Clunking noise

[UrbanPuma]

Hi all,

A kid ran out in front of me on my last ride which required braking suddenly and twisting the handlebars to avoid the child. Thankfully, no contact was made and his mother apologised, but I now have a clunking noise when turning the handlebars and the bike is very creaky.

Update: sounds like it's coming from the back brake.

 

[Andy-Mat]

Hi all,

A kid ran out in front of me on my last ride which required braking suddenly and twisting the handlebars to avoid the child. Thankfully, no contact was made and his mother apologised, but I now have a clunking noise when turning the handlebars and the bike is very creaky.

Any ideas what could be wrong and what I should be checking?

Thanks

Sounds like possibly a damaged headset bearing (as you have not posted photos, I have no idea what sort of bearing system you have and there are several possibilities), though there may have been some prior damage or wear, as they usually handle such treatment, if correctly adjusted, without really "noticing" such treatment.
They just work and work.
Maybe water ingress had damaged them, but I am only wildly guessing! Someone will need to carefully dismantle it and take a look. New headset bearings are reasonably priced, but you need to carefully and very accurately, measure the old ones (assuming that is what it is!) to find out which sizes are needed, there are many different ones, it is not a one size fits all.....Furthermore, as on my bike, the upper and lower bearing look identical, but are not!
Sorry to be so negative, maybe someone else has some better ideas for you, but photos will be needed I feel if you need our help.....
regards
Andy

 

[vfr400]

Hold the front brake on while you push the bike back and forth to see if you can feel play in the steering bearings.

 

[richtea99]

What type of brakes do you have? Maybe hard braking has loosened their fittings. Bit unusual, though.

Other random thought: Turning the handlebars AND the back brake are in two different places, with only the rear brake cable to connect them. Anything odd going on with the rear brake cable?

 

[UrbanPuma]

Creaky

What type of brakes do you have? Maybe hard braking has loosened their fittings. Bit unusual, though.

Other random thought: Turning the handlebars AND the back brake are in two different places, with only the rear brake cable to connect them. Anything odd going on with the rear brake cable?

The creaky sound is definitely coming from the back brake. On a few previous rides I was hearing a loud schreachy noise each time brakes were applied, so I cleaned the rims and that reduced the noise quite a bit. My brake pads are old and I think worn...they are V -Brakes. Haven't noticed anything odd with the cable.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Hold the front brake on while you push the bike back and forth to see if you can feel play in the steering bearings.

There's a slight clunking noise when I do as you suggest vfr400, but also the front dips as it has front suspension, so not sure if bearing is loose

 

[UrbanPuma]

Sounds like possibly a damaged headset bearing (as you have not posted photos, I have no idea what sort of bearing system you have and there are several possibilities), though there may have been some prior damage or wear, as they usually handle such treatment, if correctly adjusted, without really "noticing" such treatment.
They just work and work.
Maybe water ingress had damaged them, but I am only wildly guessing! Someone will need to carefully dismantle it and take a look. New headset bearings are reasonably priced, but you need to carefully and very accurately, measure the old ones (assuming that is what it is!) to find out which sizes are needed, there are many different ones, it is not a one size fits all.....Furthermore, as on my bike, the upper and lower bearing look identical, but are not!
Sorry to be so negative, maybe someone else has some better ideas for you, but photos will be needed I feel if you need our help.....
regards
Andy

Do these pics help Andy?

 

[UrbanPuma]

What type of brakes do you have? Maybe hard braking has loosened their fittings. Bit unusual, though.

Other random thought: Turning the handlebars AND the back brake are in two different places, with only the rear brake cable to connect them. Anything odd going on with the rear brake cable?

 

[Nealh]

You don't need to push down on the front sus to rock the bike with the brakes held, all you are looking for is any head set play as the bike is gently rocked forth and back with no downward pressure.

 

[vfr400]

Wrap your hand around each of the joints at the top and bottom of the steering tube at the front of the frame, while you push the bike back and forth with the brake on. If there's any play, you'll be able to feel it.

 

[UrbanPuma]

I've done as you've both suggested and there isn't any play in the headset

 

[vfr400]

We haven't got a lot else to go on.

 

[richtea99]

Creaky
The creaky sound is definitely coming from the back brake. On a few previous rides I was hearing a loud schreachy noise each time brakes were applied, so I cleaned the rims and that reduced the noise quite a bit. My brake pads are old and I think worn...they are V -Brakes. Haven't noticed anything odd with the cable.

Going back to the rear brake:
1. If it was the same noise as previously, then I'd investigate the blocks/brake. Here's a clean description of how to do that (I think, from your second image, your brakes are similar to these):

Linear Pull Brake Service

This article discusses linear pull style brake rim calipers, including attachment to the frame, pad adjustment to the rim, and pad centering and clearance.

www.parktool.com

2. If you put your rear brake only on (tight enough that the rear wheel can't turn), sit on the bike, and rock gently back and forward (but wheel not rolling), do you still get the noise? Just trying to suss if the V-brakes are at all loose, and fretting on your behalf.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Ok, so I tried number 2 and no noise from the brake. However, I am getting the clunking noise around the handlebar area, which is very noticeable and loud when I turn the handlebars left and right. Any thoughts?

 

[Nealh]

Clunking may be from the fork suspension if not the head set/steerer, there is little else on the front to clonk.

 

[UrbanPuma]

UPDATE:

I have isolated both problems:

1) clunking/clicking sound is coming from handlebar steerer, and

2) back brake is definitely squeaking when brake applied

Anything I can do to get rid of both noises?

 

[Nealh]

The steerer/head set needs removal and inspection of the bearings, probably need replacing. If the bearings are loose then should be an easy job, bearings can wear go out of shape.

 

[UrbanPuma]

Thanks Nealh

 

[vfr400]

Thanks Nealh

If the bearings are loose, you would have felt it when you did the test I described earlier, provided you wrapped your hand over the joint between the moving parts and the fixed steering tube.

I've never seen nor heard of steering head bearings break on any bike, though I've seen them go rusty, then break up because the rust ate away the retaining ring.

If you had driven your bike into a brick wall or bollard, it's theoretically possible to put a dent in the race, which would make them notchy when you turned the handlebars, but not make a clunk.

It should be dead easy to figure out where the clunk is coming from. If you can't find it yourself, give it to someone else to look at.

 

[UrbanPuma]

If the bearings are loose, you would have felt it when you did the test I described earlier, provided you wrapped your hand over the joint between the moving parts and the fixed steering tube.

I've never seen nor heard of steering head bearings break on any bike, though I've seen them go rusty, then break up because the rust ate away the retaining ring.

If you had driven your bike into a brick wall or bollard, it's theoretically possible to put a dent in the race, which would make them notchy when you turned the handlebars, but not make a clunk.

It should be dead easy to figure out where the clunk is coming from. If you can't find it yourself, give it to someone else to look at.

I'll take it to the bike shop around the corner. Thanks vfr400