Groaning noise from front after lowside

L

llaen

Well-known member
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Hi there,

Question about a GS500F.

I lowsided a few months ago and had the bike fixed (just your regular bent stuff). However, there's still a weird noise coming from the front when I start slowing down through 30-20 kph. Whether I'm breaking or not makes no difference. It goes away faster when I break since it decellerates faster as well.
The only way I can describe it is as a low groan.

I don't think it happens at higher speeds although it would be harder to tell because of general loudness.

I brought the bike to the shop that fixed it originally, but of course by the time I got there, it was no longer doing it. They took it for a test ride and couldn't get it to make it either (at which point I felt like a fool).

In hindsight, it seems to be temperature-related.
At the time it was 20+ degrees outside.

When I took it out this morning (it was around -2), the groaning was back and with a vengeance.
Definitely the colder it is, the louder it is.

I'll bring it back to the shop at some point (have to pick a cold day!), but was wondering if anyone had any ideas? It's quite bothersome and would be nice if I can look into it myself.

Thanks!
 
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Bent brake disk? Misaligned brake caliper - Brake pad touching?
 
I'd think a warped rotor would pulse rather than make a constant noise.
Have you had the bearings checked?
 
Are the forks tweaked a bit putting stress on the wheel bearings?
 
dont meant to hijack but i lowsided a couple weeks back too, i noticed when brake i can hear the front brake contacting pretty significantly lmao i dont think i was hearing it before or i maybe i have, do you normally hear your brake pads contact when activated?? Cuz i cannot hear my rear much o.o
 
Thanks for the suggestions and offer to help!

Weather-permitting I'll lift the front wheel this weekend and see if I can get anything to rub or if the bearings give.
As for the forks, I don't think I'd be able to tell if anything's wrong with them.

Bweixz, from my experience any new noises after a lowside are usually a bad sign. :D
But to answer your question, I don't hear them and I don't think you should be!
 
ahhhhhh crappppppp -.- so i'm not supposed to hear it lmfao yeah i wasn't to sure if i heard it before the lowside . . .
 
if it's constant then sounds like brakes...either the pad is pressing against the rotor too much, or maybe the rotor the way it's mounted got bent so it's pushing against the pad...the rotor might be fine and straight, but might need to be straightened...i am no bike mechanic by a long stretch, but that would be the first thing i would be looking at...
 
I'd ride it more before replacing a rotor on speculation. If it's bent you're going to feel a definite pulsing through the front brake lever, and it will occur every time you use significant pressure on the brake lever.

Check obvious things like plastics, signals, reflectors, hoses etc. first before buying the most expensive part on the bike.
 
I have in the past been able to get a slightly bent rotor back within tolerance , using a dial guage and a big adjustable to carefully tweak it back , a little at a time . Did this a couple times back in the day when i had more time then money to work with.
 
Rotten_Ronnie said:
I'd ride it more before replacing a rotor on speculation. If it's bent you're going to feel a definite pulsing through the front brake lever, and it will occur every time you use significant pressure on the brake lever.

Check obvious things like plastics, signals, reflectors, hoses etc. first before buying the most expensive part on the bike.
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hmm no pulsating just here the *shhhh* sound when im pulling the front brakes hard, there is no damage/scartches on the break or even wheel area just on scratch on the wheel fairing cover :S
 
Bweixz said:
hmm no pulsating just here the *shhhh* sound when im pulling the front brakes hard, there is no damage/scartches on the break or even wheel area just on scratch on the wheel fairing cover :S
Click to expand...

i hear sounds from my front brakes... it sounds like "shhhh" too, but maybe my "shhhh" is not the same as your "shhhh" lol
 
Pan said:
i hear sounds from my front brakes... it sounds like "shhhh" too, but maybe my "shhhh" is not the same as your "shhhh" lol
Click to expand...

LMAO efffff uuuuuuuuuuuuuu its the same *SHHHHH*
 
Dont buy a rotor just to troubleshoot the problem, just get a dial gauge and check the run out and see if its within spec....Generally if its bent bad enough to cause a noise, you will feel it in the lever as a pulse...Also your brakes will go soft then hard after pumping, then go soft again as you move the bike...

Id put it on a front stand and spin the wheel, try to source a dial gauge and check the run out...Check the bearings and wheel alignment
 
Bweixz, lay on the ground and try to see how much pad there is left on the front.

When the pads are at 0, you will hear that noise.
 
Lube up your Tach and speedo cables. Could be that it got a small crimp or it got re-routed from the fall. I had mine make funny sounds when the cable rubs the inside of the sheeth from lack of lube. Start with the simple things first. Make sure your fender isn't rubbing the tire, that can make a sound as well. Maybe your speedo cable is rubbing the tire.....
That's my $0.02.
Good luck.
 
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