Grinding noise from Front, 2002 VFR

Dude--so what happened?

by the way this is my FIRST post!!! Thank you Mods!!!

 

Bike is still at the dealer - they've decided that the bearings were installed too tightly against the inner sleeve, damaging the inner sleeve. They're replacing the bearings and the sleeve, but the sleeve is back order and they have no date. I've been assured that i'll get the bike back tommorow - we'll see.

 

Got the bike back last week on Wed and promptly went for a 300 km ride.

The noise is still there, but the dealer is now saying it's normal. They showed me that I screwed up a bearing when I installed it which I suppose is possible. I spoke to the tech who worked on the bike and he seems confident that it's normal noise.

I've arranged to try a brand new 09 VFR to see if the noise is also there.

 

what about speedo ?? tire pressure? maybe its underneath you but it sounds like the front mine makes no noise...but if i put it in nuetral i can hear the tires like on a car making noise but its not grinding....clutch pulled in makes a noise coasting a gear whine if you will is it louder in nuetral?? go about 50mph put in nuetral and listen hate to say this take your helment off or have a friend stand on side of the road good luck......................

 

could be speedo, but isn't it electronic?

Tire pressure is good - been triple checked.

I'm thinking transmission? Do these bikes have transmission problems? I know when I put the clutch, it makes no difference in the noise.

It's illegal to ride without a helmet here, but I will try on a deserted road in the country. Maybe then I could isolate it better....

 

grinding noise = defo NOT normal :crazy:

Did you pay the dealer even though the problem is not yet resolved? Jeez..I wish I could just take her for a spin and see for myself. I know how frustrating it can be not knowing what is wrong. Had the same happen to me.

Did you check the discs for warpage?

 

Yes, I paid the dealer. They charged me about 1/2 the original estimate. I'm okay with that - if I did indeed screw up the install when I did them, the job needed to be done correctly anyways.

As for the noise, it really sounds exactly like a car wheel bearing. I'm a car guy, so that's the best I can do for description I tried taking a video of it earlier today, but nothing came out except for wind noise.

How would I check the discs? They don't vibrate at all when I'm braking, even from very high speed.

 

This is more of a comment than a suggestion. I put some Michelin "Pilot Road" tires on my SV, oh, about 9000 miles ago, and I immediately noticed a very weird sound over about 35-40 MPH that seemed to be coming from the front end, or possibly underneath the gas tank (?). It wasn't loud, just a new noise. Nothing was vibrating or feeling wrong.

I pulled over after about 5 miles, checked to make sure I had not missed any fasteners, felt the hub and rotors to see if they were hot, etc. Everything was normal. I put on about 50 miles to scrub in the tires, pulling over occasionally to check things. All was OK. I got home, realigned the fork tubes, re-torqued everything, and the noise still remains. I have had that front end off many times while I was tuning the suspension (springs, emulators, fork oil weight, etc.), and the noise has remained.

This is about the third or fourth set of tires I had put on, but the others had been Metzlers or Dunlops. As far as I can tell, the tire has some road noise associated with it. I have never had this happen before, but most of my experience is with older bias-ply tires. I just gave up worrying about it, and am hopeful that whatever tires I try next time will be quiet again.

I guess I'm wondering if it might possibly be the front tire, since nothing else has made a difference.

 

I'm also wondering if it's normal. I'm runnning BT021's now. They're brand new this year - last year's set had a strange wear pattern - they were also bt021's

 

OH, I LOVE A MYSTERY !!


and this IS one!!

I don't think it's possible to install bearings too tight or wrong ...as long as they are fully bottomed in their slots, and "too tight and ruined spacer" sounds like BS to me!! New bearings can easily (WILL) be damaged during assembly if pressure on inner ring is used to press/hammer in, and only the outer steel ring should be used together with the proppa sized socket .

you replaced bearings mostly to attempt to eliminate noise, right??

Chain/sproket noises might be the root of your problem, and when did you last replace chain?? If your chain has never been renewed, i'd guess that IS the noise. NO factory original chain is still good at your kilometerage.

Did you and did the dealer use ORIGINAL OEM bearings???? I'd severly chastize the dealer in my most obscene French if he couldn't fix the problem but wanted to charge you anyway!

MERD !

 

I first changed the bearings due to noise. On removal, I found that 1 of them had traces of rust - I thought I'd found the problem. I reinstalled with original honda parts.

The dealer also installed original honda parts - I suppose it's possible that I hammered on an inner race - I didn't quite have a big enough socket, so I was trying to be careful.

Chain and Sproket are new, done my me in the last 1000 kms (this year). Chain is a D&D, sprokets are original honda.

I didn't really want to pay, but I wasn't 100% sure that I didn't turf up the bearing job in the 1st place....

 

IF the service manager at that dealership, after riding your bike, can't diagnose the problem and recommend a solution........maybe he should be busted down to a salesman. and I'll take his job!!

Get a phone # for a Honda Factory Rep if the dealership can't help you!

 

him and the technician are saying nothing is wrong.... this kinda sucks... if this was a car, I'd be all over it!

I'm going to try the 09, then maybe visit another shop for a 2nd opinion....

 

A wild guess since everything else has been tried: chain too loose and dragging on swingarm???

 

I had a piece of sand in my evap canister that made a noise that i thought for sure was coming form the front wheel. Start up your bike sitting still and run it up through bout 4k RPM very slowly and listen for noise. Thats all i got.
Good luck!

 

I second that! Disgraceful that they couldn't fix it but still charged you. Anways, thats not the problem.

I'm really at a loss now...from what you describe everything seems ok

I would agree again with squirrelman about checking the chain and sprockets.

Is there anyway to get us a video or sound clip? I know you tried already but there must be something....

 

or any other viffer riders in your area that would come and help out????

 

I'm going to get an experienced mechanic who was recommended to me to ride the bike next.

I would love to take a video - i'll try again to get a video, but last time, it was all wind, maybe a bit of engine, and nothing else....:frown:

 

get the bike up on the centrestand and determine that the noise is NOT from the rear wheel/hub bearings.......???

another guess: remove and inspect front sprocket cover; look for signs of wear or rubbing.

 

If you put some foam or cloth over the mic pick up it'll help kill the wind noise.