Right, help really needed, trying to identify a terrible cracking/clonking from my drivetrain. Not an unusual question I know, but looking for input. Please!

OK, symptom is a very loud crack/ping/clonk type noise from the drivetrain when under load on each downstroke. You can really feel it through the pedals as well as hear it.

Will a borked rear hub cause this noise? I have tried a ton of other stuff (see below), but it is getting worse and I don't want to ride hours into the wilds only for something significant to fail.

When I turn the axle by hand it does not turn smoothly, but feels 'indexed', kind of a 'dit-dit-dit-dit' feeling, as if bearings are pitted. This is not normal right? There is also a tiny bit of play.

This is driving me insane, been on park tools and searched anything I can, but cannot find the cause leading me to believe it is the rear hub.

Riding a Chumba HX2 29er, built by me, on Halo Freedom Disk wheels. Frame sound. Have a ton of spares from past bikes kicking about so have tried to eliminate everything!

First thought it was bad indexing on rear deraileur, it isn't. Nothing skipping and changes etc smooth and lovely.

Thought chain – now replaced

Cassette – now replaced

Chainrings – whole crankset replaced

Pedals – as above

bottom bracket – as above

rear QR greased – no change

Chumba does have an EBB, but it is nicely seated, greased and holding firm.

When I stand beside the bike and push down on one side with pedal at bottom of stroke to flex frame, there is nothing to hear or feel, only when turning pedals under load. Pretty sure it is not the BB/EBB or frame.

So, now I have ruled all that out, is it likely to be the rear hub that is borked (and clearly getting worse) and causing these symptoms?

Help!

Kev

hmm id suspect the EBB still, hard to tell if it is or isn't the issue though. cassette not tightened enough (nor was the first?) but the rear axle doesn't sound healthy either. id check cassette lockring tightness then take a closer look at the hub for sure.

could be the hairline crack in the lefthand chainstay, where it meets the bb……………

actually, i have a cracking sound in my 2006 Reign when im really pedalling hard. i think its the carbon shock cover plate which has split after one too many impacts. not that that helps you Kev. but its good to get it off my chest.

'Hi, I'm Adam, and my bike is 4 years old this week.'

god that feels better 🙂

ton, you are taking the piss, yes? Just checking. 😯

Foureyes, for first post – thanks, will check again. For second post – glad to be of service! 😆

Anyone else? Hub likely cause?

Kev

😉 😆 yeah

could be the seat collar resonating down the frame.
most alloy frames do this to me, cos i and a bit big, like you…… 8)

Big ****! 😉 Thought about that, but it also happens out the saddle so pretty much rules it out.

More help please!

Kev

I'd put money on the bottom bracket.

ebb never creaked when i rode it, and i am a proper pedal stomper.

mtbmaff, aye, I thought so too, but replaced and the problem is exactly the same.

Ton, aye, reckon EBB fine as it is all tickety boo and presents no issues.

But what the **** else can it be?

Kev

if you think its the rear hub can you not stick another wheel in to test? or put that wheel in another bike and see if it does the same?
or am i just being stupid? 😯

Ooh, hadn't thought of that, only got one set of 29er wheels though. However mate has a big boy bike also so will go and borrow a wheel. Nice shout.

Kev

have you taken out the ebb, re greased and refitted and torqued?
i had this once and it turned out to be my headset and saddle…although it wasn't as loud as yours…

When I turn the axle by hand it does not turn smoothly, but feels 'indexed', kind of a 'dit-dit-dit-dit' feeling, as if bearings are pitted. This is not normal right? There is also a tiny bit of play.

No it's not normal. The bearings grinding together or clicking into pits in the races could be amplified by the frame and make a cracking sound. Have you tried a different wheel?

Can I say "rear mech hanger bolt"?

I keep trying it and one day I'll be right!

Dano, aye, EBB refitted and smoth and lovely. Checked headset and it is OK, but hadn't thought of that till now!

Willie, that is only test that will confirm, and will indeed try that ASAP. It does not feel right.

whisperer, I will check and report back!

Kev

have you got a 26er rear you can try? in a pickle would that do to stomp up and down the road?

Well, to the logical willej who said 'swap out the wheel', and to foureyes who suggested bunging a wee wheel in resulted in the following:

Nicely niche!

And do you know what? Noise was gone. Definitely hub, taking it to LBS tomorrow as this is outside my experience. Now thinking back on it, this has been going on for a long time and progressively getting worse. What would cause it? Would there have been a little bit of play at the begining that has slowly wrecked the hub?

Anyway, cheers all very much indeed for helping! 🙂

Kev

I was gonna say.. sounds like a knack'ed freehub body

Would def say its the freehub body. I have some Halo Freedoms on my 29er and managed to **** the hub within 6 mths and it sounded similar to what yours was/is doing.

Just get a ProII laced to it and you'll be fine 😉

Crucially, does a Hope proII come in white? We all know white hubs are stronger and go faster uphill. 🙂

Is it my imagination or are the forks on that Chumba fitting on backwards?

Really enjoyed reading this. Like a good murder mystery!

big_scot_nanny – Member
Crucially, does a Hope proII come in white? We all know white hubs are stronger and go faster uphill.

🙄

Red is the fastest colour FACT 😉

Ahhh… the first ride on a decreaked bike.

Almost worth having the creak in the first place just for that feeling.

Glad to be of service :o)

big_scot_nanny – Member
Well, to the logical willej who said 'swap out the wheel'

I said it first 😉

glad you worked out where its coming from, and at least you were right about it!

different sized wheels is the way forward!

Sorry! Becky you were indeed the first common sense poster, hugely appreciated! on way to LBS now. 🙂

mine did this turned out to be a loose rear mech hanger. After hours of tearing the bike apart and replacing the BB it only took a few turns of the allen key and job done.

Is it my imagination or are the forks on that Chumba fitting on backwards?

A a manitou fork. They have reverse arches.

Brake caliper in the correct place fork on correctly.

had a similar haunting noise from my orange 5.
Could not track it down but could feel it in the frame – gave me nightmares.

did the BB, ring bolts, bushings on the shock etc….

Solved it in the end by tightening up the little ditty screw that holds the dust cups over the swingarm bearings. They came loose again and the cracking came back.

I slapped some grease in there for good measure the next time and put some threadlock on the threads. Not heard a dicky bird since.

Good luck with yours

Well, it was indeed the freehub body. Bigsi, did you do anything in particular to your hub to cause it to go? This one only lasted 4 months! I've had a stock hubs on my stumpy fsr for 2.5 years with no complaints. Odd. 🙁

Anyway, as you suggested, my lovely LBS laced the rim to a lovely Pro II, in gold! Looks f**king hideous, and doesn't even slightly go with the rest of the bike, but what the hell. 🙂

Also took the opporunity to get rid of 1×9 (stupid idea!) 😳 and go back to 27 gears, and also to fit a pair of maxle Reba Teams in place of the manitous. 8)

Out for a 3 hour ride last night straight from the LBS after work. silent bike, hot forests, dry trails, good company, beer in big beer garden with biking mates as a reward at the end, bloody lovely!

Cheers all,

Kev