Front brake clunk
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 23
Likes: 5
From: british columbia
Front brake clunk
My 2022 RKS has 5600 miles and noticed an occasional clunk from front brake when either brake lever is used. Familiar with the floating rotor concept and have tried out the linked ABS system a few times and it works well,..deer/raccoons/cell phone fricks!
When grabbing the rotors and checking them out, I noticed there was a really noticeable forward and aft movement to the left rotor as well to the right rotor but to a lesser degree. I know they are spring loaded for expansion but this other movement doesnt feel right. Bought new HD rotor bolt hardware but this didnt change it. More noticeable on left rotor too. Read that the left front brake and rear brake are the two that are used when using rear brake only and under hard ABS brake application. Maybe the rotor is NFG?
clunking is annoying and feel it shouldnt come with a pricey bike!
This isnt normal and wonder if the rotor is a warranty item.
Thoughts and fixes welcome.
Cheers
When grabbing the rotors and checking them out, I noticed there was a really noticeable forward and aft movement to the left rotor as well to the right rotor but to a lesser degree. I know they are spring loaded for expansion but this other movement doesnt feel right. Bought new HD rotor bolt hardware but this didnt change it. More noticeable on left rotor too. Read that the left front brake and rear brake are the two that are used when using rear brake only and under hard ABS brake application. Maybe the rotor is NFG?
clunking is annoying and feel it shouldnt come with a pricey bike!
This isnt normal and wonder if the rotor is a warranty item.
Thoughts and fixes welcome.
Cheers
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 4,798
Likes: 5,889
From: Knoxville
More power to you
Mine clunks, 34k+, second set of pads. Replaced at 32.5k or so. Nothing abnormal in my visual. I cant have floating rotors or I would.
2020 RGS.
Hasnt impacted how I ride, or how the bike brakes. I engine brake as much as possible and the front is used as I come to a stop
If you can move the rotors, floating or not, damn! If not floaters I would be concerned. Floaters, well, under braking force they move but by mans hand?
2020 RGS.
Hasnt impacted how I ride, or how the bike brakes. I engine brake as much as possible and the front is used as I come to a stop
If you can move the rotors, floating or not, damn! If not floaters I would be concerned. Floaters, well, under braking force they move but by mans hand?
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 391
Likes: 306
From: Northern Cali
Forward and aft shouldn't move. Obviously, there needs to be some clearance between the holes in rotors and the spools or buttons or whatever ya want to call them, but if your feeling too much forward and back then they are moving up and down just as much. My guess is hole diameter in rotor is too big, or button diameters are too small. I wouldn't be happy with that. That could be checked right on the kick stand with calipers. Just pull 1 bolt and measure both. My 2cents
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,613
Likes: 3,934
From: Near Yosemite
So, I started a thread of my own regarding this issue as I am about to change out my old HD Polished Front Rotors on my 14 SGS because they have reached their wear limit, but it didn't get much traction in that small forum. Not trying to hijack a thread, but it's about my experience that shares the same problem as the OP describes in this thread. The thread is here.... https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame...-question.html
I also took a video of the clunk in my rotors that sounds like what the OP is describing. During the 115k mile life on these rotors, I had changed the bolts/hardware twice to alleviate this clunk. First time it helped quite a bit, the second time, not so much. Once the floating rotor mounting holes are worn out a bit, new bolts don't do much, duh.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ec9oTGSAtxE
My new rotors are on order and won't be here for a week or two. After I get them, take some old vs new measurements, and a new video, I will report back with all that. I don't think that "Polished" vs "OEM" make any difference as far as the rotor holes getting worn and sloppy either quicker or slower........ JMO.
I also took a video of the clunk in my rotors that sounds like what the OP is describing. During the 115k mile life on these rotors, I had changed the bolts/hardware twice to alleviate this clunk. First time it helped quite a bit, the second time, not so much. Once the floating rotor mounting holes are worn out a bit, new bolts don't do much, duh.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ec9oTGSAtxE
My new rotors are on order and won't be here for a week or two. After I get them, take some old vs new measurements, and a new video, I will report back with all that. I don't think that "Polished" vs "OEM" make any difference as far as the rotor holes getting worn and sloppy either quicker or slower........ JMO.
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Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 23
Likes: 5
From: british columbia
Your video about rotor clunk is spot on my bike as well,...it has 5500 miles and am not a hard rider so this setup for rotors on a touring bike seems unacceptable.
Thanks
Thanks
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