My 856 is a creaking nightmare

[mfgp]

I've taken it apart a couple times now and greased everything I can think to grease, but the rear suspension still creaks.  Not sure exactly where it's coming from, but it is definitely the suspension.  The cranks and seat post have been ruled out.  

Anyone have any advice?  My 755 non WC frame did not have this problem.

TIA

[pedro]

If you do a search on this forum with "noise" or "creak" as key words you may find a couple of good threads regarding these topics.  Noise can come from unexpected places, cable ends rubbing against frame's cable end stubs! Hubs not tight enough rubbing against swingarm! debris trapped within your coil shock rubbing.     saddle and seatpost area.................hairline cracks....oil everything up and keep looking

[kiwi]

take the shock out and make sure both mounting points are clean/Alittle grease will help the top mount cos the shock has to swing slightly as it compresses.I had a creak that was actually in the seat itself!!!!!Check the cable stops in the swingarm too.

[mfgp]

Thanks for the input.  I'll keep searching.  This is driving me nuts!  [smiley=disbelief.gif]

[Carbon_Angus]

get a buddy and cycle the suspension for you while you put your ear down there.

it's wild how many times we think it's coming from a certain place and it turns out to be somewhere else

notorious places for my bikes have been cable guides/posts, shock shaft, seatpost clamp area and spokes....you may want to check for frame cracks...

if you've done the main pivot, my quess is it's not it. it squeaks only when it's bone dry..

[smiley=beer.gif]

[tmaybee]

Mine creaks as well.  I haven't solved the problem yet, but I have tracked it down.

I thought my suspension was creaking as well but after checking all the pivots and complete lube job I have found the creaks are coming from:

the seat clamp (seat post/saddle interface) - I think replacing the aluminum bolts with new ones and cranking them down will solve this

The drive side crank - I think this was a common problem with M950 cranks.  I will probably gust give it a shot of grease.  

The bushings in the suspension may need to be lubed on your bike.  My old vector 2 fork had a squeek for a bit that was solved with a little grease.  If they still squeek, you may need to replace them.

The bushings last a long time though,  I have 2 frame rebuild kits and 4 crosslink kits but there is no need to use them yet.  

Trevor

[mfgp]

Looks like I found it.  A bit embarassing, though.  It turned out it was the seatpost this time afterall.    [smiley=disbelief.gif]

The last couple times I have solved the problem by either tightening the main rear suspension pivot bolt, or taking it apart and greasing it.  I also had some crank creaking problems early in the year that were solved by lightly greasing the interface between the crank and BB.  All of these tricks solved the problem.  But when the same creaking returned again a couple months later, I figured it had to be in one of those areas as I had eliminated the seat post last time.  Not the case.

The sound was so similar, I thought it must be the suspension.  I guess when creaking occurs, the frame resonates at a certain frequency, no matter where the vibrations originate.  By doing so, the resulting audible sounds are very similar.  

At any rate, thanks for the help.    Looks like I'm good to ride, without the annoyance, at least for a while.  

[zulu]

  Glad you found it. Did you just greese the post or was it a loose clamp? [smiley=beer.gif]

[mfgp]

First I tried to tighten the clamp, and that seemed to help, but didn't eliminate it.  That's what clued me off that it was the post.  Then I removed it and greased it with wheel bearing grease, then wiped it off with a paper towel, leaving only a thin film on the post.  Then I tightened it as snugly as I dared without damaging the clamp or frame.  That seems to have eliminated it completely.  I'll find out for sure this weekend on the trail since that is where it was VERY noisy.  So far I've only ridden up and down the street.