Front shocks noisy??
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 295
Likes: 23
From: Northeast
Front shocks noisy??
Hi all,
Got a 2009 Superglide here which I love to death! Had her for about a year now, she's got about 12-13k on her. My concern is that lately, going over rough terrain, i get some noise on the front end. And it SEEMS to be the front suspension. I only say this because when I hit SOMEWHAT formidable bumpiness (not even SEVERE) i get this noise in the front. It's like KLACK KLACK KLACKETY KLACK kinna thing. IT REALLY sounds like the front suspension is bottoming out. Is this possible with this amount of mileage?
It wasn't bad up til now, but i SWEAR it's getting worse. My question - what to do? replace front end shocks? have a service guy look at it?
Any suggestion??
Got a 2009 Superglide here which I love to death! Had her for about a year now, she's got about 12-13k on her. My concern is that lately, going over rough terrain, i get some noise on the front end. And it SEEMS to be the front suspension. I only say this because when I hit SOMEWHAT formidable bumpiness (not even SEVERE) i get this noise in the front. It's like KLACK KLACK KLACKETY KLACK kinna thing. IT REALLY sounds like the front suspension is bottoming out. Is this possible with this amount of mileage?
It wasn't bad up til now, but i SWEAR it's getting worse. My question - what to do? replace front end shocks? have a service guy look at it?
Any suggestion??
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
Could be multiple things. Get out your tools and start checking things for proper torque. Here's a wild guess, check your tank bolts to ensure it is not rattling on impact. Good luck and be sure to report back with the culprit.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 706
Likes: 30
From: Alaska
I was going to say tank bolts also. Mine were loose and making noise. I thought it might be front suspension but it was just the tank.
+1 re tank bolts (back and front).
I swore I had front end (suspension) clunking over bumps-and-on... the sound was coming from there, or so it seemed. I checked everything: mudguard bolts, wheel bearings, excessive play in the disc, headlight bolts, loose stuff inside the headlight shell, and on...
Drove me crazy. Then someone here saved my sanity (or at least the voices in my head now tell me I'm sane
) by suggesting the tank bolts.
I can almost guarantee you that, if you get a definite clunk over road bumps, it's your tank bolts.
I swore I had front end (suspension) clunking over bumps-and-on... the sound was coming from there, or so it seemed. I checked everything: mudguard bolts, wheel bearings, excessive play in the disc, headlight bolts, loose stuff inside the headlight shell, and on...
Drove me crazy. Then someone here saved my sanity (or at least the voices in my head now tell me I'm sane
) by suggesting the tank bolts.I can almost guarantee you that, if you get a definite clunk over road bumps, it's your tank bolts.
Last edited by Davdoodles; Apr 22, 2016 at 01:54 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 87
Likes: 3
From: bridport dorset u.k
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Yep that would be my first check. Recently on my 08 WG I had a rattle and thought for sure it was from the front suspension or something loose up front. Only did it when I hit sharp bumps. Had my bike on the jack multiple times checking everything on the front end I could think of and found nothing. Like you it only did it over a bump and it did not have to be anything large, it was a "clank" sound and I swore it was from the suspension. One day I was leaving my home on the slow country road and just happened to be glancing down at the odometer to see if I needed to stop for gas at the moment I hit a sharp bump and say the tank move and heard the noise. Stopped the bike and sure enough I could move the tank slightly. Went home and tightened the front tank bolt (was only slightly loose) and that cured the issue
Last edited by Mxdad; Apr 22, 2016 at 08:12 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Honah Lee
It's typical if it bottoms or even falls out after a bump since the up travel is even less. That's when mine does it the most. And I know it's not the bearings or the tank bolt. Just like yours' KLACK KLACK KLACKETY KLACK. Check your fall-away or torque exactly as described in service manual since bikes are different and your tank bolt of course. Do not over tighten the fall away. Stay on the minimum. These bike handle a lot better with it on the minimum and the bearings are tapered rollers which work best and longest with no pre-load when running in grease. Set correctly and greased a couple times, they will easily go the life of the bike.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Apr 22, 2016 at 09:09 AM.