Originally Posted by
MoAlpha
Hey, I just posted this in the mechanics forum. Anyone here have ideas?
I have standard, modern, Shimano "cups" threaded into a titanium shell on my commuting bike. All parts are relatively new. Since installation, the BB has gotten creaky every few months and responded to torquing back to spec, but no longer. I tried a heavy application of blue thread locker and then about three wraps of PTFE tape (cups still screwed in easily) when that didn't work. The tape helped, but didn't fix it.
What should I try now, more tape? Is there anything else?
Can you duplicate the noise in the shop? Try turning the bike upside down, put the pedals in the horizontal position and lean on them with both hands. Rotate the crank 180 degrees and try again.
Does it creak when out of the saddle? Saddle and seatpost creaks can try to frame the bb.
fwiw when my bb creaked on my old Shimano 6600 i just slathered everything with grease and it's quiet since then. I've never put threadlocker on a bb cup but I do use a little on the bolts holding the rings.