Front end shimy

[tinman905]

Had a leaky seal in my forks so I just changed the front forks for the spares I had. My front brakes squeaked when I applied them before the swap now they don't which is nice. Now when I apply the front brakes I get a shimmy or a wobble . The tire spins good and there is no rubbing . Any idea's ?

[blue giant]

You didn't by chance get any grease or fork oil on one of the rotors did you?

Did you try loosening the tripple tree bolts and retorquing them?

Is the front wheel rotating in the same direction it was?

Just a few ideas James.

Paul

[tinman905]

Hey Paul

Yes I made sure about not getting oil or grease on the anything. I haven't tried to retorquing the triple trees I will give do that in the morning thanks.

[egsols]

Your rotor still true?

[tinman905]

Hi Ernie

Yes when I spin the wheel I don't see any wobble in the rotors that's why I am a bit stomped on why I get the wobble or shimmy when I brake. The harder I apply the front breaks the more it wobbes ,nothing real serious but enough to concern me. Thanks

[jeffe]

Do you feel any pulsing back thru the brake lever. You can have a warped rotor with out really seeing it being out of true. Happened to mine.

[Flatlander]

Warped rotor is also what I think. Block up the front end, spin the tire as fast as you can and slowly squeze the lever. Make a mark on the tire and do this several times. If the mark is at the same spot numerious times then I would say it's warped.
It will also get worse while riding, because the warped rotor gets hotter on the spot were it grabs the most, and expands the metal more at that point.
So you may not find it when it is cool and trying to do it by hand.
Also is there any obvious disimular color on the rotors and is there any rust spots in one area?

[Hammerhead1st]

Pull those rotors and have em both turned at the same time. If you catch it now you may save yourself some cash in the long run. If they warp beyond turning, you're into more than the cost of a local shop, you're looking at replacing the pair, which can get mucho pricy.

[tinman905]

I spinned the front wheel many times the rotors are straight as I could want .There is no plusing that comes back to my brake lever. I loosened the trees and retorked it again the shimmy isn't near as bad now. I am going to trry another wheel I have on the weekend and see if there is any difference ,thanks guys.

[egsols]

Just a guess...I take it you have the air nipples on your special shocks. Is the air pressure the same for both sides?

With the brakes, did you make sure to put the washers back in the right order when remounting the calipers so they don't bind?

Just thinking of any and all possibilities..

[egsols]

I got thinking about it again

just a thought, when you spun the front wheel and applied the brakes did you feel any movement at the bars. Why I'm asking is that if something to do with the brakes is causing it I would guess that you could feel it this way, otherwise it would have to be suspension related.

[tinman905]

Hey Ernie , I don't feel anything on my handle bars its more like right at the wheel. I think I might try one of those fork braces. I am going to have another look at my brakes again to see if I have reassembled it correctly . Thanks again guys.

[egsols]

Hey Paul,

A fork brace isn't a bad idea but if it wasn't doing the shimmy before you did the seals it might mask the real problem.

[RUSH]

what about the triple head bearings? time to tighten or replace them?

[tinman905]

That might be a good idea ,it's about the only thing I haven't replaced haha! Thanks