A crazy loud rattle.
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
A crazy loud rattle.
I have a new problem and its getting alot worse. Fast. An extremely harsh banging rattle has developed recently on my 1996 Low Rider. I'll try my best to describe it. When I apply the rear brake and the rear brake only, a metal on metal rattle occurs. A very loud engine RPM specific rattle. The exact sound you would get if the rubber mounted motor on a rubber mounted motorcycle was rubbing or hitting on the frame.
Now, let me tell you what it isn't. The fist thing I thought of was rear axle bearings or brakes. So I spent almost 100 bucks on new axle bearings, taking my rear wheel to a shop and having them remove and replace said bearings and races. Reinstalled the wheel and then I installed brand new brake pads just to be sure. Absoloutly NOTHING changed. You hit the rear brakes and the motor or tranny starts banging against something.....really fast and loud. And the vibration is felt through the brake pedal as well as most of the bike. I have jacked up the bike and can't see anywhere the motor or oil tank is hitting the frame. I try not to let dealers work on my bike whenever posible, but if I can't figure out what the hell this is, I'm gonna be screwed and have to take it to one.
Any ideas are MORE than welcome. I'll pretty much try anything at this point.
Now, let me tell you what it isn't. The fist thing I thought of was rear axle bearings or brakes. So I spent almost 100 bucks on new axle bearings, taking my rear wheel to a shop and having them remove and replace said bearings and races. Reinstalled the wheel and then I installed brand new brake pads just to be sure. Absoloutly NOTHING changed. You hit the rear brakes and the motor or tranny starts banging against something.....really fast and loud. And the vibration is felt through the brake pedal as well as most of the bike. I have jacked up the bike and can't see anywhere the motor or oil tank is hitting the frame. I try not to let dealers work on my bike whenever posible, but if I can't figure out what the hell this is, I'm gonna be screwed and have to take it to one.
Any ideas are MORE than welcome. I'll pretty much try anything at this point.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 2
From: Hallsville, Tx.
wild guess, swing arm bushings. or loose shock mount, worn rubber bushings? muffler mount, all these would be stressed on braking
Last edited by 96roadking; Jun 1, 2010 at 05:00 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Motor mounts were a thought, but it only seems to do it when the rear brakes are applied. Shocks, I checked and I just went downstairs and threw a wrench on the mufflers. I am really starting to think swing arm. Tomorrow I'm gonna drop the shocks AGAIN.... and see if that swing arm has any movement. If it does, I'm going to switch to the stiffer nylon bushings and see if that fixes her up. Other than that, I'm pretty much "out of ideas".
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
Motor mounts were a thought, but it only seems to do it when the rear brakes are applied. Shocks, I checked and I just went downstairs and threw a wrench on the mufflers. I am really starting to think swing arm. Tomorrow I'm gonna drop the shocks AGAIN.... and see if that swing arm has any movement. If it does, I'm going to switch to the stiffer nylon bushings and see if that fixes her up. Other than that, I'm pretty much "out of ideas".
I was thinking that it could also be the swingarm bushings. If it is, I'd suggest you take a look at the solid bronze Tru-Pivot bushings made by True-Track. I put their Trackula kit on Bertha last December (their rear stabilizer and the solid swingarm bushings with new front engine mount and the rear isolators) - and it completely changed the handling - for the better. Really tightened up everything back there! I got a good deal from them as a HDForums member, too.
Hope you find the source of this problem soon.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 4
From: Victoria, Australia
certainly worth a check--
also check motor mount rubber....
also check motor mount rubber....
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
That screams motor mount to me. Put a rag on a prybar and really check those mounts
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
OK, when I pulled the wheel to do the bearing I also put new pads on. The caliper and mount seemed fine and of course now the brake pads are new. I have been prying the motor mounts with my pry bar. There is certainly some movement. The problem is I don't know how much there should be. The motor certainly shakes while at idle, but all Dyna's do....right? And she's smooth as glass at hyway speeds of say 70 through 80 mph. This sound only occurs when hitting the rear brake. Not hitting the throttle or letting off the throttle...at any speed. So I can't make the sound with the throttle, just the rear brake. Thats why "as of this moment" I'm thinking swing arm bushings. Those solid ones have me interested, for sure. I'm gonna look at the true track stuff today. I just want to be sure this time since I wasted 100 buck being wrong about the wheel bearing. I don't want to be wrong yet again.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 842
Likes: 47
From: New Hartford CT
Thats why "as of this moment" I'm thinking swing arm bushings. Those solid ones have me interested, for sure. I'm gonna look at the true track stuff today. I just want to be sure this time since I wasted 100 buck being wrong about the wheel bearing. I don't want to be wrong yet again.