Front Wheel Noise

[biscuitsngravy]

I have an '06 Nomad. I've noticed a slight metalic rubbing sound from the front when I lean left in a curve or lane change. When I lean right, there is no sound.

It kind of sounds like a wheel bearing, but why wouldn't it make the sound when I lean to the right? It there a separate wheel bearing on each side of the wheel?

I seems to have become a bit louder during the last few months.

Any ideas?
BnG

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Dave I'm not sure if there is one or two bearings. I would almost suspect two bearings but I could be wrong. Check your brake pads and make sure you still have pad there. Possible you have one pad worn down. If it isn't your brake pads then I would think bearings.

[ringadingh]

I'll bet its just tire noise, the tires start to "roar" in the corners after they wear for a while.
The first time it happened to me I thought there was something wrong, but discovered it was just the tire making noise, that seems to be common on a lot of bikes.

[VulcanE]

You do have 2 bearings, one pressed in on each side of the wheel. On my bike, I used to hear a noise I thought was a bad front wheel bearing. I would hear the noise when cornering hard. It turned out to be just the pads vibrating in the calipers. We have floating brakes on the Nomad. To check it, you could, while you are in a turn, and it starts making the racket, apply the brakes a little. If the noise stops, it's just the pads vibrating. Don't do this unless you can safely do this though. My bike hasn't made the noise in a long time now, don't know why it stopped, but I'm glad it did.

[schoeney]

I would suspect tire noise as well. It is my undersatnding that the left side wears out before the right side due to the "crowning" of the roads and the average left turn is longer than right turns, think stop lights.

This would explain hearing the left side wear out before the right side.

My tire noise sounded like it was coming from the front but went away when I changed the rear tire.

[biscuitsngravy]

Good info. Thanks!
BnG

[AlabamaNomadRider]

So there you go Dave. Could just be your tire of the calipers chattering. Lightly touching the brakes when it does it is an excellent way to eliminate brake chatter.

[traveler]

Check your front axle nut to make sure its tight. Several years ago mine was doing the same thing you have described, the nut was loose and spacer bearings were rubbing between forks and wheel . The nut was holding by about two threads when i figured out what was causing the noise.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Traveler, you were sure lucky to discover that. That could have been serious.

[macmac]

It is worth checking the ft axel for snug, but the nut is integral to the fork on the 06.

It is very true ft tires howel in corners, once wear has taken place. This sound can change in my experience in hard braking. Which means the sound can change once hard braking has occured. My Dunlop stock size 251 radial ad a minor howel, that changed to more like a distant horn from a car honking, which scared me the first time i heard that. I became used to it, then was cut off again and braked hard and the noise changed again, for a lesser noise.

Seems odd, but it happens.

It is true the brakes float, and that the pads should be checked in case they are metal on metal, but when hearing this noise as mentioned a light ft brake pressure may show that it is normal brake chatter as mentioned.

To check ft wheel bearings the ft tire must be raised off the ground, the forks should be locked and if any movment is still in the forks, the handbars should be tied to dampen all movement side to side. Then grab the wheel at 12:00 and 6:00 and force a wiggle by hand.

If the wheel flops on this axis on the axel the bearings are suspect highly. You can also spin the wheel and listen to the bearings closely. Using a techs stethescope at the axel will increase the sound effect. If you don't have that tool and don't want to buy one, and they are inexpensive like 5 bucks, you can substitute a longer ratchet extension.

Spin the wheel place the rod at the axel and an ear to the same rod.