Front End noise or rattle

[mcunni5330]

Hoping someone has encountered and whipped this, I can't find where the problem is.

03 F6

When on a road with light or small bumps like they filled in cracks with tar, sort of like tar lines on the asphalt, I get a disturbing rattle in the front end.  Scary a bit because it is in the front end, you know?

My first thought was that the noise came from small travel in the shocks and that the fork seals might need to be replaced.  Did that, no change.

Then I thought there bearings might be bad in the front axle.  Got it off the ground and the wheel turns normally and when you grab it top and bottom and try to move it, it seems solid.

I looked at the after market accessories and attached parts to see if seemed like it might just be a rattle there, all seem secure.

This mean anything to anyone ... anyone else experience something like this and can make a suggestion on what I should look at?

Thanks all, most appreciated for any ideas!

[jimmytee]

Brake pads and or calipers?

[Farther]

I get a clunk occasionally from the brake caliper I assume.  I think it is normal.

[Former BMW Guy]

Floating calipers by design.

JP

[MP]

Probably calipers, but also check front fender for loose mounting bolts.

MP

[Chrisj CMA]

As stated the calipers float and the pads can rattle.  Check the pad retainer springs (brass pieces) sometimes they can be tightened up a bit.  Also the springs in the forks can make noise especially if they were upgraded to p[rogressive.  All sounds pretty normal to me.

[Michvalk]

There is supposed to be a pad glued to the inside of the fender to cut road noise. Maybe one end is loose and contacting the tire on bumps? Mine did that, so that's why I brought it up

[matt]

I would recommend take bike back over those spots put light pressure on front brake lever and see if noise is gone or changed. If so go with what Chris said and try to tighten brass piece in caliper

[Former BMW Guy]

Float by design....here is a quote from the Rattlebars tech page:
"The Valkyrie is equipped with "floating" calipers. The calipers are attached to the caliper brackets (these, not the calipers, are bolted to the forks) by a set of rubber booted pins set in holes. The holes are larger than the pins so there is some free play there. When you back your bike up to turn it around and apply the brake in reverse, the calipers will move to the rearmost position. When you apply the brake at the next forward stop the calipers move to the forward most position and the pins strike the other sides of the holes.. CLUNK! You can see the calipers move if you apply the brake and rock the bike forward and back. When you stop at a red light, the calipers will move to the forward most position then when the bike "rocks back" after being stopped."

JP

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I had a similar sound over sharp bumps I tried to find for several years. Turned out to be loose steering head bearings. I replaced my OEM bearings with the "all balls" brand and the sound was gone. The bearings loosened (race seated it's self deeper in frame?) after a year and had to be snugged when the sound came back. That was many miles ago and all is still good.

[Ricky-D]

It's easy enough to feel the looseness in the steering head bearings (if there is any) without hoisting the bike up on a lift.

Simply rocking the bike (back and forth forcefully) with the front brake engaged while placing you finger down on the bottom bearing at the rear area of the bearing where the edges are available to feel for displacement.

If you can get your fingers at a corresponding place at the top bearing, you could do the same there, but it is usually too difficult to accomplish.

Either way, you feel movement,,, the bearings are too loose.

***

[oke]

Hello

I had this rattling noise in the front too. I first thought that it came from the breaks, but in the end it was the chrome ends of the radiator. They were loose, that's why the noise. I took the reflectors off (the screws are under), and tightened them up. No rattling anymore.

Oke

[mcunni5330]

To all who replied, a huge thank you.  Several good ideas.  Sorry for my slow reply, I had forgotten that I posted the question.

Again, Thanks!

[Gideon]

a quote from the Rattlebars tech page:
"The Valkyrie is equipped with "floating" calipers. The calipers are attached to the caliper brackets (these, not the calipers, are bolted to the forks) by a set of rubber booted pins set in holes. The holes are larger than the pins so there is some free play there. When you back your bike up to turn it around and apply the brake in reverse, the calipers will move to the rearmost position. When you apply the brake at the next forward stop the calipers move to the forward most position and the pins strike the other sides of the holes.. CLUNK! You can see the calipers move if you apply the brake and rock the bike forward and back. When you stop at a red light, the calipers will move to the forward most position then when the bike "rocks back" after being stopped."


I am sorry he retired -