Front brakes clicking.

[bigguy]

I pulled the front wheel off and hauled it to the dealership for a new tire. When I put the wheel back on, I noticed a "clicking" from the front left break. I pulled the caliper off several times trying to figure out what it was.
A friend with a similar bike told me that the front forks were too close. I ran out at lunch, unscrewed the axle bolt, and released the pinch blots. As soon as I took the pressure off the pinch bolts, the forks snapped apart some. (I'd guess maybe 1/4 inch.) I spun the tire, and the clicking was gone.
Riding it back to work, I occasionally heard a little clicking when making a right-hand turn. I assume a little finessing with the forks will eliminate this.
I felt of the rotors when I got to work to be sure they weren't warm. They weren't, so I'm not dragging a brake.
I'd never heard of this before. Is this a common occurrence?

[Chrisj CMA]

Yes, the real mistake is not getting the axle all the way in.  I'll bet you have a 1/6 to an 1/8 more to go.  Some front forks actually cause this themselves by springing in away from the head of the axle, so you have to really watch as you tighten them clutch side pinch bolts

[bigguy]

Thanks for the info. I'll check the axle as soon as I get off work.

[ptgb]

Same thing happened to me last year... rode it for the first time and it clicked/rubbed... it is the disk bolts rubbing/hitting the caliper mounting bracket. Removing the caliper won't fix it.

I made sure to follow the tightening sequence and "seating" the axle, per directions. No go.

Loosened the left side pinch bolts, and "toink" the fork leg slid over about a .25".

Same thing happened this year (just last evening as a matter of fact). Same thing... "toink".

Glad it worked out for both of us  

[lucky_1_chris]

Make sure he axle is seated all the way, loosen the pinch bolts, hold the front brake and bounce the front end up and down several times, re-torque the pinch bolts. Bouncing the front end ensures that the forks aren't binding up.

[GOOSE]

bigguy.....#1 on everything about doing it in sequence....when i first put my axle in, and push it from the right to the left...once i get it almost to the left fork i take a 3 " piece of a wooden yardstick and lay it up against the end of the axle...i then take a little rubber hammer and tap the side of the wooden yardstick piece until the wood is flush with the fork....then i know that the axle is in far enough...just my old take on it.  ride safe.

[bigguy]

Thanks you guys. After reading all this, I'm pretty sure the axle needs to be tapped in a little more. It's not flush with the forks on the left side. I'll loosen the pinch bolts and tap it with a piece of wood after bouncing the front.
I appreciate all the feedback.

Make you wonder how anything got fixed before the Internet.

[Chrisj CMA]

Thanks you guys. After reading all this, I'm pretty sure the axle needs to be tapped in a little more. It's not flush with the forks on the left side. I'll loosen the pinch bolts and tap it with a piece of wood after bouncing the front.
I appreciate all the feedback.

Make you wonder how anything got fixed before the Internet.

raise the front end.  loosen the throttle side pinch bolts first, then untorque the axle nut, then the left pinch bolts........NOW tap the axel in and make sure it stays in while you tighten the left pingh bolts, then torque the axle, then "bounce" the front end and then lastly tighten the right pinch bolts..........good job!

[bigguy]

You guys were right on the money.


Before


After.

Took it for a ride, and all is well.
Thanks again for the input.

[longrider]

This has been an issue for many over the years.  I have found as your picture shows that the axle bolt will be almost flush with the fork at the top and bottom of the bolt.  It will be correct every time.

Warren

[GOOSE]

BIGGUY........ain't this board, and the people on it real cool?

[Zswanie]

Thanks you guys. After reading all this, I'm pretty sure the axle needs to be tapped in a little more. It's not flush with the forks on the left side. I'll loosen the pinch bolts and tap it with a piece of wood after bouncing the front.
I appreciate all the feedback.

Make you wonder how anything got fixed before the Internet.

raise the front end.  loosen the throttle side pinch bolts first, then untorque the axle nut, then the left pinch bolts........NOW tap the axel in and make sure it stays in while you tighten the left pingh bolts, then torque the axle, then "bounce" the front end and then lastly tighten the right pinch bolts..........good job!

Thanks guys! this really saved my bacon.  I am scheduled to leave on a 4 day trip the day after tomorrow and after mounting a new front tire today I could not figure out why the caliper was dragging on the brake disk when I put the wheel back. It is the first time I replaced the tire, (I bought the Valk last season) and I have heard a scruffy noise when applying the front brake but a visual inspection showed the pads to have plenty of life.  Removing the caliper showed that it was a problem all along.  See pic how the brake disk ate into the caliper https://plus.google.com/photos/109319227919104983822/albums/5894039954924618865/5894039956456950674?banner=pwa&authkey=CMb9oN3ZwqvKKQ&pid=5894039956456950674&oid=109319227919104983822