Sunny Helix / Fashion steering noise after pothole By grocerygetter (Read 433 times)

[grocerygetter]

Well so much for the gas n go on the new Sunny Helix.
Saw a pothole too late, hit it square on really hard.

The front brake started rubbing intermittently - grind, grind, grind.
Not a sqeal or squeak.
Pulled over to check the caliper and anything else up front.
Nothing loose.
However when I pulled away the steering column made a click and over small bumps I feel like I'm hearing a tinny rattle.

Got home, took the caliper apart, nothing going on there.
Noticed that when I lock the front brake and push back and forth on the handle bars, there seems to be a bit of play that wasn't there before, or maybe it was there before and I didn't notice cuz I wasn't checking for it - now all paranoid.

No shaking when driving, brakes work fine, spun the front wheel on the center stand and it looks straight, but there is definitely some noises up front along with that annoying brake pad scraping the rotor.

I won't be confident in it without tearing the front apart now, but has anyone got some ideas to steer me towards when I get in there?
I was thinking head bearings or checking torque on the assembly - these are my first bikes of any kind so at a loss for bike oriented equipment.

thanks for your help

[Bashan]

I've been through this. Get the front wheel off the ground and spin it with a point of reference to the edge of the rim looking at it from the side. See if there's a movement in and out on the edge of the rim. I think you checked it for deviation from side to side in this manner, is that correct? If that's good pull the plastic and check the handlebar attachment. If your OK there unscrew the cap on the steering head and pull the shaft out. There'll be some circular bearings in there. Check to make sure none of the balls or rollers are broke. Rich

[cookees]

Sept 21, 2011 11:22:52 GMT -6 Bashan said:

Check to make sure none of the balls or rollers are broke. Rich

....same can be said for your balls as well.......jus sayin!!

[Bashan]

Cookees, you must be punished for that remark: