Help with my front end
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Tucson, AZ
Help with my front end
Hey guys, so I've got an issue...
About a month ago I started hearing a clunking noise coming from the front of my bike when I would hit a hard bump, I coincidentally had just installed a new fairing so my original thoughts are I've got a loose bolt somewhere, two or three more times of removing it, putting lock-tite back on every single piece, and tightening it all back up my problem got no better. In the last two weeks though it has been made clear that something in my front end is no bueno, any time I hit a medium sized bump (I live in Tucson Az and the roads here are ****ed so there's no avoiding it) there is a clinking sound coming from my forks. I ride a 2005 fxdx with the fully adjustable cartridge forks...
Anyone with some knowledge of these that could provide some insight? Trying to keep costs down as much as possible so if anyone knows right away from prior experience with the same issue, what the weak link is that could be causing my clinking and EXCESSIVE brake dive please fill me in. I am obviously needing to rebuild, just wondering what I should explore as far as options go for just a repair and replace, or if it is going to cost more than a couple hundred in parts for stock repair, where I could look for an upgrade? I'm wanting to keep the ability to adjust my preload, I've looked at ohlins nix 22 cartidges and then I've also seen a works adjustable cartridge but could not find a price anywhere for them.
Like I said, any insight would be great...
About a month ago I started hearing a clunking noise coming from the front of my bike when I would hit a hard bump, I coincidentally had just installed a new fairing so my original thoughts are I've got a loose bolt somewhere, two or three more times of removing it, putting lock-tite back on every single piece, and tightening it all back up my problem got no better. In the last two weeks though it has been made clear that something in my front end is no bueno, any time I hit a medium sized bump (I live in Tucson Az and the roads here are ****ed so there's no avoiding it) there is a clinking sound coming from my forks. I ride a 2005 fxdx with the fully adjustable cartridge forks...
Anyone with some knowledge of these that could provide some insight? Trying to keep costs down as much as possible so if anyone knows right away from prior experience with the same issue, what the weak link is that could be causing my clinking and EXCESSIVE brake dive please fill me in. I am obviously needing to rebuild, just wondering what I should explore as far as options go for just a repair and replace, or if it is going to cost more than a couple hundred in parts for stock repair, where I could look for an upgrade? I'm wanting to keep the ability to adjust my preload, I've looked at ohlins nix 22 cartidges and then I've also seen a works adjustable cartridge but could not find a price anywhere for them.
Like I said, any insight would be great...
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 777
Likes: 357
From: St. Louis, MO
Hey guys, so I've got an issue...
About a month ago I started hearing a clunking noise coming from the front of my bike when I would hit a hard bump, I coincidentally had just installed a new fairing so my original thoughts are I've got a loose bolt somewhere, two or three more times of removing it, putting lock-tite back on every single piece, and tightening it all back up my problem got no better. In the last two weeks though it has been made clear that something in my front end is no bueno, any time I hit a medium sized bump (I live in Tucson Az and the roads here are ****ed so there's no avoiding it) there is a clinking sound coming from my forks. I ride a 2005 fxdx with the fully adjustable cartridge forks...
Anyone with some knowledge of these that could provide some insight? Trying to keep costs down as much as possible so if anyone knows right away from prior experience with the same issue, what the weak link is that could be causing my clinking and EXCESSIVE brake dive please fill me in. I am obviously needing to rebuild, just wondering what I should explore as far as options go for just a repair and replace, or if it is going to cost more than a couple hundred in parts for stock repair, where I could look for an upgrade? I'm wanting to keep the ability to adjust my preload, I've looked at ohlins nix 22 cartidges and then I've also seen a works adjustable cartridge but could not find a price anywhere for them.
Like I said, any insight would be great...
About a month ago I started hearing a clunking noise coming from the front of my bike when I would hit a hard bump, I coincidentally had just installed a new fairing so my original thoughts are I've got a loose bolt somewhere, two or three more times of removing it, putting lock-tite back on every single piece, and tightening it all back up my problem got no better. In the last two weeks though it has been made clear that something in my front end is no bueno, any time I hit a medium sized bump (I live in Tucson Az and the roads here are ****ed so there's no avoiding it) there is a clinking sound coming from my forks. I ride a 2005 fxdx with the fully adjustable cartridge forks...
Anyone with some knowledge of these that could provide some insight? Trying to keep costs down as much as possible so if anyone knows right away from prior experience with the same issue, what the weak link is that could be causing my clinking and EXCESSIVE brake dive please fill me in. I am obviously needing to rebuild, just wondering what I should explore as far as options go for just a repair and replace, or if it is going to cost more than a couple hundred in parts for stock repair, where I could look for an upgrade? I'm wanting to keep the ability to adjust my preload, I've looked at ohlins nix 22 cartidges and then I've also seen a works adjustable cartridge but could not find a price anywhere for them.
Like I said, any insight would be great...
No solid help on what is causing your problem, but Works has gone **** up I believe. Ohlins is always a good choice though.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
All good suggestions. Another thing to look for is any other parts loose on the front end.. Calipers, rotors, fender. Also you might simply have a brake line taping the front fender when you brake.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Tucson, AZ
You may actually have a lead on it with the brake line tapping on the fender from all the vibration but its been an issue that only came up in the last 6 weeks or so and gotten steadily worse the last two weeks. I'll double check all of my mounts, bolts, and such before I take it out this weekend.
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 17
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From: Tucson, AZ
By neck bearings are you referring to the preload adjusters on the top of the forks? I have tightened them up all the way and it made 0 difference in ride stiffness where as when I was first playing with the tension on all the suspension when I first bought the bike, if I would have tightened those up all the way the bike road like a brick.
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: Tucson, AZ
To add to why I am extremely confident that I have a damaged fork cartridge is because when I am braking, the bike will fall over to one side and then since I'm still under some speed the bike will gyrate back and forth and I really have to hold it up to keep it upright if I have to brake hard... It seems that one of the forks has very little tension left in it so it is just compressing more than the other which would make the bike unbalanced... its not noticeable during throttle, only braking.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,830
Likes: 7,968
From: poway
To add to why I am extremely confident that I have a damaged fork cartridge is because when I am braking, the bike will fall over to one side and then since I'm still under some speed the bike will gyrate back and forth and I really have to hold it up to keep it upright if I have to brake hard... It seems that one of the forks has very little tension left in it so it is just compressing more than the other which would make the bike unbalanced... its not noticeable during throttle, only braking.
Some of your clunk might be weak springs. Stock springs are about 0.62 kg/mm. You might be bottoming out the forks if you weigh over 180..