Bottom Bracket

[AdamBlade]

How long would you expect a bottom bracket to last?

Mine has been making a creaking noise for a couple of weeks. This seems to be when pushing hard going up hill. I called in at my LBS on my way home to be told that it needs replacing. Thankfully, it's still under warranty. I've only had my bike since the end of Jan and done 550+ miles.

Would you expect it to last a lot longer than this? if not, it looks like I'm going to get through about 4 a year!!

 

[J4CKO]

Mine was creaking, I dripped oil through it and its been fine since, can also be the pedals creaking as it sounds similar.

Have done 1500 miles on it, should be good for a lot lot further, thought it depends on maintenance, terrain and riding style.

 

[Eat MY Dust]

Put it this way. I had my LBS check mines a few weeks ago, it's done over 10k miles and didn't need replacing.

 

[swee'pea99]

I'd be pretty hacked off if I didn't get at least 5000 miles - and a good one should be good for way more than twice that. As Jacko says, watch out for pedal noise masquerading as BB problems..

 

[AdamBlade]

Cheers, will drop some oil through tonight. All my riding is on the road and the bike is in good condition.

 

[Landslide]

I'm guessing you've got a cartridge BB?
As "fit and forget" items go, by and large cartridge BBs are great. Unfortunately it only takes a tiny bit of mis-alignment in the sealed bearings and they'll wear out pretty quick. I'd guess you've just been unlucky and (fingers crossed) the replacement will last for many years.

 

[swee'pea99]

Oh, I wouldn't do that. They do vary - and duds exist. If you can get a replacement under warranty, I would. The last thing you want is to oil it enough to limp thru' the last few months of your warranty, only for it to die as soon as your warranty runs out.

 

[goo_mason]

Might just be a little bit loose - mine was creaking badly a few months ago, but it was because it was a little loose (as evidenced by the ease that one side unscrewed, and the amount of muddy gunk that had worked its way into the frame around that point).

I'd hate to think they'd charge you for a new BB when all it needed was a little bit of tightening up.

 

[AdamBlade]

I've got it booked in so will let them deal with it under warranty.

Thanks for everyones advice

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

Just had a similar problem, tightened them up - seem OK now.

 

[AdamBlade]

Picked my bike up from JE James in Sheffield yesterday having had to take it back due to creaking bottom bracket. After only 3 months, it has been replaced and the old one sent to Giant as it is under warranty. Hopefully, the new one will last a little longer.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I noticed a creaking noise coming from this area on my bike whilst under heavy load. Above it mentions dripping oil through it. What do I have to remove to try this? Thanks for any advice.

 

[vorsprung]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I noticed a creaking noise coming from this area on my bike whilst under heavy load. Above it mentions dripping oil through it. What do I have to remove to try this? Thanks for any advice.

Firmly grip the LH and RH pedals in your hands
Try and move them laterally left-to-right or right-to-left.
There should be absolutely no play at all. If there is not any movement then the BB is probably OK.

Here is a list of common causes for creaking sounds
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/trouble-shooting-a-creaky-or-noisy-drive-train

 

[Trevrev]

My BB lasted 6 months on my Trek. The shop put it down to wear and tear and wouldn't replace it.
So i went elsewhere and bought myself a sealed unit to replace the crap that Trek had in there.

 

[PpPete]

Sorry to bump this thread, but I noticed a creaking noise coming from this area on my bike whilst under heavy load. Above it mentions dripping oil through it. What do I have to remove to try this? Thanks for any advice.

I wouldnt bother, difficult to get any appreciable amount of lubricant into a sealed BB - new ones are so cheap you might as well replace. If it's not a sealed one, it's not difficult to strip and rebuild with new bearings, but you might just as well replace with a sealed cartridge one.

However .... first be very sure it is the BB itself that's creaking, IME it's much more often the interface between the crank and the BB spindle.