Clunking sounds when turning?

[Dat Guy]

Here we go again...

Does anyone else hear a loud clunking noise when turning the bike left or right? I can even re-create the noise my sitting on it without moving and rocking a little from side to side. I never noticed this before but I just had a BajaRon sway bar put on it by a professional (Lou at Pirate Powersports) and now I seem to hear it at every turn. I didn't see anything out of place when I did a visual inspection. Any ideas?

:banghead:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Here we go again...

Does anyone else hear a loud clunking noise when turning the bike left or right? I can even re-create the noise my sitting on it without moving and rocking a little from side to side. I never noticed this before but I just had a BajaRon sway bar put on it by a professional (Lou at Pirate Powersports) and now I seem to hear it at every turn. I didn't see anything out of place when I did a visual inspection. Any ideas?

:banghead:

I knew a guy a year or so ago who had this problem. He told me that Lou fixed it. He didn't say what caused it. Give Lou a call.

 

[Dat Guy]

Seems like I'll have to. I just wish I didn't live 2 hours away from him.

 

[SNOOPY]

I'd double check the tightness of the links, unless you don't have the ability too?

 

[Dat Guy]

I'd double check the tightness of the links, unless you don't have the ability too?

That's beyond my ability. I'm hoping to get some ideas of the problem here before I make a 4 hour round trip to get something fixed that wasn't even an issue. Hopefully.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: It's in your end links...
you can check the bottom link easy...
the top link mount will find you needing to loosen up the plastic a-Arm lower covers...

it it isn't tough at all to check them! :2thumbs:

 

[SNOOPY]

If just the swaybar was added, I'm guessing it wasn't quite tightened enough and riding it has loosened it up a bit.

 

[NancysToy]

I concur...loose swaybar link (heim joint) bolts/nuts.

 

[greatrides]

had noise like that

Upper bolts on sway bar end links were very lose. The dealer told me that the inner tie rod nuts loosen up and when turning can make noise. I checked both and all mine was ended up being link bolts...good luck

 

[MMcc]

clunk when turning

I replaced both Heim links when I put on the new sway bar from Ron. The plastic heim links on mine were OK but some have had them break. My guess is that the sway bar is either not centered or the bar has slipped one way or another in the plastic bushings. I am closer to you than Riverside as we winter in Desert Center. We spent 3 years at the 29 Palms RV resort by the golf course before moving further south. You can ride down here and I would be happy to check things out for you. PM me and we can set up a time. Mike

 

[Dat Guy]

I replaced both Heim links when I put on the new sway bar from Ron. The plastic heim links on mine were OK but some have had them break. My guess is that the sway bar is either not centered or the bar has slipped one way or another in the plastic bushings. I am closer to you than Riverside as we winter in Desert Center. We spent 3 years at the 29 Palms RV resort by the golf course before moving further south. You can ride down here and I would be happy to check things out for you. PM me and we can set up a time. Mike

That's very kind of you. I appreciate the offer, and I might take you up on it. Tomorrow I'm riding to the Coyne Powersports dealer about an hour away to have them look at the side panel that came off while riding last week to see if they can replace it under warranty. Should I mention this to them, or should I not since it's an aftermarket part? I don't want to ruin my chances of a warranty replacement of that part.

 

[MMcc]

clunk when turning

Good question but I don't believe that replacing the sway bar would void any future warranty work on the bike. I would have them check out the links to make sure everything is aligned and all bolts are tight. I am sure that they will charge for that but it should be minimal if all they have to do is look at it. If they find something then you might be billed for 1 hr labor for them to turn a wrench. If it is the links and bolt/nut issues you should have it fixed and take the bill back to the installer and ask them nicely to reimburse you for the service since these should not loosen up if installed correctly. JMO

 

[BajaRon]

They didn't get things tight enough. Could be link ends or could be bushing bolts. Both are very easy to check and tighten.

If it sounds like wooden shoes clunking against a hollow floor it's most likely your bushing bolts are too loose allowing movement of the bushing blocks. If it's a more solid sound it's likely your link ends are loose.

Anyone with 2 10mm wrenches (for the bushing bolts) or 2 13mm wrenches (for the link ends) can fix this for you.

Did you save the install instruction sheet? That will point you in the right direction for where these are located. I can email you a set if you can use them.

 

[Dat Guy]

If the dealer won't do it tomorrow and it's as simple as you say, I'll give it a try myself. I still have the instructions that came with the bar.


Thanks for the info people. I'll update on this tomorrow when I get back.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

If the dealer won't do it tomorrow and it's as simple as you say, I'll give it a try myself. I still have the instructions that came with the bar.


Thanks for the info people. I'll update on this tomorrow when I get back.

if you need to trailer it, PM me. I live in Redlands, so no big deal for me.

 

[Magdave]

If just the swaybar was added, I'm guessing it wasn't quite tightened enough and riding it has loosened it up a bit.

You are Absolutely right :firstplace: Ron and I found that out on mine last year. If you get on the bike and rock it back and forth and hear a popping sound the bushings need tightened, in fact you need to see the split in them disappear. I drove up on ramps and used a 10mm wrench 1/4 turn at a time till it stopped. It took a few trys because I did not want to over tighten them. If you can get someone else to rock it you will see the bushing move on one or both sides. :thumbup: The 2013 is the only one that does this and possibly the 2014 may also.

 

[Chupaca]

There you go...!!

if you can't do this kind of work then a trip back is tge best. Strange that Lou would miss something like this.. :dontknow: :gaah:

 

[SNOOPY]

Did someone say I was right? :yikes:



Lol

 

[Bob Denman]

pps: Guilty as charged... :thumbup:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Did someone say I was right? :yikes:



Lol

NO

I did not see anything in here that said "Snoopy is Right".

Signed the Dog Catcher