front wheel loose?

[lnb001]

So I went to take my road skills test finally and I passed, however on the way back I got up to high speeds and my handlebars started shaking weird, so I assumed it was cause i defaired my bike.  A couple seconds later it starts going crazy and it definitely feels like something was wrong.  I pull off on the side of the road and my buddy stops behind me and we check things out.  I ride around a parking lot at slow speeds and start to hear this clicking noise, it sounded like it came from the odometer thing on the wheel.  I look at the actual odometer and it is turning as I ride so I decide that it was not that.  Thankfully the dealership where i bought my bike was literally right down the street, so I ride down there and on the way I look down near the front calliper and it is shaking all over the place, at this point it feels like the front wheel is gonna fall right off.  When I park at the dealership I check things out and I can see into the hub and all the bearings and what not.  I had to get to class so I left my bike at the service center so hopefully I will hear something back soon.  I recently put sonic springs in and the only thing i can think of that I did wrong was when I put the wheel back on and bolted everything I had the wrong torque setting on my wrench or something.  I also forgot to put the little wire clip back in that tiny hole on the bolt.  What do you guys think?  Thanks.

-Lucas

[ben2go]

Sounds like a bad bearing or the spacer that fit's inside the axle hole isn't in all the way.Another thing that causes head shake is bad steering stem bearings.Low tire pressure can cause head shake also.That's all I can think of right off.

[dgyver]

.....
I recently put sonic springs in and the only thing i can think of that I did wrong was when I put the wheel back on and bolted everything I had the wrong torque setting on my wrench or something. 

I also forgot to put the little wire clip back in that tiny hole on the bolt. 

What do you guys think?  Thanks.

-Lucas

A missing cotter pin is a bad thing. Keeps the axle nut from coming loose.

[pjm204]

that is exactly what I was going to say, definitely sounds like the nut loosened as you rode, that creates a pretty dangerous situation. Take your time when working on your bike, if you need to, draw diagrams of how parts fit together. All the parts are there for a reason and as stated above, that cotter pin keeps the axle nut on the bike, in turn keeping your front wheel on the bike. Hopefully your dealer won't charge you, I wouldn't mention the springs.

[bucks1605]

.....
I recently put sonic springs in and the only thing i can think of that I did wrong was when I put the wheel back on and bolted everything I had the wrong torque setting on my wrench or something. 

I also forgot to put the little wire clip back in that tiny hole on the bolt. 

What do you guys think?  Thanks.

-Lucas

A missing cotter pin is a bad thing. Keeps the axle nut from coming loose.

I almost forgot to put mine back in too. When I finally realized I had forgotten it, of course I couldn't find it... Eventually I did, luckily I didn't ride it without the pin.

[ben2go]

that is exactly what I was going to say, definitely sounds like the nut loosened as you rode, that creates a pretty dangerous situation. Take your time when working on your bike, if you need to, draw diagrams of how parts fit together. All the parts are there for a reason and as stated above, that cotter pin keeps the axle nut on the bike, in turn keeping your front wheel on the bike. Hopefully your dealer won't charge you, I wouldn't mention the springs.

I just take pics of things that I take apart.Aren't digital cams the best. 

[Atkins]

I almost forgot to put mine back in too. When I finally realized I had forgotten it, of course I couldn't find it... Eventually I did, luckily I didn't ride it without the pin.

I prefer putting in a new one every time. They're pretty inexpensive, so I keep extras on hand in the garage.

[yamahonkawazuki]

or worst case scenario. ( and dont do this unless absolutely necessary  ) you can use a nail and twist it until you get a proper cotter pin

[ohgood]

it could be the head bearing dying, and the axel not torqued correctly, and the assembly of the front wheel being incorrect. any of those will cause nasty tremors, but all of them combined would be like riding a horse.

[lnb001]

Hopefully I hear back from the shop today.  Nothin like just getting  your license and not being able to ride 

[lnb001]

K stopped by the dealer today and it was the bearing.  It is going to be covered under my warranty so that is good news;  won't get the bike back for about a week though but oh well at least it'll be fixed.  Thanks for the help guys.

-Lucas

[ben2go]

K stopped by the dealer today and it was the bearing.  It is going to be covered under my warranty so that is good news;  won't get the bike back for about a week though but oh well at least it'll be fixed.  Thanks for the help guys.

-Lucas

Wheel bearing or head bearing?

[lnb001]

wheel bearing i believe.  Where the axle goes through the wheel and forks and such.  What is the difference between the two?  Just curious 

-Lucas

[Affschnozel]

A week for a bearing replacement? 

Here's head bearings:http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=38447.msg431492#msg431492

[scottpA_GS]

Most likely they dont have it in stock.. 3-5 days to get it from suzuki 

[lnb001]

Update on this, finally the shop got these parts in and it might be done by saturday.  I sure hope so because my roommate just bought a ninja 650r and i've been dying to go ride with him before school lets out!  Can't believe its taken almost 3 weeks to get this done!  Anybody ever repair a messed up wheel bearing?  Next time (lets hope there is no next time) would it be a whole lot easier to just do this myself?  Thanks.

-Lucas