2008 Front End Noise of Bumps

[terrysig]

Yeah, that could be. My 04 had thin shims on the pads.

Maybe not all bikes are fitted with shims.

I remember looking for replacement pads and being

asked if I wanted with or without shims.

 

[terrysig]

Just checked the pads, yep very loose. Popped one

side out and definitely no shims.

I'd have to say that this the prime suspect. I'm

going to see if I can find the shims.

 

[El Cajone]

Gang,
Have an 08 with about 500 miles and everytime I hit a bump I hear what sounds like something (or things) loose. I'm coming off a 04 that I rode for 55K and never had the issue.

I've spent hours, first checking bolts, then shaking every bit in the front end.

Finally I checked the head light adjustment knobs...could they possibly be the source of my aggrevations?

Is anyone else seeing this on the Gen IIs??

My apologies if covered elsewhere.

I had the same problem with my '07 and I went through the same drill - checking for loose stuff and trying to reproduce the noise

with the bike on the centrestand. Turns out it was the steering head bearings that needed tightening. No problems since.

 

[terrysig]

The 08's (mine included) have loosely mounted brake pads under the front calipers. They rattle a little on some 08's and dont rattle much on other 08's. Reach behind the caliper in the front and jiggle the brake pads, you'll see what I mean. They sit in there loose, they are not tight...and that may be what you are hearing as you ride down the road. And as you ride down the road, pull the front brakes a little and see if what you are hearing goes away...if it does, then it's probably the brake pads.
I don't notice any extra rattling on mine, but some other 08 owners have commented on the issue. (Besides, I can't hear worth a ****, so don't use me as a barometer!) Hope this helps. LCJ

Well the name of the part is anti rattle shim so it's a pretty safe bet that it is the source of the rattle. As you note I will check by finding a bump that causes the rattle and ride it again with the front applied slightly.

I checked the 08 shop manual and it does not show the shim on the fron brake pads but does show it on the rear. I know my 04 had the shims at both ends. They were wafer thin metal perforated with holes. Might try to get some to see what effect it has. Can't image that it would cause any increase on pad wear?

 

[MojaveFJR]

Had the same issue of the stem nut being loose, tightened it but it didn't stop the clunking. This is the odd thing, the clunking stopped when I changed the front tire. Don't know what was loose but whatever it was was properly torqued in the process of r&r'ing the front wheel. So, if you are willing, just take that off and put it back on with the proper torques listed in the bin o' facts.

 

[terrysig]

Hmmm, that's interesting. We'll certainly gives something else to try. thanks!

 

[SCRider]

Just checked the pads, yep very loose. Popped oneside out and definitely no shims.

I'd have to say that this the prime suspect. I'm

going to see if I can find the shims.

That's where the rattling was coming from on mine. I finally got tired of hearing it and put some disk brake pad adhesive on the back of the pads and they have been quite now for months.

 

[Dblhelix]

I noted a similar noise on my '08 I picked up in October. Most pronounced coasting over small street ripples etc. Best description is a "rattle". Checked and rechecked forks for looseness to rule out head bearing (though initially I was convinced that was the problem after reading about that possible issue from factory). Had stealer check it out etc and they pretty well convinced me its the pads and nothing to worry about. So, now I dont notice it ALL that much...hope thats what it is. As stated you can convince yourself if ya hear the rattle and it goes away with light brake pressure applied.

 

[dcarver]

Are you sure it's not simply something loose enough to move at a bump? Maybe the headlight adjuster cable you mentioned? A wire harness hitting the fairing? Battery cable? Something loose in the bottom of the glove box? Loose windshield arms?

Well that's exactly wht I'm tryiung to determine...except that we got the damn weather before I could get it sorted out. It won't do it in the garage. It got to eating at me and I figured to try the forum for any Gen II specific items.

But your checklist of items is exactly what I'll be checking when I can ride. In the teens and snow now, actually not a big deal since the roads are clear but F***ing PA in my area dumps a ton of salt and I hate to get that salt dust throughout the bike.

TerrySig...

The only true answer to be found is for you ship your bike to my house so I can ride it all winter long to, uhh, diagnose the problem for you. After about, say, 15-30k miles, I think I'll have the answer for you... LOL.

Hey, just trying to help a brother out!

 

[turbodave_98]

On my 06 AE right out of the box, I had a front end clunk. Looked at steering head, brake assemblies, etc. Finally checked the left and right forward engine mounts and found them out of proper torque values. Corrected that and never had the clunk sound again at 45k miles. Hope this help you.

 

[terrysig]

My brake pads are definitely loose to touch and

do not have the shims so that will be the next

thing to check but this is interesting. Thanks!

 

[qualt]

My brake pads are definitely loose to touch anddo not have the shims so that will be the next

thing to check but this is interesting. Thanks!

Lowcountryjoe has is right, so as you probably already know it is your front brake pads. I have a late model 07 and mine does the same thing. I sometimes have to ride on a washboard dirt road and when I do it sounds like the entire front end is about to fall off. I can't believe Yamaha would build a machine that rattles as bad as bad as mine does. Oh well at least it isn't dangerous.

 

[Potential]

I have a loud clunk when going over a bump; I always assumed it was the windshield and was normal. Guess not. I'll have to investigate.

Can someone say how to torque the steering head bearings? I couldn't find anything on this site explaining how (ideally with pictures).

MojaveFJR, I'm guessing the brake rotor position slightly changed when you put the wheel back on (perhaps it wasn't correctly centered the first time) so maybe wheel alignment is another thing to check.

 

[zedman]

Have same problem with clunk in my 08 as well but don't have rattling noise. I'm bringing it in this weekend for a service and will have them check as well. Mine feels like it is almost popping in the handlebars too. Hope it's only an issue of tightening some bolts.

 

[sgoat]

Let me offer up another "solution". A few years ago a friends 04' was making the same clunking noises. We tried all the aforementioned cures but still no joy. Then we checked the spring preload adusters on the top of the forks and found that they were at two completely different (from the dealer/factory) settings. We then adjusted them both to about 2 lines showing. Took it for a test ride and the clunking was no more. Might give it a try. Your results and setting may vary. Good luck!

 

[wel1123]

I wrote about this issue 18 months ago and got alot of grief. Now that enough Gen II's are out there and enough people are amazed at how much the brake pads rattle it seems to be taken a little more seriously. I too am amazed that Yamaha let such a nice bike have a rattle that sounds like my 29 year rusted pickup truck rattling over bumps. I plan to look into the pad shim and or back of the pad coating to try and quiet this thing down, it's annoying as hell! Thanks to those who have posted what they have found.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Gang,
Have an 08 with about 500 miles and everytime I hit a bump I hear what sounds like something (or things) loose. I'm coming off a 04 that I rode for 55K and never had the issue.

(Mine started at exactly the same miles)

I've spent hours, first checking bolts, then shaking every bit in the front end.

Finally I checked the head light adjustment knobs...could they possibly be the source of my aggrevations?

Is anyone else seeing this on the Gen IIs??

My apologies if covered elsewhere.

Well i asume you have a warranty? I had the same problem with my 08 took it in to be looked at (under warranty) and the bearings were definately loose. The nut was torqued properley to the specs. They had to call the Yami rep and get aproval after a little bitching on my end.

They reajusted the head bearings and i havn't had the noise since. You might want to try that route. GOOD LUCK!

 

[FJRJOE]

My 2008 has had lots of front end noise>Front rotors were loose at the rivets/front disc pads would rattle.I fixed both & its alot better now.

 

[FJRmogul]

I also spoke of this type of clunking noise from the front end about 2 years ago. I was told to check the head bearings, rotors, pads, etc. I checked everything and only found the right rotor to be slightly loose. Could not believe this could be making this much noise. So next I deceided to remove the fender and.......BAM no more clunking noise! So checked out fender closely and could not see anything wrong. So next I replaced the 4 brass bushings with rubber gromlets but this did not help. This is a really loud and annoying noise when going over any size bumps. I even left the fender off for several months just to see if the noise came back, but it has been quite. I am at a loss as to what to try next.

So you might just want to try removing the fender as a "long shot". :dntknw:

 

[stevec677]

It looks like this probelm is continuing to the 2009 models. I brought my bike in for the first service (600 miles). I had my local mechanic do the service as the dealer was too busy to get me in this week. He thinks the sound is coming from the fork preload spacers. He suggested to ride the bike for a thousand miles to let the springs settle in and then we might replace the spacers. Does this make sense? I will check rotors and brake pads tonight (as suggested by earlier posts).