Do press fit BBs really have creaking issues?

dolface
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1720
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10/26/2015
Location
USA
Edited Date/Time 7/28/2025 1:04pm

Inspired by a side-discussion in the podcast version of the "Dumb bike problems" thread AND a deeper dive in Geek Warning podcast I got to thinking; is the press fit BB hate really warranted?

They (this includes the implementation) have a bad rep for sure and the tools to install/remove them aren't something most of us have lying around but are there actually that many problematic instances out there?

What's your personal experience?

Edit: I meant to make the poll multiple-choice but don't see a way to do that. @sspomer can you fix that somehow?

Poll

Do press fit BBs really have creaking issues?

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Finkill
Posts
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9/2/2015
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GB
7/28/2025 1:38pm Edited Date/Time 7/28/2025 1:39pm

I had two bikes in the past that used the Shimano BB92 standard and I fitted the cheapest Shimano bottom bracket I could get my hands on. In both cases the BB lasted the lifespan of me owning the frame without noise or issues. I tend to find the standard Shimano threaded BBs I've had are similarly durable and trouble free. For my usage and climate/weather in the UK I have no complaints. 

I always run Shimano cranks with 24mm spindles and I imagine I might have more problems with 30mm or 28.99mm spindles. 

2
7/28/2025 2:06pm Edited Date/Time 7/28/2025 2:07pm

Press-fit is not the problem, bearing press-fit is a worldwide industry standard.(your linkages are.... press-fit...)

The issue has ALWAYS been the Frame. Press-fit "hole sizing' Is a perfect way of telling If your expensive botique Frame is actually good quality With the Brand Giving a sh1t.
I've worked on some seriously expensive Road Frames and the damn hole is not even round - There are alot of expensive frames that a go, no-go Guage Can slide into easily or expose gaps around it.

I've personally Checked My own Press-fit holes, if out of whack ill warranty the frame and try again... on all the frames with ROUND holes, i've never once heard a BB noise.

6
pinkrobe
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5/16/2015
Location
Revelstoke, BC, CA
7/28/2025 2:52pm

I've been lucky enough not to have had creaky PFs on my own bikes, but I've worked on several customer bikes where the PF BB creaks. Sometimes the fix was easy - just pop it out, note the complete absence of any grease or whatever was spec'd, grease the F out of it, whack it back in, mattafix. Sometimes we would just spec the thread-together PF BBs that Pedal Bob posted [which are amazing, and work every time, 100% of the time], and be done with it. The worst were always commuter bikes [lots of road salt] and tri bikes [crusty with dried sweat, energy drink and urine].

4
7/29/2025 12:49am

Creaking issues originate from (in order of importance)

#1 bad frame tolerances

#2 too small bearing (24mm axles allow for larger and thus more reliable bearings)

2

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