Front brakes clunk

[Tfrank59]

So I just changed my front brake pads and now calipers really clunk kinda loud especially as I come to a stop. I know they are floating calipers and with the previous pads (which were only worn down about 50% but I change them anyways) the clunking was a lot quieter and I think less frequent.  I can say that my braking with the new pads is better now than it was, but I'm a little concerned about the noise. Does this seem normal, will it decreases as the pads break in more, or there a problem perhaps?  Thanks for your help.  By the way, I did have the wheel off for a new tire, but I followed the installation procedure as far as torquing everything in its right order to the letter. I don't think this is related to the front wheel installation.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Did you pump the fork to set the wheel BEFORE tightening the pinch bolts. Some have had brake issues and found that was the cause.

[Tfrank59]

Yep, did that.  I should have mentioned that I put about 100 miles on her yesterday with the new pads (and tire), and all seems well--the rotors are both barely warm and even temp both sides.  I guess it's even "clunking" on both calipers--hard to say.  It's just a bit annoying to hear the louder clunking, and being I have only 4k miles on her myself (31k on the clock now) and not a vet Valk rider, I don't know if it's anything to be concerned about.

[big poppa pump]

Go ride the bike for a few more miles. The clunk will go away once the rotors adjust to the new brake pads.

[Chrisj CMA]

Thee are little metal springs that the front of the pads ride on that keep tension of the pads.  IF these springs are flattened out by wear over time the clunking may be a bit more pronounced.  Try removing the pads and see if those springs are in right and actually exerting force on the pads.

[Tfrank59]

The little (used) clips are exerting a bit of force on the pads, but not heck of a lot.  Now with your comment I'm wondering if it's the pads themselves shifting inside the calipers, but my thought at first was it's the calipers floating on their pins.  But if the pads are held by their lock pins they can't be shifting much, correct?  At any rate, I'm going to give it some more miles and see if things smooth out a bit.  Thanks again to you both – enjoy your turkey day!

[Red Diamond]

Grasp one of the front rotors, rock it back and forth and you will likely feel where the clunk is coming from.

[hubcapsc]

IT GOES CLUNK WHEN I STOP! It sure does! 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... CLUNK!

                                                    http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/

If they don't go clunk, time to rebuild them, or lube the pins or something...

-Mike

[specialdose]

       
               I have 4k on my 98 Tourer since pad change. Mine makes the clunk. Not while applying the brakes. I only
          hear it at low speeds when hitting little irregularities in the pavement.  Coming into my neighborhood can purposely
          drive over manhole cover, pinky squeeze brake and it does not make it. I will check the clips that were referred to.
             

[Tfrank59]

Grasp one of the front rotors, rock it back and forth and you will likely feel where the clunk is coming from.

That's right and I was going to have my kid get on the bike, hold the front brake and rock back-and-forth so that I could feel whether it's the caliper or the pad that's shifting back-and-forth as it clunks, however my kid's not available to help me -- got to get somebody else. 

I have read that excerpt that somebody posted in this thread about the clunk and the fact that it's normal; the only issue was that seemed like it really increased a lot with new pads and I wanted to know if I just needed to live with it and if everybody else experiences the same big clunk so often.

[hubcapsc]

I have read that excerpt that somebody posted in this thread about the clunk and the fact that it's normal; the only issue was that seemed like it really increased a lot with new pads and I wanted to know if I just needed to live with it and if everybody else experiences the same big clunk so often.

I posted it. My bike was a beater when I got it, not so much now. I've overseen its
progression from beater to non-beater, and think the clunk is a good sign.

When my pads were worn out and my pins lacked lube and my pistons were nasty,
I didn't hear the clunk.

When I finally removed my calipers, cleaned everything up, lubed the pins and reinstalled the calipers
with new pads, the clunk was very apparent.

-Mike

[Tfrank59]

I have read that excerpt that somebody posted in this thread about the clunk and the fact that it's normal; the only issue was that seemed like it really increased a lot with new pads and I wanted to know if I just needed to live with it and if everybody else experiences the same big clunk so often.

I posted it. My bike was a beater when I got it, not so much now. I've overseen its
progression from beater to non-beater, and think the clunk is a good sign.

When my pads were worn out and my pins lacked lube and my pistons were nasty,
I didn't hear the clunk.


When I finally removed my calipers, cleaned everything up, lubed the pins and reinstalled the calipers
with new pads, the clunk was very apparent.

-Mike

Mike, thanks for that info because while my bike wasn't exactly a beater before I got it, I think before I got in there and cleaned things up and replaced the pads the old brake pads were not gripping well and therefore were not exerting as much force on the calipers to make them clunk so loud.

[Tfrank59]

As a follow up about my brakes clunking, after putting a couple hundred more miles on the bike (on the new brake pads), the clunking has subsided quite a bit – now all I hear are the "cicadas" when I apply the front brakes except for an occasional clunk as I come to a stop.  All is well with the front brakes now.  Stopping power has not diminished at all.  Thanks for your help.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Thanks for the update 

[Gavin_Sons]

Thee are little metal springs that the front of the pads ride on that keep tension of the pads.  IF these springs are flattened out by wear over time the clunking may be a bit more pronounced.  Try removing the pads and see if those springs are in right and actually exerting force on the pads.

Mine clunked when I put new pads on. Took them apart and the metal springs were flat. Bent them back in shape and reinstalled. Problem fixed.