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That one week where every bike had the same weird creak
Last week at the shop, we had five bikes in a row with a bottom bracket creak that sounded like a rusty hinge. The first two took forever to find, but by the third, I figured out the pattern. They were all older aluminum frames with press-fit BBs, and the noise was coming from the frame interfaces, not the bearings. A thin layer of green Loctite 609 on the bearing cups fixed every single one after that. It was one of those rare times where the problem was exactly the same each time, which made the fix feel like a real win. Has anyone else had a run of identical, weird noises that turned out to have a simple common fix?
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phoenix24626d ago
The green Loctite trick is a lifesaver. I had a similar streak last summer with a batch of 2012 era Cannondales that all had that same hollow sounding creak under load. Turned out the carbon seatpost binder was dry, and a dab of normal grease on the wedge face was the fix for all of them. It's wild how one specific year or material type can share the exact same gremlin. But that press-fit BB noise is definitely the worst because it mimics a loose chainring or worn pedal so well. It's satisfying to catch it early though, especially when the customer rolls out totally silent.
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the_lisa3mo ago
Green Loctite 609 is the magic fix for that. We see it all the time on older carbon frames with press fit too, that same exact creak. It's always the interface between the bearing cup and the frame shell, never the bearing itself. A quick clean and that retaining compound makes it dead quiet. Saves so much time once you know the trick.
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