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Intense M9, creaking?

Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
Hey everyone,
I just picked up a beautiful m9 and its creaking. Sounds like its coming from my rear shock area. Also from what I've heard it's a common problem, but haven't heard of a definitive way to solve the problems. Does anyone know how to fix the creaking? 2012 intense m9, fox RC4

Thanks in advance!
 

csermonet

Monkey
Mar 5, 2010
942
127
check the usual suspects...replace the du bushings on the shock, and clean and re-grease all the pivots on the frame(if they are shot, replace). if creaking persists, employ large hammer.
 

yd35

Monkey
Oct 28, 2008
741
61
NY
Grease the interface between the rear dropouts and the frame. I have an old GT all-mountain frame that has replaceable rear dropouts, like the M9. I had some creaking that wouldn't go away, until I greased the dropouts.
 

dbozman

Monkey
May 11, 2008
118
0
Scottsdale, AZ
Can't remember what year it changed, but start with the lower linkage. On my 2011, all the noise went away when I upgraded I the newest lower linkage with the conical bolts. I use anti-seize on the chps.
 

ChrisRobin

Turbo Monkey
Jan 30, 2002
3,346
190
Vancouver
If you have a 2012, I'm thinking the lower linkage is the new style. Did you buy it used?

Like others said, teflon tape on the flip chips and upgrade to the new plastic shock bushings.
 
Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
It is a 2012 I believe,

I ride for Shimano, and they gave me one of the Shimano saint m9s they had lying around to try out.

I'm not sure if everyone heard about One Ghost Industries and how everything got screwed up, and how they couldn't get frames to people. I got screwed over and Shimano sent me this m9 to get me riding.

It's my first m9, so ill try those thing out and see if I can't get it to shutup
 

Capricorn

Monkey
Jan 9, 2010
425
0
Cape Town, ZA
creaking while pedalling? try the flip chips as has been previously mentioned. also check that lower linkage bolt as it might need tightening if the bolting is of the original design. It can loosen by itself. But start with those flip chips. Check if the anodizing has come off, because once it does, it's a squeakfest of note.

One other thing i've noted with the M9, is the slight interference of the driveside chainstay with the E.13 SRS+ upper guide. I dont think it's compatible, but it' had rubbing and squeaking coming from that interference. Trimmed abit off the top of the guide et voila: SILENCE!
 

Uncle Cliffy

Turbo Monkey
Jan 28, 2008
4,490
42
Southern Oregon
Going to anti seize them tomorrow. Any suggestions how to remove the chips? They are in their slots pretty good
If you loosen the shock bolt, just use it to your advantage. Once I had to give it a little tap after loosening to get the other chip out...

Mine are the old ones that didn't quite fit at all. They've changed the machining tolerances since then, so the new ones like yours might be tighter. I have a completely new lower linkage with bearings, bolts, ect. but just haven't found the time to change it out. I just keep greasing the ports and tightening my forward pivot bolt. ;)

Seriously though, as soon as I went to anti-seize the bike's been quiet. And for an Intense, that's saying something!
 

gretch

Chimp
Feb 15, 2013
21
0
Nelson, B.C.
The flip chips are the Achilles heel of the M9.... I hate them... creaking always returns after a few days and have tried anti-seize and teflon tape. I do have the first gen box link so maybe that is part of the issue. A buddy of mine is selling me his bling kit at the end of this season, so I will wait to upgrade a bit. Almost thought about just JB welding them into the box link just for fun (kidding)... I'm currently trying a very thin coat of epoxy on the chips and then some anti-seize to install them. Will see how it goes.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
like i mentioned last night to you, its the flip chips. anti-seize was designed for this particular problem. since i put some on, i havent gotten any creaking (i use finish line's only because we have a ton of free samples.) if they are in tight already, teflon tape wont do anything besides not being able to put them back in
make sure the lower link bolts (all 4 of them) are tightened to spec too. the torque specs are somewhere in the M9 thread. intense's site doesnt seem to have the updated specs or owners manual.

what happened with One Ghost?
 
Last edited:
Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
Put anti seize on the chips, it didn't shut up. Still creaks, not as loud but still creaks when I put force into pedaling. It's fine when I'm pedaling around and hitting stuff, but put force into pedaling and it creaks

And oneghost, is gone for me. Gave up on a frame showing up. Got my money back
 

yd35

Monkey
Oct 28, 2008
741
61
NY
Put anti seize on the chips, it didn't shut up. Still creaks, not as loud but still creaks when I put force into pedaling. It's fine when I'm pedaling around and hitting stuff, but put force into pedaling and it creaks

And oneghost, is gone for me. Gave up on a frame showing up. Got my money back
You try earplugs?
 

BMCarter

Monkey
Oct 10, 2007
297
0
Santa Barbara
Sounds like it is the link creaking. Take your link apart, clean everything, re-grease and re-install the link and the noise should calm down for a little while. New box link will solve a lot of the creaking issues.

My first M9 (with the 1st gen link) creaked constantly, no matter what I did. My new frame has the new link and it is much quieter.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
only a thin layer is needed. you can put a more on but itll just get messy. i re-apply after i wash my bike. it takes a minute or two and lasts a long time
 
Aug 25, 2011
526
0
West Milford, NJ, 'MERICA
I found one problem, when someone was putting the upper link together they cross threaded it, thankfull some careful retapping and it works again!

Still creaks. Going riding tomorrow at MCBP with it, I'll see MCBP shop can work some magic, if not it goes to the LBS for some cables to be cut tomorrow night, and maybe they can work on it
 

Electric_City

Torture wrench
Apr 14, 2007
1,993
716
what happened with One Ghost?
On Fb they asked if anyone would be willing to pay a little more money to have a bike that was made in the USA. People liked the idea, so OG did their research and would charge an extra $500. They found a tube mfgr, and a welder, and supposedly a cnc shop. But the cnc shop can't figure out how to make the lower piece where everything comes together. I can tell it's frustrating for them too. One of their recent post read something along the lines of 'I can see why everything is made in china'. That being said, I know once they resolve this issue that they'll be back. I inquired about a frame for myself and had some concerns. These guys were fully accommodating and went out of their way to get me on one of their bikes. EC
 

gretch

Chimp
Feb 15, 2013
21
0
Nelson, B.C.
I talked to Dunbar Cycles in Vancouver yesterday and they are sponsored by Intense and all ride M9s... their mechanic custom fabricates plastic shims to take up space in the flip-chip assembly... they wear out and then they replace them. They haven't been able to find a long term solution for the creak with either generation of box link. However, I was told that the latest M9 frame with the carbon upper link may have a better solution for the flip chip creak due to material changes or something similar. I didn't get the full skinny but sounded like something was up. I am trying to contact Intense and get some information but I won't hold my breath.. time will tell?
 
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IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
i remember that too but the OP had a frame and sent it back for some reason and then alluding to another issue with the company


I talked to Dunbar Cycles in Vancouver yesterday and they are sponsored by Intense and all ride M9s... their mechanic custom fabricates plastic shims to take up space in the flip-chip assembly... they wear out and then they replace them. However, I was told that the latest M9 frame with the carbon upper link may have a better solution for the flip chip creak due to material changes or something similar.
if they need to put a plastic shim in there, then there must have had a bigger issue to begin with. when i had a loose flip chip i used a single layer of teflon tape and it was super tight. i couldnt imagine having to use anything thicker without replacing the lower box link. i also went two years of riding and never had them "wear out."
the new optional carbon upper link has nothing to do with the flip chip since it still utilizes the aluminum lower box assembly.
 

gretch

Chimp
Feb 15, 2013
21
0
Nelson, B.C.
i remember that too but the OP had a frame and sent it back for some reason and then alluding to another issue with the company




if they need to put a plastic shim in there, then there must have had a bigger issue to begin with. when i had a loose flip chip i used a single layer of teflon tape and it was super tight. i couldnt imagine having to use anything thicker without replacing the lower box link. i also went two years of riding and never had them "wear out."
the new optional carbon upper link has nothing to do with the flip chip since it still utilizes the aluminum lower box assembly.
The simple fact is that no alterations to the flip chip assembly of any kind should be required, right? Dunbar is a race team and their bikes probably get abused a bit more than average, so they came up with something that worked for them. Teflon tape and anti-seize do NOT work on my box link for more than a ride or two, so your solution is not universal.

My point about the M9 LE frame is not the carbon upper linkage but rather that I was told of a material change or something else changing on the lower box link as well. I won't speculate any more than that as I don't have much information.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
The simple fact is that no alterations to the flip chip assembly of any kind should be required, right? Dunbar is a race team and their bikes probably get abused a bit more than average, so they came up with something that worked for them. Teflon tape and anti-seize do NOT work on my box link for more than a ride or two, so your solution is not universal.
if neither the teflon tape or the anti-seize worked, then you should get a new box link which they will/should send you for free. of the three that ive had, one had such bad tolerances that the flip chips moved around way too much and none of the fixes worked. of everyone ive spoken to or heard from that didnt have the ultra bad tolerances, the teflon tape and anti-seize has worked for them
 

gretch

Chimp
Feb 15, 2013
21
0
Nelson, B.C.
if neither the teflon tape or the anti-seize worked, then you should get a new box link which they will/should send you for free. of the three that ive had, one had such bad tolerances that the flip chips moved around way too much and none of the fixes worked. of everyone ive spoken to or heard from that didnt have the ultra bad tolerances, the teflon tape and anti-seize has worked for them
I am ordering one this week... fingers crossed.