Roughness and Vibration from Rear Wheel on I/S

[Marty_in_MN]

Hello Everyone:

I was out riding my 2000 I/S yesterday with a passenger on the back and while leaning over in turns, I would feel a roughness (at a loss for a better description right now) and vibration coming from the rear wheel. I don't feel it when traveling in a straight line, and it's more pronounced when in a turn on the drive side, but still there somewhat when leaned over in a turn in the other direction.

Tires look fine and are relatively new, and the bike only has about 12.5K miles on it.

I've read where there are premature failures of the wheel bearings, and some stories about the splines back there. What do you all think about this and the description of the problem that I have?

I would think that my bike being a 2000, would've had the issue with sub-quality, or undersized bearings fixed by that model year at the factory, but maybe I'm mistaken.

For the record, I recently changed the final drive fluid, but I know that I have the right lube and quantitiy in there.

Any feedback and tips are appreciated, and thanks in advance for it.

Marty

[R J]

Sounds kind of like maybe you are getting the vibration from the sidewall tread on the tire.  Especially if the center has flattened out.

You never said what brand tire or how many miles so that is a WAG.

[Ricky-D]

If there was no problem before, then you ought not think there is a problem now.  I would suggest just continue riding it until such time you can reach a definitive answer to what's going on.  Even a bad bearing has a lot of life left in them to allow a time to make sure that is indeed the problem. All this dither about bearings is really overblown and does not need such extreme measures as changing them out like for instance, preventive maintenance.  And did you just figure the right lube for the rear end yourself? What did you use?

[Nickster]

What  you are describing is a lot like what happened when my wheel bearings in the rear went out.  If you hit the rear brake and it makes a lot of rackett then you know its your wheel bearing.  Well thats been my experience.
good luck
AkNickster

[fldragon6]

I don't know what kind of tires you are running but it sounds like they are starting to cup. Once you get off center on a tire that is wearing you will feel vibration as well as hear it. Some brands do it more than others. My Avons do it but they are close to being replaced. As long as there is good tread just live with it and ride safely.

[PharmBoy]

I had an Avon that cupped and it had the same symptoms as you described.  Everything was normal when straight up going down the road, but it was another ballgame when going around a corner in either direction at slow speed.  You could hear it and and feel the roughness also.  Gave me a good excuse to put on that darksider sitting patiently over in the corner of the garage...JTL

[RLD]

Probably the tire cupping. Check tire pressures often with a good quality gauge. My tires cupped terribly till I fould out my pencil gauge was 8 lbs high! My last I/s had 107000 miles on it and the rear bearings were never replaced. Good luck.

[Craig N. AZ]

I would check the tire, wheel bearings and u-joint in that order.

[Grandpot]

My money is on the tires.

[Hoser]

Was the spline service done and if so correctly when the tires were put on?  Hoser

[Marty_in_MN]

Hi again:

Thanks to everyone for the tips and feedback.

I just did a search in the Old Tech Archives, and found many responses to this post: Tech Poll - Rear Wheel Bearings. From the looks of most of the replies, it looks like I should investigate the rear tire for some type of wear pattern.

I have never done any spline inspection to date, and tires (Dunlop D206F's) now with around 4.5K miles on them, look fine. I have been pretty religious about the tire pressures, but I will admit to using a Cheapo pencil gauge for checking the pressures.

The last reply to the Old Tech Archive post makes me think a little though. The previous owner of my bike had the original tires replaced at a shop, and maybe they employed a "ham-fisted" mechanic that over-tightened the rear axle nut.

Marty

[F6Dave]

It sure sounds like a wheel bearing to me.  If it is, it will probably get much noisier is a fairly short time.

BTW, it is very easy to replace a bearing (once the wheel is off) if it is still in one piece, because you can whack on the inner race to drive it out (I used a piece of plastic pipe).  If the bearing is in pieces it will be a lot more difficult.

The smaller of the two bearings is usually the one that fails.  It is a very common 6204-2RS (rubber seals on both sides) available at places like NAPA or Pep Boys for under $20.  If you go to a Honda shop DON'T let them sell you one that is sealed on only 1 side.  I've heard of this happening to a couple of riders and the bearing failed again very quickly.