clicking or popping felt in bars coming to a stop

[ScottyUSN]

I felt clicking in the bar ends while coming to a stop light this morning on the way to work. It felt like the source was up high near the triple and not from the wheel or brakes.

I would say it lasted a few seconds while slowly braking from 10 to 5 mph at about 3 clicks or pops felt in both bars per second, and so far a one time incident.

I will be tearing into the head bearing this weekend. Just stuck at the desk at work all day so thought I'd get some opinions or even fuel for the Friday reply crew B)

 

[Ignacio]

Possibles in the order I'd look things over...even if I thought it was coming from triple tree area...as it's hard to tell if you're feeling it in the handlebars: Something loose in the brake caliper area, Spring bind in the forks, loose steering head bearings....retorque, bearing races becoming grooved,

 

[BwanaDik]

I had what I thought was a problem like that but caused by something in the head set bearings. It turns out the engine mounting bolts needed to be re-torqued. That was one of the last things I would have identified as a portential problem area. Had to do it twice then all was well. Go figure...

 

[wfooshee]

I'm thinking maybe something on the brake rotors, making them grabby. I know you said it felt like it came from up high, not down low, but brake force is transferred to the bike at the steering head, so that's where it would seem to come from.

I haven't replaced my pads since they got oiled by a fork seal failure, I just cleaned them as best I could, and sometimes I get what I think you're describing, just as the bike's nearly stopped.

 

[ronhawker]

First check the top triple clamp. I had a bike that would click like that and it was the stop part of the triple clamp was a little loose so it would move slightly. All I had to do is loosen the top fork clamps and tighten down the top nut over the bearings. Hope that helps.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I thought this thread was about the closing of the French Quarter or sumpin.

 

[rfulcher]

I have had this "clicking or popping" sound and/or feeling when coming to a gradual stop since my 07 was new. I have never found a cause or detected any harm from it. When I posted a question about this in 07 the concensus was that it was coming from the free floating brake rotors. It has not changed in 55,000 miles so I think about it but don't worry.

 

[ScottyUSN]

I ran errands at lunch today with lots of stop and go traffic and lights on and off base. I could not duplicate the clicking.

I agree a brake caliper issue would be felt thru the bars, otherwise it would be felt at all. Hard to explain how or why, it just felt like the source was up high in the steering head.

Thanks for the ideas and input. all things I will look at this weekend. I've been meaning to re-check my motor mount bolts with sliders installed routinely anyway, this is a good reminder it's been awhile.

 

[RaYzerman19]

In addition to the floating rotor click, you may feel an occasional click/buzz from the ABS system. Completely normal. But if the head bearings haven't been checked, I would recommend it.

 

[emsjr]

Just curious if you were ever able to come up with an answer to the "clicking" issue. I have the same thing, rarely, mostly when making a very hard stop. I have checked and re-checked everything and found nothing amiss. Thinking about some aftermarket rotors, but would rather not shell out the $$ if it won't help.

Thanks, Gene

 

[Patriot]

improperly torqued stearing head nut, or worn/defective stearing head bearings

 

[ScottyUSN]

Spent a few weeks on vacation and put this on the back burner in general since not having a recurrence since the original post.

I hit an above average pot hole a few months back, and thought that might have stirred up a problem. I do plan to check out the steering head torque and condition along with inspect the wheel bearing in the near future.

 

[road runner]

Mine has done it from new, so not worried about it. It only does it under certain braking pressure, so it wont do it every time. It feels like the ABS is doing something.

 

[Krell]

Mine does that as well intermittently and always just as I am rolling to a stop. I have always thought it was the floating brake disk.

 

[emsjr]

Well it seems like I will quit worrying about it. I have checked and re-checked everything I can think of; the steering head bearings, the discs, calipers, brakes lines for any area they may be hanging up, sanded the rotors and pads.....and it will still occasionally do it. Just, it seems like others, so it must be a present from the Yamaha gods to make sure we are paying attention when we stop.

Gene

 

[Cerebus]

I'm thinking of taking mine in to the shop this fall for a similar problem. I can replicate it though by just holding the front break ( when sitting still ) and just pushing really hard on the handlebars. Tried the old screwdriver to the ear in different positions on the front fork while a friend of mine created the "clicking" It seemed loudest in the left shock but I can't be sure. I don't really want to tell the shop to go through the shocks if it is the stearing head or something else.

 

[xcsp]

My first thought would be to check the steering head bearings, or simply re-torque them.

Maybe a long shot, but could loosen up the front axle & pinch bolt, and re-torque--had another bike that made some strange clicking noise from the front end and this cured it.