Clicks and creaks checklist

Right, we have had repeated threads about clicks and creaks on a bike. I think we should consolidate all the things you could check out into on single checklist that we can refer noobs to.

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Most people say that they think the clicks/creaks come from the bottom bracket area but often it turns out that this wasn't the case so you should really check out all the things on this list.

I'm gonna start with:

• Tighten crank bolts
  
• Tighten chainring bolts
  
• Grease chainring bolts threads
  
• Check spoke tension
  
• Try less chain tension
  
• Grease crank tapers
  
• Check pedals aren't too tight
  
• Grease pedal threads
  
• If unsealed bearings in pedals or hubs, take apart and regrease
  
• Tighten bottom bracket cups
  
• Grease bottom bracket cup threads
  
• Tighten handlebar stem interface
  
• Remove seatpost, clean, reinsert
  
• Remove saddle from seatpost, clean, reinsert.
  
• Lightly lube the front bolt if you ride a Brooks (drove kam nuts for a few days)
  
• Remove bars from stem, clean, reinsert.
  
• Clean cleats and pedals, possibly lube surface (Look are notorious for squeaks)
  
• Check your shoes. KDence' unidentified creak turned out to be a crack in the sole plate
  
• Check for cracks, cracks are creaky. Driveside dropout and the headtube are common places
  
• How old is the chain in relation to cog and chainring?
  
• Have you just changed something?
  
• Has a torque wrench ever gone near your bike? I.e. are all the parts (particularly the crank) at the correct torque?
  
• Replace pedals
  
• Replace BB
  
  
  
  
  

Please post mechanical issues to check out in this thread and I will update the list.

Remove seatpost, clean, reinsert.
Remove saddle from seatpost, clean, reinsert.
Remove bars from stem, clean, reinsert.
Clean cleats and pedals, possibly lube surface (Look are notorious for squeaks)
How old is the chain in relation to cog and chainring?
Have you just changed something?
Has a torque wrench ever gone near your bike?
Are you living in Dalston, work in media and the last time you rode a bike was a foot-high front-pedaling' 3-wheeler?

Surprised your fingers aren't creaking hippy, or was that post farmed out to the dwarf-pool?

1. replace BB
   
2. take bike to west beers, to little effect
   
3. take bike to LBS, have them cover it in grease
   
4. fit new cranks
   
5. take bike back to LBS
   
6. seek refuge in hard drugs to drown out the clicking. the constant clicking.
   

Get an ipod, rack that shit up to 11.

my starting point takes a while to work through

1. Check your shoes. My unidentified creak turned out to be a crack in my sole plate.
   

grease pedal spindles.
try less chain tension.

1. lightly lube the front bolt if you ride a brooks. drove me nuts for a few days...
   

basically build your bike better.

I know you said clean cleats and pedals, but you might want to add swapping pedals. I figured out the problem was my SPD when I swapped back to clips (the cleaning and replacing didn't solve it and we all probably have a spare pair of pedals lying around).

1. Check bike for mice or other small rodents living in your frame.
   

List updated.

Keep 'em coming.

tension of spokes

also spoke card silly but true
(i dont mind admiting that there was an anoying click that turned out to be my spoke card being loose on one corner and slapping against the spoke) it took a little while to realise what it was

Ha ha!

1. Check bike for mice or other small rodents living in your frame.
   

Check and tighten (if needed) pedal arms/bolts/whatever they're called.

If unsealed bearings in pedals of hubs, take apart and regrease.

Also, check nothing is grinding from over tensioned pedals - drove me mad until i greased and lossened a bit.

To be totally pedantic . . . use the right tool for the right job. If you don't have the right tool, ask to borrow one. Your life will be loads simpler and your nuts will remain in tact! ;)

be aware time atac's squeak like bastards.

Check for cracks, cracks are creaky. Driveside dropout and the headtube are common places.

tension of spokes

Just noticed clicking coming from my wheel after truing it a bit. Does that mean too tight?

Wheels still not true, taking it to my LBS tomorrow. Wish I could do it myself, but it just caused me two hours of frustration and a clicking wheel.

List updated. Any more?

God, my track bike creaks so much. Most when I am settig off, standing up and putting lots of force onto the headest. Pretty sure its the stem, bars but its a real nightmare. Sometimes the wheels also creak and the BB. I put it down to it being new and aluminium

Take out all the chainring bolts and grease up all their threadings and put em back on.

My left knee is creaking