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tjbelge
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Headset creaking
06/09/14 at 11:15pm
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So on my 07' Specialized FSR I am getting this awful, and loud popping/creaking sound when I either hammer down on the front brakes, and/or when landing a jump with a bias to the front fork to take the initial blow on larger jumps.  My thoughts are that either the original rockshox recon fork is dying on me, or the headset is not seated properly possibly the crown on the fork isn't for the right headset?
  
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49erRider
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #1 - 06/10/14 at 12:28am
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Not trying to be a smart a$$, but did you check and see if the headset was tight?
  
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Banjopickin
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #2 - 06/10/14 at 12:43am
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49erRider wrote on 06/10/14 at 12:28am:
Not trying to be a smart a$$...


yes he was... Smiley

Squeeze the front brake tight and rock the bike forward and backward. If the headsets loose you'll feel play, especially if you rub your fingers around the lower and/or upper race.

Mystery noises are a pain. If the noise is coming from or after impacts check hubs, brake caliper flexing and rubbing, bottom brackets, seat post clamp not being tight, stem bolts...

There's a lot it could be.
« Last Edit: 06/10/14 at 12:44am by Banjopickin »  
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Advocat wrote on 08/22/13 at 5:16pm:
...packin some Chub in the back of the pick-up.


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tjbelge
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #3 - 06/10/14 at 1:13am
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Headset is tight, all wheel and braking systems are up to par, everything is tightened to german specs (goodentight).  Its a very mysterious,and concerning noise its clearly audible from the lower races/upper crown of the fork area.  Its a odd one for sure I am usually pretty capible of figuring out these sort of things, but I cant seem to shake this one, Ive gone through and taken the whole headset apart, and checked to be sure everything was in good shape and properly lubed, I also checked the fork legs to be sure they were properly/evenly torqued Im clueless? I plan to upgrade the fork at some point so I might just cross my fingers and hope that the fork or headset doesn't fail before that day come.
  
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sager
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #4 - 06/10/14 at 11:38am
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How are you sure it's up front.  Creaks can be deceiving.  I've had plenty that seem like a fork and turn out to be a seatpost clamp.
  
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tjbelge
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #5 - 06/10/14 at 1:58pm
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I suppose it could be coming from other places but it only happens in the special circumstances when I have all my weight plus the force of a landing or heavy braking, I checked the seat-post this morning and put a new clamp on just in case, it would be awesome, and strange if thats what the solution is. The sound is more of a crack or pop too so its very audible It might be worthwhile to call up cane-creek and get a new lower crown I know that if those arn't right you wont notice any "play" but under loading they can shift in the bearing housing
  
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sager
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #6 - 06/10/14 at 2:51pm
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stem bolts, both the ones that attach to the steerer and the faceplate can be noisy even if tight.  Dirt gets in there just like saddle clamp bolts and seatpost bolts.
« Last Edit: 06/10/14 at 2:51pm by sager »  
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tjbelge
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #7 - 06/10/14 at 3:08pm
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I think I found the culprit looks like the guy I bought the bike from must have used a big hammer, and huge screwdriver to get the lower crown race off, there where some big bulges on the top of the fork crown. I took the nasty bumps down with a fine machining file very carefully then  I cleaned everything in the headset, and all the stem bolt, and re-greased and tightened things back up.  Hopefully I found the issue
I'll know very shortly when I get rad a little later. 


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Dirkdee
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #8 - 06/10/14 at 7:48pm
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If that doesn't work take a look at the spacers under the stem... I've had issues with the carbon ones creaking.
  
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tjbelge
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #9 - 06/11/14 at 2:09am
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Good idea as well, I think its pretty well fixed I kept it pretty tame on the trails today but laid  the front brakes a few times and did some bunnyhops and all was well.  I'll do some more hucking tomorrow and see how it goes.  Thanks for all the input its tuff when something goes wrong and you dont have the cash to just run out and buy new parts just for suspicions sake.  I cant wait for the days that I can justify a fork upgrade by just hearing a little squeak lol
  
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #10 - 06/11/14 at 6:27pm
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You taking it apart, cleaning it and re-greasing it probably had more to do with the remedy than the little bit of knickage on the fork crown.  Glad it's fixed!
  
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tjbelge
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Re: Headset creaking
Reply #11 - 06/11/14 at 10:39pm
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Yeah I thought that too, I cleaned it and re-greased it when I first bought the bike 2-3 months ago.  However, I admit it wasn't the most thorough job this time around I cleaned all the surfaces with alcohol and used a tooth brush along with an air nozzle might have went a bit overboard but I figured if I was doing it I might as well get every bit of nasty old grease out before I put the new stuff in.
  
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