Witterings

My bike makes an occasional deep squeak when I adjust position and haven't got a clue were it's coming from ... is there any way to narrow it down.

I guess the areas it's going to be from are either seat, handlebars / stem or bottom bracket, I've tried to be aware of if I'm just moving my body in the seat and not any more pressure on the BB or the handlebars if it does it but I can't really tell and it's hard to "make" it happen as it's not all the time.

If anybody knows on any formal ways of identifying or eliminating where it's from would be much appreciated.

GrainBrain

Good luck, any place where two parts mate together is suspect! Try maintenance on the headset, that's a great place for squeaks to hide. Some light lube and retightening of your saddle to seatpost area?

GeezyRider 

You can narrow the source down a little bit by determining if the squeak occurs only when pedaling and not when you are coasting.

Lazyass

Or when you're sitting on the saddle or standing on the pedals. If it's only when seated it's probably the seatpost clamp or saddle rail clamp. The first moment I hear a squeak I stand up and see if it still squeaks.

If it squeaks regardless of my position I pull over and tighten the rear wheel skewer. 50% of the time for me that's it.

bruce19

I always start with the saddle.

Witterings

I think it probably is the saddle and I guess most likely the saddle rail clamp but everything on it's tight as I#ve altered the saddle quite a bit to get the right angle and made sure it's tightened up fully when done.

Is spraying it with GT85 / WD40 a good idea???

I'm guessing putting that on the seat post clamp's probably not a good idea??

meerzistar

Are you sure its a squeak and not a creak. Aluminum seems to creak more/less. Even when parts are torqued down adequately . Over torquing fasteners might even make it creak more? It seems to be true with the lighter more rigid metals. Sounds also resonates faster and may sound louder in metals like aluminum. I dont recall low quality bikes making some of the pings and creaks high quality bikes make. I always accepted it as "normal" to have occasional creaking. As long as its not in my bones I'm fine with it.

Witterings

Much better description than I used yes definitely more of a creak than a squeak ..... I do have a problem though telling of it's the bike or my bones

rgconner

Look for the mouse droppings.

Tbobx

Kedosto

desconhecido 

I had a clicking when riding my Cannondale. Damn, I looked at everything and couldn't figure out what it was. It only happened at high cadence (high for me, anyway) and seemed to be in time with the crank. Couldn't figure it out, click, click, click. Finally, while watching my crank looking for the click, rather than looking at the downtube shifters where I should have been looking, I noticed that the little plastic doohickie that was on the end of the toe strap was slapping against the toe clip on every revolution. Clipless pedals and new shoes -- problem solved. But, that's another story.

TrojanHorse

If it's a carbon bike it can be a real PITB to isolate the source... for me things that have creaked include the rear skewer (thought the bike was going to assplode!), the seat post wanted more fiber grip, the chainring spider bolts need snugging...

meerzistar

I listened to my creaky crank from Brampton to Port credit. It could also be an indication that a refresh is around the corner. Over the long weekend thats what I plan to do, cranks and headset. A couple dabs of grease where the arms lock on will save a few squeaks later down the road. Those are big squeakers if the surfaces dry out.

Paul Barnard

Here's my technique. Pedal in a cadence and conditions that cause the squeak. Remove hands from bars or just put the very tips of a finger on there if you feel safer doing that. Still squeaking? Not the headset or stem. Hold onto the bars, stand and pedal. Still squeaking, it's either the bottom bracket, pedals or wheels. If it goes away when you coast it's the bottom bracket or pedals. But more than likely when you stand and pedal with your hands on the bars, the squeaking will go away. At least for me the culprit has ALWAYS been the seat.

Witterings

I think is a good / logical way to approach but the problem is I can't "make" it happen, it does seem to be every time I move in the seat BUT that always virtually goes hand in hand with some extra pressure on the BB / bars and why I'm having so much difficulty tracing it.

That said I am 80% sure it's the seat now, I was going to have a look at over the weekend and see if I can induce the sound by pushing down / lifting / twisting the seat with my hands when I'm stood next to the bike rather than on it and try tightening everything up and see what that does..

Paul Barnard

Assume it is your seat then. Some may disagree, but this has worked for me. Loosen the seat up pretty good. Liberally apply spray lubricant everywhere the rails and the clamp connect. Tighten back up really tight. Wipe off excess. Enjoy squeak free bike!

Wanderer

Is it a leather seat? If so, try working some wax under rivets with a stiff brush.