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Author Topic: Clunking noise in front end  (Read 5794 times)

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Winhawk

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Clunking noise in front end
« on: September 28, 2012, 01:38:57 AM »
Was riding home from work today and had to break pretty hard for traffic. As the nose dived I heard a loud clunking sound coming from the front end.  This was over the radio, engine noise and my pipes.  I also felt it in the bars.  Took it to the dealer. They thought it might be play in the floating rotors. I think it might be the front shocks.  They are going to look at it on Saturday.

Any ideas what it might be?
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GregKhougaz

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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2012, 02:08:57 AM »
It is not unusual for the stock touring shocks to clunk when you first hit the brakes.  That's would be my guess from your description.
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ultrafxr

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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2012, 07:39:21 AM »
Steering stem loose.
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Grey Ghost

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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2012, 12:49:53 PM »
X2 on the Steering Stem being loose. I had a similar issue when grabbing a handfull of front brake.
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grc

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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2012, 01:43:31 PM »

Have had similar experiences in the past, and it was loose steering head bearings.  Have the dealer check the bearing preload.  Loose bearings will also manifest as a low speed wobble in the front end, especially if you take your hands off the bars.  btw, this seems to be a fairly common issue with 2009 and later Road Glides.

If the bearing preload checks out OK, and the rotors and calipers check out OK, tell them to check the fluid level in the forks.  I remember someone posting some time back that his bike had almost no oil in the forks.  Without fluid for the damping system, the front end will dive immediately and all the way to the stops.


Jerry
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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2012, 05:48:29 PM »
I'd bet on a loose steering stem.  Wifes bike had the same issue but she did not know it until I pointed it out.  The bearing races were not seated fully from the factory.
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SERG3

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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2012, 09:31:50 PM »
Quote from: grc on September 28, 2012, 01:43:31 PM
Have had similar experiences in the past, and it was loose steering head bearings.  Have the dealer check the bearing preload.  Loose bearings will also manifest as a low speed wobble in the front end, especially if you take your hands off the bars.  btw, this seems to be a fairly common issue with 2009 and later Road Glides.

If the bearing preload checks out OK, and the rotors and calipers check out OK, tell them to check the fluid level in the forks.  I remember someone posting some time back that his bike had almost no oil in the forks.  Without fluid for the damping system, the front end will dive immediately and all the way to the stops.


Jerry
X2
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Winhawk

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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2012, 04:04:35 AM »
Thanks for all the info guys.  I had the front end wobble and has the bearings seated and the fallaway set to 1.5 swings. That took care of the wobble. Will still have it checked out.
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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2012, 07:44:42 PM »
I wonder if the front fork oil might be low?
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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #9 on: October 24, 2012, 02:40:58 PM »
 I used to get allot of clunking noise from the front forks when the temp went below freezing in the night, and I rode the bike in the morning. Seemed like the forks needed time to warm up.  Once I had a few miles on the bike the noise went away. Now have Works Performance internals up front and what a difference.
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Re: Clunking noise in front end
« Reply #10 on: October 24, 2012, 09:06:10 PM »
It could be your front floating rotors.  I have had mine do it
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