Wide Glide Front End on Lowrider
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Appleton, WI
Wide Glide Front End on Lowrider
Hey guys,
Having an issue. Got a 04 Lowrider and putting on a wide glide front end. Here's what I ordered: DNA Billet Fork/triple trees for 99 and later, Brake caliper adapter, wide glide fender, Ulitma 21" spoked wheel for 2000 and newer softail/WG. Billet headlight. chrome brake and clutch cables. Metzler tire. According to the mechanic, parts are just what we need, should be no problem.
Using stock rotor.
Triple Trees mount up without a hitch. Tubes look great. Then communication from mechanic slows down. When I get ahold of him the good news is my bike is back up on the lift. Bad news the front wheel leans towards break side when he holds the brake and compresses the fork about 3/4". I said well what the hell am going to do at 70mph? His response was dont use the brake. I hope he wasn't serious. Ask him if he would be taking for a test ride, he said, I'm not riding that bike. This is all coming from a young HD certified mechanic.
Another weird thing is the caliper adapter is mounted wrong. You'll see in the pic, it should be mounted on the inside, he's got it on the outside.
Once I get it back from him it's going to metro cycle in my area. A guy named jesse is who everyone is telling me to go and have him look it over and make corecctions. A stable front end is pretty important, right...
My pic you can see the caliper is on the wrong side of the fork.
Any ideas why this is happening?
Having an issue. Got a 04 Lowrider and putting on a wide glide front end. Here's what I ordered: DNA Billet Fork/triple trees for 99 and later, Brake caliper adapter, wide glide fender, Ulitma 21" spoked wheel for 2000 and newer softail/WG. Billet headlight. chrome brake and clutch cables. Metzler tire. According to the mechanic, parts are just what we need, should be no problem.
Using stock rotor.
Triple Trees mount up without a hitch. Tubes look great. Then communication from mechanic slows down. When I get ahold of him the good news is my bike is back up on the lift. Bad news the front wheel leans towards break side when he holds the brake and compresses the fork about 3/4". I said well what the hell am going to do at 70mph? His response was dont use the brake. I hope he wasn't serious. Ask him if he would be taking for a test ride, he said, I'm not riding that bike. This is all coming from a young HD certified mechanic.
Another weird thing is the caliper adapter is mounted wrong. You'll see in the pic, it should be mounted on the inside, he's got it on the outside.
Once I get it back from him it's going to metro cycle in my area. A guy named jesse is who everyone is telling me to go and have him look it over and make corecctions. A stable front end is pretty important, right...
My pic you can see the caliper is on the wrong side of the fork.
Any ideas why this is happening?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 2
From: Southwest OHIO
i cant help you out with your problem, but i can answer that a stable front end is very important! lol. and i dont think you need to be paying the entire bill at HD for your "upgrade" since they cant make it 100% correct... let us know how it turns out, b/c im looking to put a wide glide with a fat front tire on my bike here this winter.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
Had a hard time following your description, but, it sounds like he has the brake setup wrong.
What do you mean by the wheel leans towards the brake side? Is the caliper pulling it to the side? The top, closest to the frame???
Since you had someone else install, should I assume you are not mechanically inclined? I mean no insult, just need to know if you are going to try and fix, or take it to someone else?
What do you mean by the wheel leans towards the brake side? Is the caliper pulling it to the side? The top, closest to the frame???
Since you had someone else install, should I assume you are not mechanically inclined? I mean no insult, just need to know if you are going to try and fix, or take it to someone else?
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Appleton, WI
The best way to describe the lean is looking down at the top of the tire, it leans towards the left fork. So top of the tire towards the brake side fork.
I have no problem doing certain things, but the front end is not one I'm willing to tackle.
A couple of things I was thinking... is it the tubes flexing? Wrong spacers not keeping wheel tight? Anything you can think of that would make the wheel lean like that.
I'm just trying to get an idea before I have it re-examined. He only charged me 135 for labor. To shimmon... If you shop around for parts, it's not as costly as I first thought. I got the front end from a company that doesn't have a very good rep on this board, but it was cheap and it looks great. Here is my rundown of parts and cost:
DNA Billet Front end (posts, trees, axel): $400
Ultima 21" spoked wheel: $115
Tire, local: $60, Tube $8
New fender to match my paint: $130 on ebay
Caliper adapter from same company as front end: $40
Billet headlight, same company as above: $40
Spacers: Picked up by mechanic, $30
Braided brake line: $70 installed
Braided clutch cable: $70 installed. (next is throttle/idle at $110 installed)
I sold my front end on ebay for $200. My front wheel (thuderstar) 180. my fender $10.
So the cost was pretty reasonable, but the headaches are adding up.
I have no problem doing certain things, but the front end is not one I'm willing to tackle.
A couple of things I was thinking... is it the tubes flexing? Wrong spacers not keeping wheel tight? Anything you can think of that would make the wheel lean like that.
I'm just trying to get an idea before I have it re-examined. He only charged me 135 for labor. To shimmon... If you shop around for parts, it's not as costly as I first thought. I got the front end from a company that doesn't have a very good rep on this board, but it was cheap and it looks great. Here is my rundown of parts and cost:
DNA Billet Front end (posts, trees, axel): $400
Ultima 21" spoked wheel: $115
Tire, local: $60, Tube $8
New fender to match my paint: $130 on ebay
Caliper adapter from same company as front end: $40
Billet headlight, same company as above: $40
Spacers: Picked up by mechanic, $30
Braided brake line: $70 installed
Braided clutch cable: $70 installed. (next is throttle/idle at $110 installed)
I sold my front end on ebay for $200. My front wheel (thuderstar) 180. my fender $10.
So the cost was pretty reasonable, but the headaches are adding up.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
Off the top of my head, the only thing I can think of is he has the axle in backwards, if yours is the same as mine it is stepped on one end, making it a different diameter. Since there is no adjust-ability at least on the stock front end to lean the wheel as you describe, not sure what else it could be.
Since I am not familiar with the DNA front end, it is really hard to say.
Can you post some close up shots of the axle and mount area?
Since I am not familiar with the DNA front end, it is really hard to say.
Can you post some close up shots of the axle and mount area?
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Santa Rosa, Ca
A few basics; the wheel has to be centered in the forks, and the brake caliper has to be centered on the rotor. You'll have to lift the front end off the ground to spin the front wheel to check for true or slop with bearings or possibly wrong spacers.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,642
Likes: 48
From: Ogden, UT
It could possibly be the spokes are not trued as well.
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 20
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From: Appleton, WI
Now I'm not getting an answer from calls or texts. Thought I'd be picking it up today. The moment I get it back I'll get some more pics of the axle.
The axle is just as 8541 is describing. On paper, if the wheel is centered the rotor should line up with the caliper with the adapter in the correct position.
Thanks for the early replies, I'll touch back once I can get some better pics.
The axle is just as 8541 is describing. On paper, if the wheel is centered the rotor should line up with the caliper with the adapter in the correct position.
Thanks for the early replies, I'll touch back once I can get some better pics.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: The Bar
when you get the bike home pull the wheel off and put the axle back in to see if the axle is level. use a jack stand under it and add a little weight to the front to see if the springs compress at the same rate. i am thinking the "HD certified mechanic" did not put the forks together correctly and when you add weight they are compressing differently.