scraping noise in front wheel
 

Hi, something is bothering me, pulled out of work today, Wet weather riding and down the road, Transalp, picked up a scraping noise in the front wheel. Couldn't even take the highway, I stopped at a garage down the way, The mechanic said it was a small stone caught in the brake pad. He cleaned them with some air pressure. Still scraping. I'm wondering if it's not small gravel in the wheel hub. So what do I need to do? Take off the wheel and redo the grease in the bearings? He said it would wear out, and not to worry. I would like to ride to work tommorrow with confidence. It's strange cause when I roll the bike backward it makes a slight knocking noise. I can feel it in the handlebars. It did seem better on the way home, less noise at higher speed. When I let down the gas, it comes back. It's not the front brakes cause it doesn't make a noise when I apply them. So it's definitely the wheel hub.

Any ideas or similar situations, what can one do? Thanks for any input
seeya

ta-all-the-way:confused1:

Could be a warped brake disc, but is sounds to me like you caliper pistons are seizing up, and so they are not returning when you release the lever, hence scraping of the pads on the disc...

That is my initial guess based on what you have said. A winter of riding can easily result in this!!

Interesting, thanks for that warthog, what would I need to do then, does it have to got to Honda to get sorted out?

Hi, If I was you, and as you say it only started on your way home I'd suggest. Start off by using a airline and blow out around the pads and caliper without holding the airgun too close to the piston seals, (airlines are HIGH pressure!) then remove the wheel to clean and regrease the bearings, remove the pads, check and use gold grease on the reverse side of them, use a 'G' clamp to gently push the pistons back into the caliper. Warning, removethetop from the fluid reservoir and wrap cloth around it to prevent fluid being pushed all over your paintwork when the pistons are pushed back into the caliper!! Use a brake/carb spray on the pistons BEFORE using the 'G' clamp, I now days use a syringe and tube to 'back bleed ' my brakes through the caliper nipples.........Much easier, pity you don't live in South London, I'd have come over and given you a hand, lets know how you get on...the job should be straight forward.
Dave

A warped disc is a good guess if the scrapping is intermittent. Does ist scrape "on" and "off" every second? Does it get faster as the bike goes faster? If so, the a warped disc would produce this when the warped (deformed) section passed between the pads and cause momentary friction. Also if you feel a pulsation through the brake lever when you brake, this could also prove a warped disc: the warped section pushes the pads apart as it passes through the caliper, causing a back-pressure in the brake fluid that you can feel.

If this is the case, the disc must be replaced.

If the caliper pistons are sticking, you can remove the caliper from the fork, take out the pads and pump the brakes so that the pistons come out until you can see clean metal on the pistons. Then get a brush and brake cleaner and clean the corroded/dirty areas. Re-grease the pistons (not the pads!!!) and ease them back in, put the pads back in the caliper and mount it all to the fork again.

You can do this even more throughly by pumping the pistons all the way out, removing them, removing the dust seals and brakes seals in the piston bores of the caliper and clean everything very well: you can even put the calipers in a washing up bowl!!

Let everything dry properly, buy new seals from you dealer, re-assemble everything, making sure the pads go back to the sides they came from and then you have to bleed the whole system to get new fluid in and all the air out.

I have done this: its not too hard, but if you are not sure, don't put your confidence at risk: get it done professionally. If you do do it: above all don't rush!!

Bonne chance!

Right on Dave, that sounds like sound advice, yeah, If I was in south London the beers would be on me. I'll get myself ready for a thorough front wheel and brake going over. I best leave the bike where it is until I've got all the right stuff together and do it one shot. It's probably safer too. I don't want to ride to work with it scraping like that. Thanks a lot for your input. I'll update here on the outcome.
ta-all-the-way:thumbup1:

Thanks Warthog, that's worthy advice. I'm gonna get all the necessary kit together tommorrow. I'll take the car to work and sort out the bike tommorrow evening for a front brake and wheel service. It's not an intermittent scrape. The bike is stable when I brake, it doesn't rock like if it was catching now and then. It's a constant scrape sound, like as if the brake pads are too close to the brake plate. The info above is definitely worth the time to check out. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks guys. legend

ta-all-the-way

I've got the heynes service repair book too, so step by step action, can't go wrong.

[quote]Right on Dave, that sounds like sound advice, yeah, If I was in south London the beers would be on me.


I help people with bike problems for FREE!! don't drink alcohol, as stupid enough with out it:rofl: but don't mind the odd diet coke!!
Good luck

I'm good with that, I have radically reduced drinking since riding my bike. I only have a drink when I get home at night and it's usually only one. I don't drink with meal, or while out on the bike. I'm happy with the new lifestyle it suits me down to the ground. Keep you posted.

Patrick

Hi, Well I've done the tour of some shops, wondering if anyone knows where I can buy brake cleaner in France? I haven't tried the dealership yet, but I'll probably end up there this evening. Any info will helps thanks. Have a good day y'all.

After some extensive research, I found a shop it's called DUMAS COLINOT. They stock spares for mostly cars. but they've got brake cleaner and copper based grease. So if in France, that's where you'll find what you're looking for.

ETS DUMAS COLINOT ET COMPAGNIE, 42 44 rue des Sauzes 63170 Aubière

Bon route à tous

Are you very sure your brake pads are not worn out ? its possible to have one of the 4 pads worn right to the disc, hense the noise..

You should be able to check it by looking down on the caliper...

Good luck
Matt

Have you tried Norauto? Pneus, autoradio, gps, remorque, jantes, pneu voiture - Norauto

I'm sure they would have that sort of stuff. Look to the nearest Zone Commercial, on the major route nationales leaving any large towns nearby.

They have most stuff like that. For bike specific stuff like pads and seals (if you decide to do all that) you should look for a dealer!

Bon bricolage!

Well, I rode to work today, and at luchtime went for a hour long ride on secondary road. She seems ok, still makes the noise at low revs. Now it's coupled with like a 4x4 tyres on asphalt noise. My experienced biker mate, said to just ride it out. I did clean and grease the front wheel and I spray cleaned the calipers and pads with brake cleaner. Not much more one can do, other than a complete overhaul, which I'm not ready for... seals and other stuff one needs. I might go and see the techy at honda just so he can hear it. I suppose one has to just keep on riding, as my mate said, bikes are made for riding, not for fixing every three days. And the old saying always comes back. " If it's not broken don't fix it " So there you are, I'm going to leave it at that and too bad if it makes a scraping noise.

ta-all-the-way

ps: the pads are still in good nic, even wearing, still got their troughs

Just a thought, have you completely checked the tyre for any objects embedded in it or any chance the mudguard or a mudflap is 'touching' ?