G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile

Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through February 16, 2011 » Click on front braking « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lloydxt
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 02:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I can hear a click on heavy breaking when I squeeze the brake lever and when I let it go.

Is this the steering bearing or a brake issue?

Thanks in advance
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

H2opatrol
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 05:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Is it under hard braking? Mine would click under hard compression and click again when I let off. Turned out to be neck bearings.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tootal
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 05:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

+1 on steering head bearings.

Try loosening the lower clamp bolts on the triple trees.
Remove handlebars. ( just set them down on a towel laying on the breather cover)
Loosen the clamp bolt on the steering head nut. ( the chrome round allen nut)
Now break loose the allen nut and retighten to factory torque specs.
Tighten the clamp bolt.
Tighten the lower triple tree clamp bolts.
Install handlebars.
If you still have the clicking sound then you need to replace the bearings.

(Message edited by tootal on February 08, 2011)
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Closetbueller
Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 - 11:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

check the torque of the caliper to the fork also. That is what caused the clicking on our 09 XT
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lloydxt
Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2011 - 12:02 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yes, fairly hard braking. Its one click when Im squeezing the brake lever and then one click when I let go.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Desert_bird
Posted on Wednesday, February 09, 2011 - 12:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

... brake light switch in the housing of the lever?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Druelly
Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 12:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine clicks every time I put any type of pressure on the lever. It has done that since my first ride on the bike. I bought it new with 6 miles if my memory serves me correctly (probably not).

Druelly
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Froggy
Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 12:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The click noise can be a dozen things, see if you can listen closely to see where its coming from. It could easily be the switch, but it very well could be loose head bearings or something with the caliper and rotor.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lloydxt
Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 11:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine sounds like its at the steering head. It just started the other day.

Im gonna try Tootal's & Closetbueller's suggestions this weekend.

If I indeed do have to change the bearings, is it necessary to have the 3 tools in the manual (backing plate, race installer and forgot the other)?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Scottykrein
Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2011 - 02:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My clicking was from a loose harness under the flyscreen.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

H2opatrol
Posted on Friday, February 11, 2011 - 07:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sounds exactly like what mine was doing, any update?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Portero72
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 02:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mine did something similar. A loosening of triple tree/front axle bolts and a 'settling' cleared everything up.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Etennuly
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 08:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

My '06 X did the same thing back at around 8000 miles. Re-torqued the steering head bearings and it has been good since.

That Tootal guy has it nailed!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tipsymcstagger
Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 - 08:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Steering head bearings need to be replaced.

I have a post about this in the archives.

Tipsy
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tootal
Posted on Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 09:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That Tootal guy has it nailed!

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Blake
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 07:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Tipsy,

Why would you say they need replaced? : ?

I agree that they may need adjusted for proper preload. But not replaced.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tipsymcstagger
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 10:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Try adjusting them. If that works, have at it.

Mine were shot.

Tipsy
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Gringo
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 02:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

you guys scare me. i took my 09 xt in for regular service at 3k kilometers and when i got it back i had a clicking sound on applying front brake. like the rotor was chattering, nothing serious but different. now i gotta investigate. should mention that it seems to have stopped whatever it was, but i will investigate anyhoo.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tipsymcstagger
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 03:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Chatter is not a word I would use to describe the sound of a failing or improperly torqued steering head bearing. In my case, as the front suspension was compressed under braking, there was a singular "click." Once stopped, as the forks would extend (unload), I would hear another singular "click."

I would also hear the click while manually maneuvering into my parking spot (engine not running) which required turning the bars lock to lock. Again, just a singular "click" approaching each lock.

Tipsy
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Uly_man
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 04:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

XB head race/stearing head bearings are ball race and not the normal taper roller type as on most bikes. As such they are not adjustable for wear and a mistake many make. Like any ball race bearing even minor wear will effect performance.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Etennuly
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 06:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

XB head race/stearing head bearings are ball race and not the normal taper roller type as on most bikes. As such they are not adjustable for wear and a mistake many make. Like any ball race bearing even minor wear will effect performance

Isn't it odd then that this adjustment would even be in the service manual.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Natexlh1000
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 08:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

When you adjust the torque of the head bolt, you're just taking out slack, right?

Is there a spacer in there like the axles have?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lloydxt
Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 - 09:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks Tootal, I did the adjustment and click stopped. We will see for how long.

I just got a set of bearings just in case from American Sportbike.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Tootal
Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - 06:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The bearings are called "high wall" or thrust bearings. They are made to work in only one direction and when you have two of them facing each other with the high wall to the outside they act like a thrust bearing in two directions. There isn't a spacer between them, you just tighten them to a torque spec. We use the same style bearings back to back to control thrust on a feed water pump for a boiler. They are much larger but same design and they work well. The pumps are five stage and pump 350 degree water at 750 psi! That stuff always amazed me. I mean, who was the first guy to figure out you can do that and then figure out how!! They were a lot smarter than me!!
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Lloydxt
Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2011 - 10:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

So I did the steering adjustment and re-torqued the rotor which seemed to work for a couple weeks then it just kind of got all sloppy in there. So last weekend I replaced the bearings. Harley quoted me 4 hrs labor but it only takes about 2 (not as difficult as I thought it was gonna be). I was gonna use the socket method for installation but came up with this...




I took the inner race and bearings out of the old bearing and used the outside race to tap them in.




Now Im sure Im not the first to do this but wanted to throw it out there because it worked out great!

...and no, I didnt take off the front module like the book says
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and custodians may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration