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Groan when I turn right

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nilsthenomad

Groan when I turn right

When I lean into a right turn on my '81 CB750K I get a serious shuddering, groaning vibration in my front fork. Even when I just sit on the bike and roll it forward while leaning to the right I can make the noise happen. When I turn left or am riding straight I get no noise at all. I've lubricated my speedo cable, applied some high temp grease behind the pads to dampen them a bit, but the noise persists. It certainly sounds like it is coming from the rotor area. Is it possible that my pads are just rubbing on the rotor when I turn right? Anyone had this problem before?

'81 CB750K, '70 C70. As long as the Honda's older than I am, I'm happy...

TOOLS1

Re: Groan when I turn right

Administrator

Could be, however have you checked your steering, and wheel bearings?
TOOLS

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1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
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shinyribs

Re: Groan when I turn right

Administrator

Have you made any changes recently? Brake lines or cable routing? Maybe when you turn it is pulling on a brake line causing the caliper to drag?

How about your speedo drive. Is it being used? One time I left the speedo drive on the bike,but I removed the cable. It makes some weird noises without a cable preloading it.

Beekeeper

Re: Groan when I turn right

In reply to this post by nilsthenomad

Check both the wheel bearings and pistons in the caliper on that side. I had something similar, ended up the piston was not retracting.

nilsthenomad

Re: Groan when I turn right

Well, I started this morning by removing the brake pads and then testing for the noise and sure enough I heard nothing. So, I dismantled the caliper and piston, gave all the parts a serious spray with brake cleaner and the noise is gone. I think it ultimately wasn't that the piston wasn't retracting, but that the side-to-side play of the caliper had frozen up with gunk. It moves much more freely now and allows the pads to grab the disc evenly on both sides, which I think was the reason it was making a racket in the first place.

Thanks for the help all and Happy New Year!

'81 CB750K, '70 C70. As long as the Honda's older than I am, I'm happy...

Beekeeper

Re: Groan when I turn right

Did you remove the O-ring and clean the groove in the caliper? About anytime you have that piston out, cleaning that groove saves problems down the road. Serious buildup of gunk under there pinches the piston and keeps it from moving as freely as it should.