New Headset creaking, Superstar, Cube Stereo

[Craig24]

I recently replaced my headset on my Cube Stereo Hybrid, with a Superstar headset, as recommend by others on here. Before replacing it had a creak, and after replacing it still does.

I didn’t use a headset press, just hammered in with a mallet and used plenty of grease.

It looks flush and flat. Any advice on what to check?

 

[Gary]

What makes you think it's the actual headset that's creaking and not another component?

 

[Craig24]

When I hold the front brake the rock the bike forward and backwards I hear it. Just sounds like it’s coming from that area, might not be though?

 

[Gary]

No it might not be.

isolate the creak properly

 

[Craig24]

Ok, I’ll try again tomorrow. I suppose I could remove the stem plate and handlebars to rule them out first

 

[TomPugh12]

Could be the fork steerer or fork legs in the crown.

 

[Gary]

Ok, I’ll try again tomorrow. I suppose I could remove the stem plate and handlebars to rule them out first

You'll find it easier to test your fork for creaks with your bike upside down and bars still fitted but wheel out.
As above. pay particular attention to creaking from the steerer/crown and crown/stanchion interfaces.
But do also check your thru axle, front wheel, rotor and front caliper/mount

 

[emtbPhil]

I had this exact same thing on my cube hybrid stereo - well it wasn't creaking before but after I did the superstar fit it started creaking
I took the fork out and whacked more grease in as I had been a bit light in hindsigh but still did it

I then re-torqued all the handlebar bolts and it seems the stem bolts weren't quite tight enough and the creak was actually coming from the bar in the stem. Once I tightened those up it all went away. So I'd try torquing up all the bolts you undid to fit the headset as a first port of call

 

[Craig24]

OK, I've checked all bolts and all seemed OK.

Turning the bike upside down and removing the wheel helped me pin point the creak more, it sounds like its coming from the steerer / crown / lower headset.

 

[RipGroove]

I've just ordered a Superstar headset and asked them what grease they recommended for installation and they said:

Carbon Installation Grease for where the cups go into the frame as carbon grease will help the aluminium of the headset grip the carbon of the frame.

Teflon Grease for around the bearings.

I already have some Fenwick's Carbon Assembly Paste and also some Weldtite TF2 Bike Grease with Teflon both of which should be fine.

Worth noting also if anyone isn't already aware, you want to do up the star fangled bolt or whatever headlock system you use while the bike is in the air and not on the ground as when it's on the ground you have uneven load around the headset due to the bikes headtube angle. If done with wheel on the ground that can lead to the headset not being torqued up as much as it should be so can cause creaking even though it felt like it was torqued up correctly.