Clacking rear suspension
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,857
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From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Clacking rear suspension
Weather was great today so I gave been out riding my 95 Heritage Softail Classic. As usual, the engine runs fantastic and pulls hard right from idle on up. Everything is great, but the suspension, which seemed to get worse as throughout the day.
First there was the hard knock noise coming from the front. I know what that is because I've dealt with that before. Previously, the nut just needed to be tightened a little, but I suspect that the neck bearing probably is getting worn out.
It's the other noise that is pissing me off. Several times, the rear end made a big clacking sound. It was loud enough that I looked down beneath my arms at the swing arm to see what might have broken. Remember, I have been through a couple of sets of Progressive 422's, with the last ones actually snapping a bolt on one end of the shock while the other leaked like crazy. I then replaced them with Works Performance which were a huge improvement. I looked this afternoon and they are not broken or leaking.
Can anybody point me in the direction of common failures or wear items on the rear suspension? How about the bushing or bearing or whatever it is in the pivot point of the swing arm? While it was doing this, it was riding like crap.
I know our roads here are bad, but I am not jumping ramps or going barreling through pot holes a foot deep.
First there was the hard knock noise coming from the front. I know what that is because I've dealt with that before. Previously, the nut just needed to be tightened a little, but I suspect that the neck bearing probably is getting worn out.
It's the other noise that is pissing me off. Several times, the rear end made a big clacking sound. It was loud enough that I looked down beneath my arms at the swing arm to see what might have broken. Remember, I have been through a couple of sets of Progressive 422's, with the last ones actually snapping a bolt on one end of the shock while the other leaked like crazy. I then replaced them with Works Performance which were a huge improvement. I looked this afternoon and they are not broken or leaking.
Can anybody point me in the direction of common failures or wear items on the rear suspension? How about the bushing or bearing or whatever it is in the pivot point of the swing arm? While it was doing this, it was riding like crap.
I know our roads here are bad, but I am not jumping ramps or going barreling through pot holes a foot deep.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
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From: North Carolina
Could it be something else, like the mount for a bag or something? On my heritage the only noise I ever got was squeaking from a shock. I replaced the shocks and no more noise. Some type of suspension failure on a softail seems like it would get really bad in a hurry. I'd put that thing on a lift and look it over really good.
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,857
Likes: 17,908
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
Clacking rear suspension
Thanks. I am working nights for the next 7 nights. I'd like to get it fixed before I go on days off again, especially now that the miserable heat is subsiding.
I am still amazed on how much cooler it runs with the EV13 cam.
I am still amazed on how much cooler it runs with the EV13 cam.
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,857
Likes: 17,908
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
If that is it, then I guess the solution would be a replacement swing arm.
This week I working nights from 5 PM until 7 AM for the next seven days, so I don't have time to mess with it and be able to get adequate sleep in the day time, unless I'd bring it to an independent shop which I'd rather not do. That would still take some time, loading it in my trailer, then dropping it off before going to work.
Appreciate everyone's input though.
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Lafayette, Louisiana
I should be sleeping but was too concerned about my bike.
Lots of loose stuff back there for sure.
Right saddlebag was a little loose on the bottom. Left saddlebag was ridiculously loose, especially the bottom screw was nearly backed out all the way.
Sissy bar a little loose.
Thumb screw behind the passenger section of the seat was loose enough to allow a quarter of an inch of up and down movement which made an awful lot of noise.
The big noise makers are the passenger floor boards. They are sort of floppy. I have never had somebody on the back of this bike, but I know the minute I remove them, some raucous hot babe is going to want to ride. I am not sure how to tighten them or do something to them to stop the noisy flopping.
I might snap some pictures tomorrow, but at least I feel confident it isn't the swing arm although the noise did sound like it was coming from somewhere lower and it was riding like crap.
I'll try to put off messing with the steering head, because the weather is so nice, I don't want a bunch of down time. Might wait until we have a bunch of heavy rain in the forecast.
With the way I am working now, I actually have time to work on my bike myself instead of having to bring it somewhere because I lacked the time to do simple things even previously. Starting to remind me of when I was younger and changing the four cams in my Sportster while rebuilding it after it got totaled from being hit from behind.
Lots of loose stuff back there for sure.
Right saddlebag was a little loose on the bottom. Left saddlebag was ridiculously loose, especially the bottom screw was nearly backed out all the way.
Sissy bar a little loose.
Thumb screw behind the passenger section of the seat was loose enough to allow a quarter of an inch of up and down movement which made an awful lot of noise.
The big noise makers are the passenger floor boards. They are sort of floppy. I have never had somebody on the back of this bike, but I know the minute I remove them, some raucous hot babe is going to want to ride. I am not sure how to tighten them or do something to them to stop the noisy flopping.
I might snap some pictures tomorrow, but at least I feel confident it isn't the swing arm although the noise did sound like it was coming from somewhere lower and it was riding like crap.
I'll try to put off messing with the steering head, because the weather is so nice, I don't want a bunch of down time. Might wait until we have a bunch of heavy rain in the forecast.
With the way I am working now, I actually have time to work on my bike myself instead of having to bring it somewhere because I lacked the time to do simple things even previously. Starting to remind me of when I was younger and changing the four cams in my Sportster while rebuilding it after it got totaled from being hit from behind.
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Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Haslet Texas
I should be sleeping but was too concerned about my bike.
Lots of loose stuff back there for sure.
Right saddlebag was a little loose on the bottom. Left saddlebag was ridiculously loose, especially the bottom screw was nearly backed out all the way.
Sissy bar a little loose.
Thumb screw behind the passenger section of the seat was loose enough to allow a quarter of an inch of up and down movement which made an awful lot of noise.
The big noise makers are the passenger floor boards. They are sort of floppy. I have never had somebody on the back of this bike, but I know the minute I remove them, some raucous hot babe is going to want to ride. I am not sure how to tighten them or do something to them to stop the noisy flopping.
I might snap some pictures tomorrow, but at least I feel confident it isn't the swing arm although the noise did sound like it was coming from somewhere lower and it was riding like crap.
I'll try to put off messing with the steering head, because the weather is so nice, I don't want a bunch of down time. Might wait until we have a bunch of heavy rain in the forecast.
With the way I am working now, I actually have time to work on my bike myself instead of having to bring it somewhere because I lacked the time to do simple things even previously. Starting to remind me of when I was younger and changing the four cams in my Sportster while rebuilding it after it got totaled from being hit from behind.
Lots of loose stuff back there for sure.
Right saddlebag was a little loose on the bottom. Left saddlebag was ridiculously loose, especially the bottom screw was nearly backed out all the way.
Sissy bar a little loose.
Thumb screw behind the passenger section of the seat was loose enough to allow a quarter of an inch of up and down movement which made an awful lot of noise.
The big noise makers are the passenger floor boards. They are sort of floppy. I have never had somebody on the back of this bike, but I know the minute I remove them, some raucous hot babe is going to want to ride. I am not sure how to tighten them or do something to them to stop the noisy flopping.
I might snap some pictures tomorrow, but at least I feel confident it isn't the swing arm although the noise did sound like it was coming from somewhere lower and it was riding like crap.
I'll try to put off messing with the steering head, because the weather is so nice, I don't want a bunch of down time. Might wait until we have a bunch of heavy rain in the forecast.
With the way I am working now, I actually have time to work on my bike myself instead of having to bring it somewhere because I lacked the time to do simple things even previously. Starting to remind me of when I was younger and changing the four cams in my Sportster while rebuilding it after it got totaled from being hit from behind.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,199
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From: NW AR
Dunno what your floorboards look like, but if they hinge, you might try shimming them with some thin washers or shim stock.
The "rides bad" part has me more concerned. Still get it up in the air and start shaking stuff.
The "rides bad" part has me more concerned. Still get it up in the air and start shaking stuff.