*click* during moderate/hard braking

[tlrpunk]

I've noticed a single click coming from my front end during the last few yards of a moderate to hard brake. It's a 2000 tlr with no modifications to the front end and about 7500 miles on it. It's done this for as long as I can remember and it doesn't seem to affect performance, it's just disturbing. Any Ideas?

Nate

[mstingray]

loose head bearings?

[coyo]

My TLS does it too, me thinks it's the floating disks... so do the two shops that've heard it.

[Steve TLS]

I get it occasionaly on my S too. I just stopped looking for it in the end.

It's not something dumb on your bike like a wiring loom hitting something, or a brake line slapping something?

[sKeryTLs]

My Tillis does it as well, but generally only when I've got a pillion. I gave up looking for it as well. The floating disks in the carriers sounds like a good explanation to me

[Fabri-Tech]

More than likely it steering head bearings.

It can't be the brake rotors, because once you're on the brakes, any "float" is already taken out of the rotors, so there's nothing there that's going to make any noise.

If you hold the front brake on (motor off so you can hear better) and quickly rock the bike forward (like you're trying to compress the forks) you'll probably get the same click, right at the point of most fork compression. If you do, then it's definitely your steering head bearings.

Good luck.

[Wingspan]

Head bearings, mine does it too BTW.

[tlrpunk]

Thanks for all the help! Should I replace the head bearings, then? Or is it something I can just ignore.

[bobviolence]

My TLS does it too, but here's what I noticed ... I've got aftermarket pads on the front (DP HH+ I think). I'll roll by bike backwards out of the garage and down the driveway (slope), and use the front brake to slow the bike, making the pads shift in the wrong direction ... once I fire up the bike and start moving forward, the first time I brake, I'll here the click, the pads shifting forwards. They do it once, and no more (unless I roll the bike backwards and brake).

[tlrpunk]

Your problem sounds a little different than mine, bob. I'd believe the floating rotor explanation for your bike. Mine happens just about every time I brake, though. And it's not just as the fork compresses or just as I apply the brakes, it's about 2 - 3 feet before I actually stop. I appreciate the input, though. I'm about to slap on some galfer pads and ss lines in the front. If that changes anything I'll post an update.

[tl1000s]

I think it's the floating disks. I got it alot more when i went to aftermarket rotors.

[Fabri-Tech]

Originally posted by tlrpunk
Thanks for all the help! Should I replace the head bearings, then? Or is it something I can just ignore.

They shouldn't need replaced just yet. All they need is tightened up a bit. If it still does it, then consider replacement.

[MotoTiller]

Mine does it too occasionally, I thought I had it traced to the rotors though

[coyo]

I'd have to disagree with the steering head bearings if it's like mine. I'll put constant brake pressure on and then just before the bike stops moving, I hear/feel the click. No change in pressure so as far as I'm concened it's not the bearings. Doing the "push bike and hit brakes" test produces nothing as would the bearings so.... I've accepted it now but will also update any changes when I do SS lines and HH pads in the near future.

[tlrpunk]

I got the same results with the push and brake test, coyo...nothing. It sounds like we're in the same boat. You described the problem i've got perfectly. I'll keep my eyes open when I swap out my brake lines/pads, too. Lemme know if you find something. And thanks again everyone!

Nate