  These ratchets are very much like what you'd find in any tool set, and when you spin them, they make noise, usually at the rate of about 18 or so clicks per revolution of the wheel.  In some designs, the ratchets are quite noisy, either because they're located closer to the outside of the hub mechanism, or because they're extra-strong.  In other hubs, these ratchets are very quiet, perhaps because they're located further inboard or packed in heavier grease.

Often, a freewheel that started its life fairly quietly will become noisier over time, and this is rarely cause for concern.  In general, a noisy ratchet is a happy ratchet, provided that you don't notice it binding if you try to turn it by hand.   Please note also that the tone of the noise can change depending upon what gear you're in, even when you're not pedaling.  This is because the chain is exerting a pull from one side of the rear cogs or the other, depending upon what gear it's sitting on, and this affects how the bearings and ratchets are carrying their load.   This is perfectly normal.

Indeed, the scariest of freewheels is one that has suddenly decided to go quiet.   This may be an indication of ratchet failure or near-failure (there are two different ratchets in each freewheel, so one can fail and the freewheel will still function for a time), and it would be wise to bring the bike in to the shop to get checked out.

Frames. Some frame designs use elastomers (rubberized bumpers and vibration dampeners), and since these are essentially moving parts, they require lubrication and are susceptible to drying out, especially if ridden in the rain. Also, anything that clamps or mounts onto a frame can be a suspect, including the the bearing race that sits on the front fork.