F-ing annoying creak

[bighit8]

A specalized Big hit with a fox vinalla R ( 2003 I think)and FSR Big link.I am almost positive it is from the spring. Rob rode with me at San Juan and heard it. If i lube it up it goes away but for a short time. How can I correct this????????????? Its seems to come from the spring perch on the bottom. I noticed some of the paint is chipped on the spring and has a little rust. Could the spring be rusted under the paint that is not chipped?It is a 450# spring set at 30% sag. I can add pics if needed.

Oh new bottom bracket and facing ect is good.

[Rockinthecasbah]

I remeber that sound driving me insane in fontucky Ive never heard of a coil spring squeking before maybe you can take it off and cycle it and check it out if it stops replace the spring or swap one off something else to test. If it sqeaks with a new spring check the cups

[Seat Sniffer]

talk to red hot sloth about this one. he was having a similar issue which I believe was corrected.

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

I remeber that sound driving me insane in fontucky Ive never heard of a coil spring squeking before maybe you can take it off and cycle it and check it out if it stops replace the spring or swap one off something else to test. If it sqeaks with a new spring check the cups

Yea, I don't have a spring to fit it and did not want to buy one if it does not work. But might just have to.Funny thing is, it used to go away after longer rides, now it never goes away. I cant see anything that seems worn.

[Seat Sniffer]

I think it was creaky between the spring and the rear cup. Some dry lube or some tape between the contact points should shut it up. if the paint wore away that's probably what did it.

[guero]

One time I had a creak/squeak that was driving me nuts and i swear i checked everything except a zip tie...yes a zip tie. I rotated the part that i snipped away from the guide on the frame and the creak went away..i guess it was rubbing the cable housing or something...just some food for thought.

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by guero

One time I had a creak/squeak that was driving me nuts and i swear i checked everything except a zip tie...yes a zip tie. I rotated the part that i snipped away from the guide on the frame and the creak went away..i guess it was rubbing the cable housing or something...just some food for thought.

Since the rain is coming, I'm going ape on it tomorrow, looking for a plan of attack!

[Rockinthecasbah]

I second the checking out where the coil seats and maybe taping it or soemthing

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

I second the checking out where the coil seats and maybe taping it or soemthing

Tried that and it worked a little, but it just pushed the tape off.

Maybe I should just stop at the path or Bannings.

[El Rolo]

buy a new bike...something not SPECIAL ED.

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by El Rolo

buy a new bike...something not SPECIAL ED.

The creak is from the shock not the bike!

[Shu]

remove the lower pivot and clean it up good..I know you said it was the shock but I found that teh pivot squeeked on mine

[Chewyeti]

do you have the spring cup on the right way? some have a centering ring to keep the shock from moving much.

Try flipping the spring end to end, and seeing if it stops

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by Chewyeti

do you have the spring cup on the right way? some have a centering ring to keep the shock from moving much.

Try flipping the spring end to end, and seeing if it stops

Now there is a winner, I never checked that. I did remove it to put on a 450 eibach spring but it was to small.Have not taken it apart since then.

[Red Hot Sloth]

Originally Posted by Seat Sniffer

talk to red hot sloth about this one. he was having a similar issue which I believe was corrected.

It was corrected, it was where my shock pivoted, but not the spring on the cup, or the cup, or just the spring, I lubed the pivot where my shock mounted to the frame. I didn't lube the cup, or the spring where it met the cup. Crazy, 'cause it sounded exactly like when my seat tubed creaked before I greased it up when I built the bike.

[CalEpic]

Check the shock bushings for play.

[bighit8]

So I pulled the shock apart. The spring was on upside down. Also the Pivot pin on the top of the shock was a bitch to get out. It had some gunk build up. So I took light sand paper to everything to smooth it out. Cleaned and lubed. Well the F-ing noise is gone. YEAH. Not sure what the actual cause was though.

[Chewyeti]

so you flipped the spring? cool deal man... glad its taken care of!

[bighit8]

Yea I assume it was upside down because the lettering was upside down.So the spiral of the spring might have been compressing the wrong way if that makes any sense.

Thanks for the idea arron

[Chewyeti]

springs usually arent directional (they dont care which side you push from)

but sometimes they have different 'interfaces' on the ends (IE different radii etc....) to facilitate installation