Front end clunk question

[FJRAE]

Just finished a 120 mile ride on my new to me FJR and noticed a clunk type of noise that occurs on both the compression and rebound after braking to a stop. Feels like play in the steering head bearings, just wondering if this is a common or known problem with a typical fix? There doesn't seem to be any adverse affect on the handling that I can perceive and she's smooth and vibration free all the way up to deep triple digits, although the front-end does seem heavy and she definitely understeers in the tighter twisties with a bit of a wallow before settling down (haven't had time to adjust the suspension settings yet), but then I'm comparing it to my 'lil CBR which is very neutral (and 200 lbs lighter). The front tire probably isn't up to snuff either since the previous owner had been riding it with maybe 10 psi, looks okay but I can't imagine that was good for the belts.

Anyhow, any input would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[madmike2]

Use the search function just under your avatar/control panel in the upper right corner of the screen. Type "front end clunk" then click on the magnifying glass icon. You should get pages of related threads.

First...loose steering head bearings are not unusual. Some FJRs have come new with steering head bearings torqued incorrectly.

What you describe certainly sounds like that IS your issue. Put your bike on the center stand and have someone weight the back or raise the front using a floor jack under the headers, then see if you can grab the forks at the front axke and move them forward and rearward to see if there's movement at steering head.

The FJR also has floating discs that have been known to clunk.

 

[FJRAE]

Yeah sorry about that, should've searched before posting. After reading a few of those threads and knowing how the head bearings are set up, how it sounds and feels, I'm sure that's what I 'll end up finding. Just didn't think it would be likely with only 2k miles, but if they have been known to be improperly torqued from the factory...makes sense, thanks

 

[madmike2]

No reason to be sorry. Being new to the forum the learning curve is sometimes steep.

Having spent amany years reading posts I know the history, you don't.

If the previoous owner didn't know enough to keep the tires inflated he surely didin't know enough to recognize any other issues. Good catch for you!

 

[FJRAE]

Thanks Mike, though I've been on many forums and know better

I was just pretty well worn out after a 550mile round trip to pick her up yesterday, cleaning her up, changing the oil, finally a ride and then...

Thanks for the info and reply though, yeah the previous owner just was just one of the casual rider types, not really into it I guess, I knew more about his bike than he did, haha!

 

[wfooshee]

Front rotors are floating type, and have enough play to clunk, especially if you're hearing it right as you stop.

Like MM2 says, steering head play is easy to check. Bike on centerstand, have someone push the rear down to lift the front, and you pull the front wheel fore and aft. Any play will be obvious at that point, and if it's not obvious, it isn't there.

 

[huron52]

Two things come to mind.

When was the oil changed last in the front shocks and has the steering head bearing been checked and retorqued?

 

[FJRAE]

Thanks for the info guys, after a much needed nap my diagnostic skills are a wee bit sharper; the noise seems to be coming from the rotors as I can duplicate it in the garage with a light enough touch on the front brake that barely compresses the forks and the noise sounds exactly the same and occurs when applying and releasing the brake. I can also move each rotor forward and backward with my hand and duplicate the clunk.

I reckon I'll probably leave them as is unless/until the bushings get worn to the point of becoming louder or if vibration/pulsation occurs. Unless any one knows of good a reason to replace therm now? (only 2270 miles)

Appreciate all of the replies, thanks!

 

[wfooshee]

There should be no reason to replace them, ever, unless you score them by running them with worn pads. The movement is completely normal with floating pads.

One might ask, "Why aren't they rigidly fastened?"

One should consider that the calipers are rigidly fastened, unlike the single-piston floating calipers on your soccer-mom SUV. (Or even the rear wheel of your FJR!)

The floating rotor allows a little "give" when needed in the rotor/pad/caliper system.

 

[FJRAE]

Yeah I'm quite familiar with the rotor design, just never had any of my bikes make the noise, so to me it's not normal; since they are designed to float laterally, the noise being produced occurs when moving in the rotational direction, I can't duplicate the noise when moving the rotors laterally. The movement that I'm getting does not occur on my CBR with 27k miles, naturally she doesn't clunk either

I'd hazard a guess that the metal on the hub section where the buttons sit has worn away prematurely.

 

[SPORT]

I've been batteling the clunking problem for quite some time now.

Front rotors are tight, and are not making ANY clunking.

For me it occurs more with my Givi tail bag on and loaded, and less when Givi not installed. I can reproduce the sound while on center stand and compressing front forks (rocking bike forward and backward) while front brakes squeezed. To me, it sounds (and feels) like it is in the head. However, after replacing head bearings it continues. I then flushed the fork oil and replaced front springs. It has decreased, but is still noticable. My next move will be rebuilding front forks and replacing warn parts, i.e. bushings and the like.

Just my $0.02 worth.

Sport

 

[El Cajone]

Most likely you need to get the steering head bearings re-torqued. I had this same problem the second year I had my '07 and I remember reading somewhere (probably on this forum) that this wasn't an unusual problem.

 

[mcatrophy]

...

The floating rotor allows a little "give" when needed in the rotor/pad/caliper system.

Also allows for thermal expansion without warping tendancies.

I've been batteling the clunking problem for quite some time now.

Front rotors are tight, and are not making ANY clunking.

...

Sport

Are you absolutely sure? When my '06 was new, I was convinced the head bearings weren't tight. Took it to my dealer, the mechanic gave it a good going over. In the end proved to me it was one of the rotors.

Sit beside the front wheel, grasp the rotor as if it was a steering wheel, try rocking it hard clockwise then counter-clockwise. Repeat for the other side.

My '10 came with a similar clunk, again I found one of the rotors could be made to give the clunk.

The best head bearing check is with the front wheel off the ground then standing in front try to push the forks forwards and backwards. If you do it with the wheel on the ground, using the brake, the rotor noise and feel will convince you it's the head.

 

[RaYzerman19]

I had the same concern on my 2 year old '07 I bought with 2000 miles on it. I was able to find the rotor clunk, but it was not until I retorqued the head bearings that it went away..... except for a little bit of minor rotor clunk which doesn't bother me. I would go through the exercise anyway just to be sure. Leaving the steering head bearings loose isn't going to do them any good.

 

[FJRAE]

Yeah I'll definitely check the bearing pre-load too just to be sure, although I'd have expected some degree of tank slapping wobble at high speeds since that occurred on my VTX when I replaced the entire front end and didn't go quite tight enough on the pre-load. Better to be absolutely sure where the steering is concerned though!

 

[FJRAE]

Thought I'd update with the diagnosis on this problem; finally figured out how to get her on the center stand (2x4) used my cbr front fork lift and checked for play prying up on the tire; none at all. Rotated the wheel and applied the front brake...clunk, quieter on subsequent tries until I spin the wheel the other way and it clunks again. Definitely the rotor buttons free play/wear.

Thanks for all of the replies.

 

[850rdstr]

My 2010 came with a clunk as well, turned out to be loose caliper bolts from the incompetent dealer set up. One bolt fell out, the other three were finger tight.

 

[smellthat?]

My 2010 came with a clunk as well, turned out to be loose caliper bolts from the incompetent dealer set up. One bolt fell out, the other three were finger tight.

SCARY SHEEEOT!! :blink:

My 2010 came with a clunk as well, turned out to be loose caliper bolts from the incompetent dealer set up. One bolt fell out, the other three were finger tight.

SCARY SHEEEOT!! :blink:

Actually I am seriously heading to the garage and checking mine. . . .