msdumo

I have 2 hybrid bikes and recently have developed a slight creaking noise when pedaling moderately. I have checked all fasteners and they all seem to be okay.
The quill stems on the handle bars are not loose and appear tight enough. The noise goes away when I pedal with no hands on the handlebar.
So it is either the stem bearings or where the handlebar attaches to the stem that is causing the creak when I pedal and exert a little load on the handlebars.
I was thinking of spraying everything with silicon spray or WD40, wipe it down and hope the noise goes away.
Any advice?

calamarichris

WD40 is water-displacement, not a true lubricant. If you're positive it's coming from the stem/bars, I'd remove the handlebar clamp bolts one at a time and clean time, then with the stem loose, carefully slide the bars over and clean the bar-stem interface (where the stem clamps onto the bars). Slide it back into position, then tighten those bolts to the correct torque in a criss-cross pattern.

But creaks can be tricky. I've spent days trying to track down creaks, and spent money on new chainring bolts, teflon tape, a new bottom bracket, and the creak will end up coming from something stupid, like a rear wheel quick release that just needed a little tightening, or recently a pedal that just needed the threads cleaned and retightened to the correct torque.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Edit: and you can check the headset bearings by standing in front of the bike, squeezing the front brake lever and pushing the bike back and forth. If the headset bearings are loose, you'll feel a little bump/tick.

msdumo

Good advice. Got it done except for the torque part. Will test on my next ride and give you results. Thanks!

bocobiking

If you're positive it's coming from the stem/bars, I'd remove the handlebar clamp bolts one at a time and clean time, then with the stem loose, carefully slide the bars over and clean the bar-stem interface (where the stem clamps onto the bars). Slide it back into position, then tighten those bolts to the correct torque in a criss-cross pattern.

I agree with this, but I would add that you can apply a light coating of grease to the bars where they interface with the stem. I’ve solved many a handlebar creak doing this.

Trakhak

Greasing the interface between the handlebar and stem might eliminate the creak, assuming that neither part is damaged, with the damage being the source of the creak. I've noticed that such creaks seem happen with some of my bikes only under certain conditions of ambient humidity. When the level of humidity changes, the creak disappears.

A bike shop owner with a background in mechanical engineering once told me that handlebar/stem creaks are a consequence of aluminum "twinning," whatever that is.

alcjphil

A picture of the stems in question might lead to better suggestions. Many hybrids have suspension stems that are prone to creaking.

Geepig

The WD40 is quite a good idea, because with noises you can waste huge amounts of time trying to track them down.
So you spray one thing, then test ride for the creak. If the creak goes away, you now know where the problem is and so avoid stripping down parts of your bike needlessly - with the risk of creating a new problem.

msdumo

I removed the handlebars from the stem and removed the stem on both bikes. Cleaned all parts, greased, replaced and check all fasteners.
Went for a ride today and noise is gone.
My forks are suspension types. One bike has covers and is never a problem.
The other has open struts and I keep these clean and apply a very slight film of oil periodically or when I get some noise.
Riding with no hands was silent and was why I focused on the stem and handlebars.