loud clunk for front end

[cvarner]

So I am having a loud clumping noise from my front end. Anyone have any ideas? It only happens when I apply my brakes and the front end dips.

 

[go cytocis]

My first guess would be your steering head bearings are loose. Try tightening them per the manual.
Failing that, you may have some worn or failed fork internals, such as a spring. Another source could possibly be loose brake pads shifting around in the caliper.

 

[Xb12sLt]

I would guess its the steering bearings, get the front end off the ground and pull-push on the front wheel to see if there's any play in the front end.

 

[cvarner]

I just changed the front brake pads today and it still did it. I was going to mess with the head bearing tomorrow but it only makes the noise.when the brakes are applied. Could it be the rotor?

 

[go cytocis]

but it only makes the noise.when the brakes are applied. Could it be the rotor?

My money would still be on the steering head bearings being loose. It's quite a common cause of the symptom you describe...

 

[Negative]

One more vote for steering head bearings right here ... Lol ... sounds just like the problems i fixed on a bike a friend of mine literally just got ... just adding my $0.02 to the pool ...

 

[Xb12sLt]

If your front rotor is warped it would amplify the bearing issue.

 

[Negative]

Xb12sLt is thinking outside the box here [up] ... Not gonna disagree with that totally ... but the pulsating would make the front end feel like it was repeatedly clunking back and forth under braking from the pulsing of the pads grabbing and releasing the rotor and jerking the steering stem around on loose bearings ... I'm not gonna say this couldn't or wouldn't be a factor in the noises you're hearing !! ... But either way that would point towards the steering head bearings AND a bad front rotor ... lol ...

The steering head bearings are easy to adjust first and costs nothing compared to a new rotor ... if adjusting the steering head bearings doesn't fix the problem, we can move on to things that will start costing ya monies ...

 

[Xb12sLt]

I just mentioned the rotor cause my steering bearings and rotor are shot. When I'm on the front brake hard I really notice the steering bearing problem.

 

[cvarner]

I will tighten the steering head bearing today and update you guys. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[WIGGLE2]

IF it's the same single 'clunk' , almost sounding like something unloading after being preloaded, mine did the same thing. I loosened up the stem bolt, the retorqued to spec. It helped for a while, but did come back. I had to part with the bike shortly after. My current ride does the same thing very occasionally.

 

[cvarner]

It is a single clunk and it does it when the brakes are applied. If you park the bike against the wall and load and unload the front suspension no clunk.

 

[cvarner]

Okay so I am corrected the clunk happens no matter what. I guess I wasn't pressing up and down enough when I had it up against the wall. I took off the handlebars and tightened the steering bearing but it was tight. Could my forks be low on oil or anything?

 

[RuiP]

It might just be an xb thing, mine does it too.

 

[go cytocis]

It might just be an xb thing, mine does it too.

Well, XBs seem more prone to loose steering head bearings than most bikes, but it's sure not "just an XB thing" that should be ignored. You're going to prematurely kill the bearings and there's also a dangerous possibility of losing control.

 

[WIGGLE2]

It definatly sounds like a bearing issue. Either follow the manual and retorque the stem or replace them. In the end , at some point you WILL replace them, but a re-torque often buys some time.

 

[SchoolHouseCycles]

Check your front motor mount for cracks