Thread started by Creative Thing at 08.13.09 - 12:37 pm

I can't trouble shoot my creaky stem.
It's an over sized (OS) stem attached to an OS aluminum road handlebar.
I have tried a shim of sorts, using a rubber strip from an old tube.
The thing still creaks when I ride.

Anybody have experience with this issue?
Wots the solution?

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put a bit of waterproof grease where the contact point is.



mmaceda
08.13.09 - 12:47 pm

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that is, the contact point at the clamp and bar



mmaceda
08.13.09 - 12:47 pm

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i had the same problem with aluminum bars. you may want to look into getting a proper shim. otherwise, the grease should do the trick.



tortuga_veloce
08.13.09 - 12:54 pm

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Check everything. Check the the headset, fork, wheel, hub, etc. The creak might be from somewhere else since you probably eliminated the stem/bar connection when you used rubber shims.

I use to have a creak from the front end that I couldn't find. Thought it was in the steerer tube/stem/bar connection but nothing I did would fix it. Thought it was the fork and replaced it but it didn't help. By chance I was at a bike shop one day and figured I'd ask since I was stumped. The wrench took one look and he said it was the hub, it was loose.

Moral is creaks are so hard to diagnose. Once you eliminated what you think it is, try other sources.

PS
Check your saddle and seatpost too.



sc_nomad
08.13.09 - 1:04 pm

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Many thanks, folks.
The grease worked its magic.
After I coated the touching parts and put it back together, it still creaked a little. Then, 30 seconds later, the creaks were gone.
Woo hoo!



Creative Thing
08.13.09 - 10:49 pm

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Who saids you can't teach an old dog new tricks?



User1
responding to a comment by Creative Thing
08.14.09 - 10:27 am

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clean it, grease the threads, and check other places. i've had people complain about "creaking bottom brackets" to find out their seat rails are the culprit



sshagy
08.14.09 - 4:08 pm

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