Front End Knocking - Bearings Or Bushes

Hi all

I have recently noticed an increasing knocking/clicking coming from the front end under heavy braking. It is also noticeable when I push the bike and apply the front brake hard.

I immediately thought it would be the headset bearings, so I unweighted the front end by raising the front wheel off the ground. The bars move freely with no notchy feeling, and when rocking the bars back and forward I can't feel any play at all in the headstem. If the bearings do need replacement, would I be able feel any play by doing that anyway? Or does it take the braking force to make it noticeable?

If not the bearings, could it be the fork bushes wearing? Could play in the bushes/sliders be giving the knocking that I am experiencing? If it is the bushes - is it a complicated/expensive job to replace them?

Many Thanks

BB407

When you have the front end un-loaded, grab the fork lowers and try pushing and pulling from there. More leverage tends to show the problem. You don't have enought leverage from the bars to be able to see a bad bearing.

What chris said.

...and i dont think shrubbery would be a issue unless you got a piece of fern stuck in your front wheel.


Bushings.....not bushes

Bushing
[image: sliderbushing.jpg]

Bushes
[image: mushroom_bushes_marching_in_a_row_up_the_hill_1128.jpg]

767fixer, Feb 16 2007, 09:44 PMWhat chris said.

...and i dont think shrubbery would be a issue unless you got a piece of fern stuck in your front wheel.


Bushings.....not bushes

Bushing
[image: sliderbushing.jpg]

Bushes
[image: mushroom_bushes_marching_in_a_row_up_the_hill_1128.jpg]

(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/laugh.gif)

Only you fixer. You got a good chuckle out of me on that one.

chris2992, Feb 16 2007, 05:12 PMOnly you fixer. You got a good chuckle out of me on that one.

only trying to help!

If it is the bushes - is it a complicated/expensive job to replace them?

these guys may be of help

[image: lawn-service--460.jpg]

Only you Fixer......started to, I just didn't have the heart................................................. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/goofy.gif)

bb407, Feb 16 2007, 03:14 PMHi all

I have recently noticed an increasing knocking/clicking coming from the front end under heavy braking. It is also noticeable when I push the bike and apply the front brake hard.

I immediately thought it would be the headset bearings, so I unweighted the front end by raising the front wheel off the ground. The bars move freely with no notchy feeling, and when rocking the bars back and forward I can't feel any play at all in the headstem. If the bearings do need replacement, would I be able feel any play by doing that anyway? Or does it take the braking force to make it noticeable?

If not the bearings, could it be the fork bushes wearing? Could play in the bushes/sliders be giving the knocking that I am experiencing? If it is the bushes - is it a complicated/expensive job to replace them?

Many Thanks

BB407

Its loose headset bearings , the test you did with wheel off the ground doesnt put enough load on the headset to get it to pop

They arent bad more than likely unless you rode with them that way for a long time, it's one of the first things I did with my bike when new, cause they barely snugem off the floor and as soon as they seat they are too loose.

Thanks fellahs

Sounds as though I might be able to get away with tightening up the head stem bearings. I'll give it a shot and see how it goes.

Funny thing about the bushes/bushings thing, is that I actually typed bushings in the first place and for some reason it just didn't look right..............

BB407

bb407, Feb 16 2007, 10:53 PMFunny thing about the bushes/bushings thing, is that I actually typed bushings in the first place and for some reason it just didn't look right..............

BB407

If it had how much fun would that have been for me? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)

Look at the 'barrels' that secure the front rotor to its carrier on the hub. Is there any alumium debris on them? I have had a similar issue on a 6th gen, turns out part of the caliper was rubbing on these intermittently.

-Chris

Thanks all for your advice

Fitted an All Balls Racing bearing kit today. Took about 3 hours to remove old bearings and replace with the new kit. Has solved the problem.
Cheers
BB407