Noise in front wheel area
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Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 447
Likes: 6
From: Swanton, Vermont
Noise in front wheel area
Hello every-one,
As some of you know I'm to to the bike/Harley world. I've always been a car guy. I have a noise in the front tire area that reminds me of when the pad's on a car start to hit the wear marks. It kinda goes swoosh, swoosh, swoosh with a second or so between the swoosh sounds while bike is in motion. I assume its making the sound all the time but I can't here @ speed because of the engine and wind sound. I took a look @ the pads ( while wheel still on) and they seem to have quite a bit of pad left. Has any-one ever heard this sound coming from the front end? if so what did it end up being ?
Thanks in advance,
Patsfan
Oh yeah bike is a 2001 Low Rider
with 12,000 miles
As some of you know I'm to to the bike/Harley world. I've always been a car guy. I have a noise in the front tire area that reminds me of when the pad's on a car start to hit the wear marks. It kinda goes swoosh, swoosh, swoosh with a second or so between the swoosh sounds while bike is in motion. I assume its making the sound all the time but I can't here @ speed because of the engine and wind sound. I took a look @ the pads ( while wheel still on) and they seem to have quite a bit of pad left. Has any-one ever heard this sound coming from the front end? if so what did it end up being ?
Thanks in advance,
Patsfan
Oh yeah bike is a 2001 Low Rider
with 12,000 miles
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
It's hard to diagnose a sound from someone else's description over the internet. That being said it could be 2 things... Tire noise which I have experinced although not with dunlops or a wheel bearing going bad. I would pull the front wheel and check the bearings.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 7
From: Southwest Florida
Hello every-one,
As some of you know I'm to to the bike/Harley world. I've always been a car guy. I have a noise in the front tire area that reminds me of when the pad's on a car start to hit the wear marks. It kinda goes swoosh, swoosh, swoosh with a second or so between the swoosh sounds while bike is in motion. I assume its making the sound all the time but I can't here @ speed because of the engine and wind sound. I took a look @ the pads ( while wheel still on) and they seem to have quite a bit of pad left. Has any-one ever heard this sound coming from the front end? if so what did it end up being ?
Thanks in advance,
Patsfan
Oh yeah bike is a 2001 Low Rider with 12,000 miles
As some of you know I'm to to the bike/Harley world. I've always been a car guy. I have a noise in the front tire area that reminds me of when the pad's on a car start to hit the wear marks. It kinda goes swoosh, swoosh, swoosh with a second or so between the swoosh sounds while bike is in motion. I assume its making the sound all the time but I can't here @ speed because of the engine and wind sound. I took a look @ the pads ( while wheel still on) and they seem to have quite a bit of pad left. Has any-one ever heard this sound coming from the front end? if so what did it end up being ?
Thanks in advance,
Patsfan
Oh yeah bike is a 2001 Low Rider
with 12,000 miles2) Does the noise increase with tire revolution and/or engine RPMs? If so, which one? Tire or engine RPMs?
3) Does the sound change during cornering?
Can't hear it at speed? Be careful and disengage the clutch at 'speed' to listen for it.
If I were a betting man (I'm not) I'd say it's either a rotor or a brake pad. The rotor could be warped, the brake pad could be improperly installed. Or it could be that what you're hearing is the drilled rotors that you're not used to. I assume you have drilled rotors. Not familiar with your bike.
Another (very) possible scenario is an out-of-round tire or a separted ply on the tire. If so, that can get dangerous. Be careful.
If possible, lift the bike and turn the front wheel by hand. See if you can pin down the noise. If you can't, steady your hand on something and hold the end of screw driver (or anything that's straight) about a 1/4" from the tire tread and see if it's out of round while someone else turns the tire. This can also show a separated ply. Usually.
As always, be careful.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 1
From: Algonquin, IL
it could be your pads that are constantly rubbing on and off the rotor (no floating rotor.) Just like on a car that is why it is important to lube the caliper slides car or bike there is constant cantact and movement. Some is normal esp. at low speed
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Tourer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 447
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From: Swanton, Vermont
Thanks for the input guys. I don't have a jack yet so i can't lift it. It's do for a inspection in a week or so I think I'll just have the shop doing the inspection take a look @ it since I can't lift it to play with anything I might find it being. I'll post back what the shops findings were.
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3rd Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I have the same problem but I am sure mine is rubbing pads. When I hit the brake the noise stops crappy thing is my rotor is warped I am pretty sure I get a pulsing in the lever when I hit the brakes. I will be cleaning the pins and pistons as well as lubing the pins.
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