I'm just looking for a bit of advice
Discussion
Hi all, (cue wall of text)
I'm just looking for a bit of advice from the knowledgable folks of PH reference an annoying intermittent creak on my hardtail mountain bike which appears to be coming from the front end somewhere but I'm finding it really hard to pinpoint.
For info I have a Carrera fury (08 I think) the original assembly by halfords was pretty bad but my local bike shop setup most things properly a while ago.
Symptoms
-The creak is there when riding but not when wheeling the bike along
-It's there both when pedalling and coasting along
-It's there when sat down and stood up but disappears when I put my weight over the front of the bike
- I know it's nothing to do with the front disc/ pads rubbing as I removed them rode along and it was still there
-I've tightened the bolt in the top of the headset (I think that's what it's called, sorry in not an expert at these things) as there seemed to be a lot of play in the forks but I can still hear it
Any help or pointers in layman's terms would be very much appreciated as people can hear me coming from a mile away at the moment!!, Thanks in advance!
P.s sorry for any spelling mistakes, I typed the whole thing out on my phone
I'm just looking for a bit of advice from the knowledgable folks of PH reference an annoying intermittent creak on my hardtail mountain bike which appears to be coming from the front end somewhere but I'm finding it really hard to pinpoint.
For info I have a Carrera fury (08 I think) the original assembly by halfords was pretty bad but my local bike shop setup most things properly a while ago.
Symptoms
-The creak is there when riding but not when wheeling the bike along
-It's there both when pedalling and coasting along
-It's there when sat down and stood up but disappears when I put my weight over the front of the bike
- I know it's nothing to do with the front disc/ pads rubbing as I removed them rode along and it was still there

-I've tightened the bolt in the top of the headset (I think that's what it's called, sorry in not an expert at these things) as there seemed to be a lot of play in the forks but I can still hear it

Any help or pointers in layman's terms would be very much appreciated as people can hear me coming from a mile away at the moment!!, Thanks in advance!
P.s sorry for any spelling mistakes, I typed the whole thing out on my phone
Chasing creaks is one of the most frustrating jobs in cycling! It could be anything.
From what you say, I'd remove the bars and stem, make sure the interfaces between them are spotless, then reassemble carefully. I've known stem bolts/clamps to creak horribly for no apparent reason...
From what you say, I'd remove the bars and stem, make sure the interfaces between them are spotless, then reassemble carefully. I've known stem bolts/clamps to creak horribly for no apparent reason...
Thanks for the reply, I'll have a look when I get home, it says 'inside cartridge system' on the top, are they easy to take apart and get in to? I'd like to do it myself so that I learn how these things work... It just such a loud creak which comes and goes, it scared an old guy just now! D: currently putting headphones in as a temporary measure to drown it out :P
Tyy said:
Thanks for the reply, I'll have a look when I get home, it says 'inside cartridge system' on the top, are they easy to take apart and get in to? I'd like to do it myself so that I learn how these things work... It just such a loud creak which comes and goes, it scared an old guy just now! D: currently putting headphones in as a temporary measure to drown it out :P
TBH, this:http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
...will explain everything a lot better than I ever could. Very good, easy to follow instructions. Find instructions appropriate for removing/refitting stems and handlebars.
From you you describe, the "inside cartridge system" bit sounds like the headset/headset bearings. You've no need to delve into that yet

Jimbo. said:
TBH, this:
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
...will explain everything a lot better than I ever could. Very good, easy to follow instructions. Find instructions appropriate for removing/refitting stems and handlebars.
From you you describe, the "inside cartridge system" bit sounds like the headset/headset bearings. You've no need to delve into that yet
Thanks so much for your help Jimbo, I really appreciate it http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help
...will explain everything a lot better than I ever could. Very good, easy to follow instructions. Find instructions appropriate for removing/refitting stems and handlebars.
From you you describe, the "inside cartridge system" bit sounds like the headset/headset bearings. You've no need to delve into that yet

I had similar and after a process of elimination and doing a bit of reading turned out it was the spacers on the steerer tube of the forks. Replaced the oem 'carbon'esque' plastiky ones with some aluminium ones (albeit a touch blingy) and did the job.
It's also worth having a strip down of the headset and associated assembly, degunk everything and regrease/replace bearings as appropriate etc
As has been mentioned you can spend your life chasing creaks on bikes. Always find as soon as I nail one another slightly different creak takes it's place.
It's also worth having a strip down of the headset and associated assembly, degunk everything and regrease/replace bearings as appropriate etc
As has been mentioned you can spend your life chasing creaks on bikes. Always find as soon as I nail one another slightly different creak takes it's place.
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