Noise protection: How to keep your bike running without creaking and creaking
Jeanette Wunderl
· 03.09.2019
Noises on the bike are a fun killer. Who hasn't experienced it: the cracking noise with every hearty pedal stroke can put your own nerves and those of your fellow cyclists to the test. Some unwanted noises are easy to switch off, such as the squeaking of a dry chain, while other sources are not so easy to quiet - brake noises, for example. However, it is often not even clear where the cracking noise is coming from. The lighter and larger the frame, the louder the noise is transmitted and the more difficult it is to localise. The first step in localising the source of the noise is the sound check (below). The following guide will help you to localise the noise more precisely.
As a rule, the unloved accompaniment occurs because components move jerkily on top of each other. This can be caused by insufficient preload forces, a lack of lubrication or play between components. Basically, all interfaces on the bike can be considered when troubleshooting. The brakes also cause vibrations.
Many noises can be eliminated with the tricks in this workshop.
SOUNDCHECK - FROM SOUND TO CAUSE
- Rattling - loose parts on the wheel
- Cracking - bottom bracket, cranks, pedals, derailleur hanger, tension axle/quick release loose, crack in aluminium
- Creaking - pedal plates, saddle frame
- Squeaking - chain or derailleur pulleys
- Crackling - crack in the carbon fibre
Aids: These lubricants, pastes and special solutions help to immobilise the bike.
Assembly grease
For stationary parts. A tough, pressure-resistant grease whose main task is to separate components from each other, prevent damage and contact corrosion and keep water out. Also useful as a sealing layer before the actual bearing seal. Practical: The assembly paste from Shimano comes with a brush. Can be used for all types of screw connections.
Bearing grease
Minimises friction in rotating parts, especially for relubricating ball and plain bearings. However, the requirements on the bike are not very high, as the bearings rotate slowly and the temperatures are low.
Carbon assembly paste
For jammed parts. Increases the friction between components and thus protects carbon tubes from damage caused by constrictions. This is because the required torque drops by around 40 % with the use of carbon pastes. For handlebar/stem and seat post/frame connections.
penetrating oil
Penetrates narrow crevices and provides short-term peace and quiet.
Medium-strength screw adhesive
For securing small screw connections such as on brake discs, derailleur hangers or bearing bolts on joints.
Torque spanner
Torque spanners help to tighten the bolts on the bike correctly - this supports a quiet ride and protects light, sensitive material, especially carbon.
Special solutions
The bearing seats of carbon frames are rarely cylindrical. "We've even seen trumpet shapes," says Norbert Köhn from Reset Engineering. Series components cannot always compensate for this. This is why Reset offers shells with oversize dimensions. The elastic bearing shells made of glass fibre-reinforced polyamide have an oversize of 2.5 tenths of a millimetre as standard, but other dimensions are also possible. If it doesn't just creak, but rattles because the components have excessive tolerances, Reset has a second product in its programme that can be used to overcome small gaps of up to 0.15 mm. "Well done, it holds really well," says Köhn. If it rattles even worse, conventional two-component epoxy adhesives can also be a solution.
You can find this article in BIKE 12/2018. You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
