Creaking Carbon bar stem headset interface????

Hi all,
I have a specialized tarmac pro with full dura ace. Its only a couple of 100
k old but it has developed an annoying squeak. When riding off the saddle
the squeak occurs in time with the downward pedal strokes but it is in the
handlebar /stem/ headset interface because if you push hard enough on each
side of the handlebars (standing over the bars) you can replicate the noise
when standing still. The bike has carbon oversized specialized bars and
matching carbon 4 bolt stem. all the bolts seem tight enough (without a
torque wrench) and the brake levers are very secure. I'm wondering about
where the stem meets the carbon spacers. Do you need someting special to
lube carbon?
Anybody solved a similar problem or
1. 105 Kg is too heavy for this bike and the squeak will always be there? or
2. I should take it back to the dealer and keep hassling them until there
are no more squeaks. After all it did cost nearly $6000 AUS so they should
do something to earn their money

Looking forward to any and all replies
Jock

Jock wrote:
Hi all,
I have a specialized tarmac pro with full dura ace. Its only a couple
of 100 k old but it has developed an annoying squeak. When riding off
the saddle the squeak occurs in time with the downward pedal strokes
but it is in the handlebar /stem/ headset interface because if you
push hard enough on each side of the handlebars (standing over the
bars) you can replicate the noise when standing still. The bike has
carbon oversized specialized bars and matching carbon 4 bolt stem.
all the bolts seem tight enough (without a torque wrench) and the
brake levers are very secure. I'm wondering about where the stem
meets the carbon spacers. Do you need someting special to lube carbon?
Anybody solved a similar problem or
1. 105 Kg is too heavy for this bike and the squeak will always be
there? or
2. I should take it back to the dealer and keep hassling them until
there are no more squeaks. After all it did cost nearly $6000 AUS so
they should do something to earn their money

If you're not comfortable removing, greasing and replacing stem bolts (and
maybe cleaning the bar while the faceplace is off), then by all means take
it back to the dealer. I wouldn't consider it "hassling" them to insist on
a quiet bike.

Creaks and squeaks suck.

BS

Jock wrote:
Hi all,
I have a specialized tarmac pro with full dura ace. Its only a couple of 100
k old but it has developed an annoying squeak. When riding off the saddle
the squeak occurs in time with the downward pedal strokes but it is in the
handlebar /stem/ headset interface because if you push hard enough on each
side of the handlebars (standing over the bars) you can replicate the noise
when standing still. The bike has carbon oversized specialized bars and
matching carbon 4 bolt stem. all the bolts seem tight enough (without a
torque wrench) and the brake levers are very secure. I'm wondering about
where the stem meets the carbon spacers. Do you need someting special to
lube carbon?
Anybody solved a similar problem or
1. 105 Kg is too heavy for this bike and the squeak will always be there? or
2. I should take it back to the dealer and keep hassling them until there
are no more squeaks. After all it did cost nearly $6000 AUS so they should
do something to earn their money

Looking forward to any and all replies
Jock


I've never really seen carbon squeak much but YMMV. Are you sure it's
not pressure on the front wheel thats making the noise? Other than that
a bit of lithium grease in the spacers would be worth a try.

brett

Take it to the shop you bought it from, get them to fix it!

I don't have a ptoblem dismantling the bars. stem ect but can you
cucessfuuly put grease on the bar/stem interface? I'll definitely try lubing
the spacers and probably the top cap on the stem.
Thanks
Jock

I don't have a ptoblem dismantling the bars. stem ect but can you
cucessfuuly put grease on the bar/stem interface? I'll definitely try lubing
the spacers and probably the top cap on the stem.
Thanks
Jock

I don't have a ptoblem dismantling the bars. stem ect but can you
cucessfuuly put grease on the bar/stem interface? I'll definitely try lubing
the spacers and probably the top cap on the stem.
Thanks
Jock

I don't have a ptoblem dismantling the bars. stem ect but can you
cucessfuuly put grease on the bar/stem interface? I'll definitely try lubing
the spacers and probably the top cap on the stem.
Thanks
Jock

On Sun, 22 May 2005 16:36:00 +1000, Jock wrote:

I have a specialized tarmac pro with full dura ace. Its only a couple of 100
k old but it has developed an annoying squeak. When riding off the saddle
the squeak occurs in time with the downward pedal strokes but it is in the
handlebar /stem/ headset interface because if you push hard enough on each
side of the handlebars (standing over the bars) you can replicate the noise
when standing still. The bike has carbon oversized specialized bars and
matching carbon 4 bolt stem. all the bolts seem tight enough (without a
torque wrench) and the brake levers are very secure. I'm wondering about
where the stem meets the carbon spacers. Do you need someting special to
lube carbon?

I lightly grease the areas where the bars, stem (carbon) and associated
bits meet whenever they start to squeak or click, and it hasn't caused any
problems.

1. 105 Kg is too heavy for this bike and the squeak will always be there? or
2. I should take it back to the dealer and keep hassling them until there
are no more squeaks. After all it did cost nearly $6000 AUS so they should
do something to earn their money

Apart from the stem/bars, pedals and seatpost/saddle may regularly develop
squeaks and clicks, too. You can't keep taking the bike back for this stuff
forever - learn to pull them apart, clean and grease them up. The one that
you probably shouldn't mess with is the bottom bracket, which may be the
culprit if you eliminate ther others.

--
bpo gallery at http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/mvw1/bpo

Jock wrote:
Hi all,
I have a specialized tarmac pro with full dura ace. Its only a couple
of 100
k old but it has developed an annoying squeak. When riding off the
saddle
the squeak occurs in time with the downward pedal strokes but it is
in the
handlebar /stem/ headset interface because if you push hard enough on
each
side of the handlebars (standing over the bars) you can replicate the
noise
when standing still. The bike has carbon oversized specialized bars
and
matching carbon 4 bolt stem. all the bolts seem tight enough (without
a
torque wrench) and the brake levers are very secure.

You said it all....take it back to the place you bought it. Have all
the bolts greased, torques. Ensure the HS bearings are greased, where
they live in the headtube.

Most bikes outta boxes are assembled poorly.