Something Loose?

[Bogus]

Haven't seen any posts about this yet. Have an 08 A and today while going for a ride noticed a kind of "clangy" sound from the front end area every time I would hit a bump. Noticed it while at a slow speed since I couldn't hear it at high speed. I have 110 mi on odo. So I would speed up to about 30mph, pull in the clutch to see if I could zero in on the location of the noise. It would make that "clangy" sound like something was a bit loose, or was coming in slight contact with something else every time the front forks would compress on a bump. I already checked the glovebox for something rattling around in it, but all I have in there is a rag. Nothing in saddlebags either. Couldn't isolate the sound on the road, so when I got home I tried to duplicate the sound in my garage by pumping the forks, banging the front tire with my hands, bumping the fairing, feeling up inside the front of the fairing, etc., but couldn't make the same sound. Everything seems to be tight when at a standstill. Seems like the noise is after sharp edged hits from expansion joints, small potholes, and raod imperfections.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I didn't have a lot of time to go over the front end in depth because I was scheduled for the night shift.

Thanks

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Bogus,

You may want to check for some loose brake pads. Since they are floating, they can make a little more racket.

 

[Ignacio]

It sounds like another set of loose steering head bearings. It's a fairly common observation with new bikes. Dealer should have checked it at setup....but many are not to spec.

 

[user 213]

The brake rotors float too, and they shouldn't be loose at the rivets. There have been a couple of cases in the past where the rotors were loose enough to notice if you grabbed them and wiggle. That can make a noise similar to what you describe and will be a warranty replacement.

Oh, and remember the rotor is hot right after a ride, be careful not to burn yourself.

Might just be something else too.

 

[Bogus]

Forgot to mention that noise happens with or without the brakes applied, so I think that would rule out the calipers or rotors. Will check out the steering head bearing torque hopefully tomorrow morning after work tonite, ar after some sleep first! Now that I think of it, if I sit on the bike and roll it slightly, then hit the front brake, I can hear a slight clunk that I attributed to the combined slack in the rotor and the caliper and the brake pads. Or isn't there any "slack" in those components and what I am hearing IS the steering head bearing?

 

[Ignacio]

Try searching on loose clunk steering head bearing site:fjrforum.com at Google and you'll find 33 hits on this very subject. Very commonly discussed item.

 

[Fairlaner]

Just for ***** and giggles check the front fender is not loose.

R

 

[rwenck]

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I didn't have a lot of time to go over the front end in depth because I was scheduled for the night shift.Thanks

My '06 had the same problem. Dealer found that the front fender was loose--improperly assembled by his shop.

Also--Every Yamaha I've ever had, including my current '07 fjr, has suffered from improperly adjusted steering head--clunks when front brakes applied. Dealer insists that it's torqued to specs, and the standard shaking the fork tubes test doesn't work, but when the steering head is tightened to suit me the problem goes away, along with a very slight tendency to wobble.

 

[Bogus]

OK, got home from work this morning, and got the bike on the center stand to investigate further. Found the cause of the clanking sound. When I would grab ahold of either front rotor, and try to rotate them forward or backwards, there was a little bit of play in them where they are attatched with the rivets. And I recognized the sound immediately. Come to think of it now, I guess I wasn't applying the brakes when I was on the road trying to hear the noise. :blushing:

Anyway, I know that these are "floating" rotors, but are they supposed to have that fore and aft play? If someone could go out and grab ahold of their rotors today, that would be great!!

 

[JohnTC40]

If it's a rattle and not a clank (you mentioned checking for something rattling around in the glove box), check the windshield mechanism. Mine has a good bit of play in it and rattles going over sharp bumps.

 

[user 213]

<snip>Anyway, I know that these are "floating" rotors, but are they supposed to have that fore and aft play? If someone could go out and grab ahold of their rotors today, that would be great!!

On my '04 w/75k, there is zero rotational play or play at all that I can notice by grabbing the rotor and attempting to move it around. Yes, they are floating rotors, but yours sound too loose. Granted your bike is new and a Gen II, so not exactly apples to apples here.

 

[rushes]

Anyway, I know that these are "floating" rotors, but are they supposed to have that fore and aft play? If someone could go out and grab ahold of their rotors today, that would be great!!

Mine moves back an forth about .015 to .02. I had noticed a noise too when grabbing the brake and rocking the bike back and forth. I had thought it was in the forks, but figured it was just that slack in the rotors. Haven't noticed them making any noise while riding. IMO I'd say as long as yours are not so loose as to have side to side wiggle, you're probably OK.

 

[Jagermeister]

OK, got home from work this morning, and got the bike on the center stand to investigate further. Found the cause of the clanking sound. When I would grab ahold of either front rotor, and try to rotate them forward or backwards, there was a little bit of play in them where they are attatched with the rivets. And I recognized the sound immediately. Come to think of it now, I guess I wasn't applying the brakes when I was on the road trying to hear the noise. :blushing:
Anyway, I know that these are "floating" rotors, but are they supposed to have that fore and aft play? If someone could go out and grab ahold of their rotors today, that would be great!!

You made me curious, so I did go out and tug on the rotors...a slight amount of play, but not much. I checked to be sure all the rivets and bolts were tight, and they are.

Regarding your initial question, I noticed quite a bit more rattle (on both 07 and 08) with the initially soft factory suspension settings. After tightening them up, much of the bump-induced rattling subsided. It helped handlebar vibes, also.

If you haven't yet, try Ashe's settings: clicky as a starting point.

 

[raclow]

Just to make sure you don't have a loose steering head nut, make sure you have 85 ft/lbs on it. I know from experience this can be a problem and source for a sound going over a small bump.

Should have been checked at time of set up but you know how that can be if the phone rings ONE time in the shop.

Just my .02 worth.

 

[ynotride]

I have an 08 with 108 miles on it so far and I had a rattle to. Mine ended up being the straps in the saddle bags they were not clipped together and they were bouncing around making the noise.

I just checked my rotors and front fender and neither are loose. I had my dealer tighten my steering stem when I picked it up so I knew it wasnt from that.

 

[sl_1300]

I have 600 on my 08 and it too has a very small amount of slack in the rotors. As I move the rotors by hand I get a clank and I get the same sound only when applying the brakes when coming to a stop in my garage, other than that no noise.

I also adjusted the suspension as suggested above and it made a noticeable improvement in ride quality.

FWIW, the rotors on my wing are of the same design and make the same noise.

 

[Longrider]

I had the same problem on my 04. One dealer said it was normal as the brake disks are "floating." Another dealer said it was a safety problem. They contacted Yamaha and both disks were replaced at no cost.

After the replacement the noise was gone.

Longrider

 

[Bogus]

Thanks guys. Looks like I will have to visit my friendly neighborhood dealer!

 

[DailyCommuter]

My rotors do the same thing. 07 9k on it. They have been like that since I bought it. I know because I checked them after reading a similar thread when I first got it. I tried the suspension settings too and they rock! Nice job ash! I really should check my steering head before this season gets rolling but I don't have the right spanner wrench to torque it... Any suggestions?