Front clicking feel "fork?"

Breck912 · 05-14-2006

I recently hit a curb on my ZX-10 and layed it down. I fixed the plastic that was broke and the front tire and wheel which took the majority of the damage. The front end looks straight however when I first took it out after the repairs I feel a click or jerk when I apply the front brake. I stopped and can repeat it by holding the front brake and compressing the forks. Is it my forks or can it be something else?? If it is my forks what can I do beside buying new ones??

Breck912

gpzrider · 05-14-2006

It definately sounds like the fork tubes. If one or both are bent it will mean replacement time. But, some times when you hit something from the front it will force the fork tubes to twist in the triple trees. This can cause the fork tubes to bind even if they aren't bent. Try supporting the bike so the weight is off the front and loosen the triple trees from the tubes while the tire is mounted but loosen or remove the front fender in case it is slightly bent and holding the tubes out of alignment. Re-tighten the trees and compress the front end and see if the sticking feeling went away. If not, you probably have a bent or dented fork tube.

Breck912 · 05-15-2006

Thanks for advice. If I ride it in the mean time do I need to worry about causing more damage? Also if I need to replace do I have to replace both or just the one and will it hurt anything and is it safe to continue to ride it?
Breck912

elr658 · 05-15-2006

It is definitely unsafe. It does not matter if you will cause damage because it's an accident waiting to happen. Now is the time to load that into a truck and take it to a shop.

gpzrider · 05-15-2006

ELR is right. DO NOT ride the bike in this condition.

Breck912 · 05-15-2006

After trouble shooting it more I found out it is not the forks but something to do with the front wheel and brakes. It only happens when the front brakes are applied. When I apply the back brake and compress the forks they are smooth and work. Is there a trick to installing the front wheel??

Breck912

*Tod* · 05-15-2006

Sounds like your Caliper may be moving in the bracket, causing the click. If there's play in the mounting bracket, the Caliper could work it's way loose and cause some nasty damage, and/or injury.

I'm with ELR and GPZR on this one, if you can't fix it with absolute confidence, then it's time to go to the shop.
And don't ride it in the meantime, you'd be gambling with your life.

gpzrider · 05-15-2006

As I stated earlier, you still want to insure the fork tubes are aligned. Since the calipers mount to the fork tubes and the rotors mount to the tire, you still want to make sure they are properly aligned and the easiest way to do this is the method I mentioned above. If they aren't aligned, the pads could be catching as they try to slide over at an angle to match the rotors since they offer a larger contact area than the piston.

Breck912 · 05-16-2006

I believe it is the pads because the caliper are not moving at all. I check my buddies ZX-10 and he has the same thing going but mine seems to be a little bit stronger than his. I also went over to my neighbors and his bike also has the same feel but again mine is just a little bit more. I check the pads and they have a lot of life left. Is there a way to keep the pads from moving or adjust them so that the feeling of a click is minimized??

05-14-2006	#1 (permalink)
Breck912 912 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4	Front clicking feel "fork?" I recently hit a curb on my ZX-10 and layed it down. I fixed the plastic that was broke and the front tire and wheel which took the majority of the damage. The front end looks straight however when I first took it out after the repairs I feel a click or jerk when I apply the front brake. I stopped and can repeat it by holding the front brake and compressing the forks. Is it my forks or can it be something else?? If it is my forks what can I do beside buying new ones?? Breck912

05-15-2006	#4 (permalink)
elr658 Motorcycling's Dr. House BTK Expert Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seymour,CT Posts: 3,606	It is definitely unsafe. It does not matter if you will cause damage because it's an accident waiting to happen. Now is the time to load that into a truck and take it to a shop. __________________ 1982 Kawasaki KZ1000R1 #658 1980 Kawasaki KZ750H1 LTD www.myspace.com/79cb750f

05-15-2006	#6 (permalink)
Breck912 912 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4	Not Forks After trouble shooting it more I found out it is not the forks but something to do with the front wheel and brakes. It only happens when the front brakes are applied. When I apply the back brake and compress the forks they are smooth and work. Is there a trick to installing the front wheel?? Breck912

05-15-2006	#7 (permalink)
Tod The Pondering MOD Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 19,867	Sounds like your Caliper may be moving in the bracket, causing the click. If there's play in the mounting bracket, the Caliper could work it's way loose and cause some nasty damage, and/or injury. I'm with ELR and GPZR on this one, if you can't fix it with absolute confidence, then it's time to go to the shop. And don't ride it in the meantime, you'd be gambling with your life. __________________ “Laughing at our mistakes can lengthen our own life. Laughing at someone else's can shorten it.” - Cullen Hightower

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05-14-2006	#2 (permalink)
gpzrider Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 2,145	It definately sounds like the fork tubes. If one or both are bent it will mean replacement time. But, some times when you hit something from the front it will force the fork tubes to twist in the triple trees. This can cause the fork tubes to bind even if they aren't bent. Try supporting the bike so the weight is off the front and loosen the triple trees from the tubes while the tire is mounted but loosen or remove the front fender in case it is slightly bent and holding the tubes out of alignment. Re-tighten the trees and compress the front end and see if the sticking feeling went away. If not, you probably have a bent or dented fork tube.

05-15-2006	#3 (permalink)
Breck912 912 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4	Thanks for advice. If I ride it in the mean time do I need to worry about causing more damage? Also if I need to replace do I have to replace both or just the one and will it hurt anything and is it safe to continue to ride it? Breck912

05-15-2006	#5 (permalink)
gpzrider Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 2,145	ELR is right. DO NOT ride the bike in this condition.

05-15-2006	#8 (permalink)
gpzrider Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 2,145	As I stated earlier, you still want to insure the fork tubes are aligned. Since the calipers mount to the fork tubes and the rotors mount to the tire, you still want to make sure they are properly aligned and the easiest way to do this is the method I mentioned above. If they aren't aligned, the pads could be catching as they try to slide over at an angle to match the rotors since they offer a larger contact area than the piston.

05-16-2006	#9 (permalink)
Breck912 912 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4	I believe it is the pads because the caliper are not moving at all. I check my buddies ZX-10 and he has the same thing going but mine seems to be a little bit stronger than his. I also went over to my neighbors and his bike also has the same feel but again mine is just a little bit more. I check the pads and they have a lot of life left. Is there a way to keep the pads from moving or adjust them so that the feeling of a click is minimized??

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