My Mountain Bike Makes An Unhappy Creaking/clacking Sound When I Pedal. Why, And Is This Uber-fatal?

It doesn't happen if I just spin the wheels by hand, it doesn't happen just when moving the crank by hand. It doesn't even happen pedalling lightly at low gear. This only happens when I stand to pedal or when I'm in a higher gear. The noise gets worse and happens more often per pedal when there's a lot of resistance, ie. switching rapidly to a high gear, climbing a steep hill, standing and starting from cold. I've already tightened my seat and pedals.

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7 Comments »

  • MtBikr said:

    The noise you hear, based on your description, is most likely a worn out bottom bracket. They (BB’s) don’t last forever and being is comes and goes with the load on the pedals, the bottom bracket appears to be the problem.

    # 4 February 2010 at 2:37 am
  • Harry P said:

    Bottom bracket could be the reason, you can check by holding the crank at the end where it joins the bottom bracket and wiggling it up and down or back and forward. If it moves the BB is worn. If not it might be something simpler. You mention there is no sound in low gear but that it is bad in high gear. It could just be that the chain is rubbing on the front derailleur. Try adjusting the front gears out a little and see if this helps.

    # 4 February 2010 at 4:52 am
  • Transitional Species said:

    my road bike made loud horrifying noises when the bottom bracket went bad. i couldn’t feel any play in the BB except in one position, so check for play while slowly rotating the pedals through 360 degs.
    another road bike made loud creaking and clacking because the head tube was cracked in two. i did not notice because the steer tube held it together.
    get a bike mechanic to check it out. it won’t cost much, and might save your life.

    # 4 February 2010 at 9:30 am
  • hands.ad said:

    It could also be a bad pedal, I just had to replace one due to a click-click at the top of each pedal stroke.

    # 4 February 2010 at 2:32 pm
  • Brendan S G said:

    Like others have stated, worn out or loose bottom bracket is usually the cause of this.

    # 4 February 2010 at 7:29 pm
  • Doug said:

    Worn out / loose bottom bracket, or the cranks arms might be worn or loose.
    Thanks where I would start :)

    # 5 February 2010 at 12:48 am
  • Tommy Hollenbaugh said:

    Have you checked your spokes?

    # 5 February 2010 at 4:47 am

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