stevew
Parking Attendant
Posts: 12
|
posted September 20, 2009 08:35 AM
Clunking Sound from Forks/Brakes?
I have an '08 with just over 4000 miles. Recently is has developed a clunking sound of sorts from the front end of the bike. I have not yet been able to isolate where the sound is coming from. It does not occur all of the time, but rather it occasionally occurs after braking just prior to stopping, and sometimes during gradual acceleration from a stop. I also have heard it when riding and go over a bump or dip. It is very intermittent however. The forks, as best as I can tell, are not loose. My other thought was that perhaps the sound is coming from the front caliper. I need to check that next.
Anyone else experience this? Any thoughts?
Regards,
Steve
  
|
Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
|
posted September 20, 2009 08:48 AM
If it is just a slight clunk, it could be your steering head bearings. If you drive the bike slowly and then stab the front brakes a little, you should be able to detect the clunking if it is loose head bearings.
Shane
|
Tool Man
Needs a job
Posts: 4493
|
posted September 20, 2009 08:57 AM
If the clunk comes from pulling the bike backwards with the brakes on... thay all do that a little. Yours sounds a little different...check it out
____________
The banks are failing..
The banks are failing...
Invest in Ammo
|
INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
|
posted September 20, 2009 03:40 PM
Its your steering head nut . Its probably finger tight like all the ones I've had to troubleshoot. You need to get the front wheel off the ground and get the top tripple clamp off to tighten the steering head spanner nut. The forks should fall left and right freely but not so free that the forks bounce on the stops!
____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
|
Flame On
Needs a life
Fuel Air & Spark
Posts: 17104
|
posted September 20, 2009 03:47 PM
does it make that noise holding the front brakes fully then it could be the steering nut I had that prob when i bought my 14
____________
77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
|
masszx14
Pro
A mind beside itself!
Posts: 1806
|
posted September 20, 2009 07:09 PM
quote:
Its your steering head nut . Its probably finger tight like all the ones I've had to troubleshoot. You need to get the front wheel off the ground and get the top tripple clamp off to tighten the steering head spanner nut. The forks should fall left and right freely but not so free that the forks bounce on the stops!
+1
Mine gets loose all the time and clunks under abrupt breaking.
I have the GPR V4 damper and there's not enough thread for
that damn big nut to be torqued to spec cause of the damper
base plate. Drives me f*ckin nuts every time I need to tighten it.
____________
universal@mind
|
stevew
Parking Attendant
Posts: 12
|
posted September 21, 2009 05:51 AM
Based upon the responses and some more experimentation, I went ahead and ordered the Kawasaki steering stem nut wrench. I took a quick look through the manual and it indicates that I need to remove the handlebars which includes removing the controls, levers, etc. For those of you who have done this adjustment before, is all of that really needed? Can I just remove the steering head nut and perhaps a few more things just to lift the steering head up out of the way a bit to get access to the stem nut underneath, or do I indeed need to entirely remove the handlebars as per the manual? I need to take a closer look at the assembly. It will be a few days before I receive the wrench.
Thanks for all your help!
Regards,
Steve
|
Sticks_n_Stones
Needs a job
Posts: 3930
|
posted September 21, 2009 07:58 AM
quote:
Its your steering head nut . Its probably finger tight like all the ones I've had to troubleshoot. You need to get the front wheel off the ground and get the top tripple clamp off to tighten the steering head spanner nut. The forks should fall left and right freely but not so free that the forks bounce on the stops!
Mine was that way, too. Tightening it make alot of difference in low speed handling! No longer "fell" into the corners so easily.
____________
'06 zx14
Muzzy M10/M14
PCIII w/ Muzzy map
Flies out K&N in!
bits n pieces...
|
INTIMIDA2OR
Needs a life
RED rider!
Posts: 13081
|
posted September 21, 2009 11:50 AM
quote:
Based upon the responses and some more experimentation, I went ahead and ordered the Kawasaki steering stem nut wrench. I took a quick look through the manual and it indicates that I need to remove the handlebars which includes removing the controls, levers, etc. For those of you who have done this adjustment before, is all of that really needed? Can I just remove the steering head nut and perhaps a few more things just to lift the steering head up out of the way a bit to get access to the stem nut underneath, or do I indeed need to entirely remove the handlebars as per the manual? I need to take a closer look at the assembly. It will be a few days before I receive the wrench.
Thanks for all your help!
Regards,
Steve
Well it's best to remove the clip ons because since they are a seperate part from the top clamp they tend to jam up on the top of the fork if you try to remove the whole thing as one unit. And also they bind up when reinstalling them as one whole unit . Pretty scary too because you could tighten up everything to spec but since it has a tendancy to bind as a whole ,the top clamp and clips would not seat all the way back down evne thought you tighten every thing down to spec. Some times I get by with just loosening the clips and they come off and back on fine ...sometimes lol!
It's only 2 allen bolts per clip and they're off so it's no big deal just remove them. One important thing to remember is to make sure to check that the top clamp is bottomed out completely on top of the spanner nut before buttoning everything back up!
____________
'06 Passion Red ZX-14
*Lee*
|
3000psi and falling
Zone Head
Posts: 848
|
posted September 22, 2009 06:22 AM
I had this same thing happen! I ended up being the right side motor mount, it was popping back and forth just a fraction of inch under breaking, over bumps and accel, just snug it back up. the dealer replaced my steering head bearings and runners trying to stop the popping/ thump under warranty but did nothing to stop the noise. .. I ended up looking over every nut and bold myself, untill i found it.
____________
08 ZX14, 2010 Persimmon Red bodywork.
Flies pulled, 16-42, BMC street, 8" extensions, drag shock, cut pan, Cycle Concepts Drag Pack and springs, muzzy m14 w/ oval can, lowered, Shinco usoft rear, pcv with autotune, leightweight Shori 18ah battery, throttle meister. 500lbs at bandimeres scales with half tank of juice.
|
|
|
HOME
NEW TOPIC