my front end clunks on bumps, help

[SCRider]

My 07 rattles over bumps and it is the front brake pads. The dealer told me it was the pads but I called BS on that, however, when the mechanic reached down and rattled them with his finger I had to agree that was the sound I was hearing. So, I took it on a test ride and rode it over a series of close center line marker dots; when it rattled I applied the front brakes and the noise immediately went away. Obviously they were right about the noise being the pads. I can't believe that Yamaha would build a brake system that rattled over bumps. Oh well at least now I know know it is just an annoying problem not a dangerous problem.

My '08 rattles all the time, not just going over bumps. I've confirmed that it is the front brake pads rattling when the vent holes in the rotors pass. Kind of a continuous clicking sound as you roll along at 30 mph or lower and stops when you apply slight brake pressure. I've pulled the pads on one side and tried to tighten the spring by bending it a little but it didn't help, I can still rattle the pads by hand. I'm thinking about applying some brake pad adhesive to the backs of the pads like you use on cages. Anyone try this?

SCRider

 

[wel1123]

Front brake pad rattle seems to be common on 07 and maybe 08 model. I got a bunch of **** from people with nothing better to do when I brought it up a year ago. I had some improvement, although short lived, bending the retaining clips. If someone comes up with a better solution I'd love to hear about it

 

[SCRider]

Front brake pad rattle seems to be common on 07 and maybe 08 model. I got a bunch of **** from people with nothing better to do when I brought it up a year ago. I had some improvement, although short lived, bending the retaining clips. If someone comes up with a better solution I'd love to hear about it

I pulled the pads and applied some Gunk disc brake quiet spray on the backs of the pads and the clicking noise is gone for now. May come back when the sticky stuff wears off, we'll see.

 

[LKLD]

**Thread Ressurection**

I seem to have this "classic clunk". I've noticed it first a couple of months ago, though sporadically. The other day, I turned down a road, that I thought would be paved, but wasn't, and road it for a few miles. Mostly it was sand/gravel, but occasionally would have areas of washboards. These washboards is where I really noticed the clunking. So after reading this thread, I'm going to check rotors, pads, and torque specs.

I know this is an older thread, so are there any other things I should look at?

(2013 w/ 16,000 miles)

 

[RaYzerman19]

All of these are floating rotors....... nothing to do but let brake dust and dirt build up in the rivets, until then they may rattle occasionally or clunk.

 

[LKLD]

But wouldn't that make it constant, or only when brakes are applied? I only get this clunk on fork compression and rebound over bumps.

 

[TripperMike]

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but with having a '13 and having this clunking issue, I don't feel so bad now. For the past 2 yrs I have been trying to figure out why I have that clunking in the front end. And I think I have had plenty of time for brake dust to accumilate.

I've changed my head bearing and retighten that stem nut more times than I can remember, and yet it still clunks.

 

[mcatrophy]

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but with having a '13 and having this clunking issue, I don't feel so bad now. For the past 2 yrs I have been trying to figure out why I have that clunking in the front end. And I think I have had plenty of time for brake dust to accumilate.
I've changed my head bearing and retighten that stem nut more times than I can remember, and yet it still clunks.

Try sitting facing the side of the front wheel, grasp the brake disc with two hands, try to rotate it to and fro. See if you hear your clunk. Try the other side.

My '06 was quite clunky over bumps, and you could hear it if you were stationary and tried rocking the bike forwards and backwards with the brake on. I thought it was the head bearing, but my dealer showed me the discs really were floating using the above method.

My '10 is near silent, but I can just provoke it to make a noise.

 

[LKLD]

Riding home today from work, the thought of the stem nut entered my brain (don't ask), so while riding along a straight road, I decided to see if it would turn. With the slightest of pressure, I was able to turn it. Could this be a factor with the clunking? I'm assuming this should have a torque value. Thoughts?

 

[RossKean]

Definitely! After some front end service, I forgot to retorque the steering head nut - just finger tight. Steering was clunky until I got it done correctly.

 

[900gc]

Riding home today from work, the thought of the stem nut entered my brain (don't ask), so while riding along a straight road, I decided to see if it would turn. With the slightest of pressure, I was able to turn it. Could this be a factor with the clunking? I'm assuming this should have a torque value. Thoughts?

Are you saying the stem cap nut which is supposed to be torqued to 85 ftlb was only finger tight? If that is the case, after screaming at the dealer where you bought it for their egregious error, have a quality dealer re-torque the steering stem properly or do it yourself if you have the right tools.

My '08 was clunking too until I repacked the bearings @ the 16K service (the lower one had hardly any grease!) and torqued properly. No more clunking. Had nothing to do with brake components in my case.

 

[supertankerm60a3]

Full floating disks are meant to have an airgap to prevent heat from migrating to the hub. A little movement is fine. When it looks like this

https://s1028.photobucket.com/user/supertankerm60a3/media/PICT0119small.jpg.html

you should replace it ir at least the cylindrical disk interlocks.

This was my '93 K100 RS at 200,000 miles. I was able to buy just the interlocks and the snaprings that held them in.

 

[Queensland Ken]

May sound really silly, re-torque the engine mounts esp if you have sliders installed.

It's also real easy to check the steering head bearings.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

Riding home today from work, the thought of the stem nut entered my brain (don't ask), so while riding along a straight road, I decided to see if it would turn. With the slightest of pressure, I was able to turn it. Could this be a factor with the clunking? I'm assuming this should have a torque value. Thoughts?

I dont understand ..this exact issues was discussed and solved in this same thread years ago ...post #18 >> https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php/topic/106050-my-front-end-clunks-on-bumps-help/?do=findComment&comment=499193

 

[LKLD]

What's not to understand? Did a search, this came up, and I posted...sheesh.

Thanks for the link though. I torqued it down (85 ft.#), and will ride it tomorrow to see if this is the issue.

 

[RadioHowie]

OH MY GOD, ROB!!!

IT'S 85 INCH POUNDS!!!!

(not )

 

[900gc]

What's not to understand? Did a search, this came up, and I posted...sheesh.
Thanks for the link though. I torqued it down (85 ft.#), and will ride it tomorrow to see if this is the issue.

You need to make sure the bearing nuts are torqued properly first, you know, the slotted ones you need the special wrench/socket for, then lastly the cap nut.

 

[LKLD]

Howie, I don't have a torque wrench that measures more than 7 in pounds.

 

[RadioHowie]

Do the math....85 inch pounds = 12 foot pounds plus one drop of sweat.

 

[LKLD]

Ok, just an update. Tightened the stem nut, and the clunk is gone.

Thank you to all who contributed, including Howie!