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Rattly rear calliper

4 posts Started 12 Jan 2025 Last recovered post 13 Jan 2025 Wayback Machine snapshot 8 Feb 2025

#1

Every time I take my 2009 VFR800 (about 85000km) for a ride, I immediately notice a rattling sensation from the back end. I get a bit of a knock when riding off over the curb, at lowish speed (70-90km/hr) on rougher tarmac I can feel an intermittent rattle/knock, yet on smooth tar seal or at higher speeds, the rattle disappears. I feel it most through the footpegs which I believe means the rattle is somewhere on the swingarm.

The chain has no tight spots and is well lubed and tensioned and runs completely smoothly when spun on the centrestand. I have checked and lubed the suspension bearings, all were in perfect greasy shape, and both sprockets are tight and free of slop.

The only thing I have found which might be the source is the rear calliper. There is a "normal" amount of freeplay on the sliding pins (and these have been cleaned and regreased recently) but I can feel some loose play in the bracket that the calliper bolts to. I can move this vertically and create a knock so I think I found my culprit but I am unsure what to do next. This is the plate that sits over the axle holder and connects to the swingarm with a torque arm. I am not concerned from a safety/function perspective but I would like to smooth out my rides.

Has anyone else had an issue with this part/area and can suggest the next step?

[image: brake.jpg]

#2

Perished part 12?

#3
3 hours ago, Presson

Perished part 12?

Certainly will be worth a look. I've got the tools but I am not in a tearing hurry to diassemble the whole hub just yet.

It is handy to have a my 99 VFR to hand for a comparison and that one has none of the freeplay of the 2009. 

#4

I took the wheel out and then accessed the brake torque arm. Found out by accident that there is a split pin on the bolt into the swingarm that you can't see unless you pull the eccentric out, but the bolt came out anyway. No sign of any issues with the bushings or the rubber washers on the torque arm, but I added an o-ring to each to create more tension. Not sure any of this has made a significant difference but worth looking into anyway. Reassembled with some blue Loctite and and new split pin for the lower bolt. 

I think I will go ahead and replace the rubber parts on the sliding pins next. 

End of thread · 4 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 8 Feb 2025