So, my 2018 Capra has a loose rattly feel to rear end of bike and I'm at my whits end trying to figure out whats causing it! The bike has only done 900km.
So far I've changed:
Bottom Bracket
Full frame bearings
Headset
Freehub bearings
Jockey wheel bearings
Chain
Chain ring
New cables
I've given the shock an air can service.
All bolts are correctly torqued up and have been greased or had loctite applied according to the YT spec sheet.
I've checked all the all the wheel bearings for play and they are fine and run smoothly.
The only other thing left I can think of is the shock mount hardware. All the bushings look fine but I've checked it over and the shock bolts do look slightly worn; the anodizing has worn off in spots but when its mounted and torqued up I can't feel or see any play.
What makes me think it could be the shock mounting is that I can't replicate the issue in the stand or around the yard, I can only feel it on rough ground. My thought process is that as it goes in and out of the stroke quickly its potentially going loose for quickly every few seconds? but then I'm not sure because its feels snug bolted in.
So has anyone had this issue before and do you think its the shock mounting or is there something else I'm not considering?
I have emailed YT asking what they think it could be and if they could send me some new bolts but I've yet to get a response.
I look forward to someone telling me the glaringly obvious issue I've not thought of! 🙂
Cheers
Shock mount bushings. Or maybe loose spokes?
Have you checked the rear axel? My dodgy Rockshox one comes loose and makes the bike feel like that. Keep meaning to get a replacement.
Shock mount bushings. Or maybe loose spokes?
Missed that off! I've checked all the spokes with a tension meter front and rear.
Have you checked the rear axel? My dodgy Rockshox one comes loose and makes the bike feel like that. Keep meaning to get a replacement.
Yeah, its nice and snug.
Do you feel movement lifting the bike up a bit by the bottom of the dropper? Not saddle as a dropper will have a little play.
After all you've changed, the shock bushings would be a logical guess.
I'd have changed them much sooner in the process to be honest mate.
Shock bushings would have been the first thing I’d have changed.
Do you feel movement lifting the bike up a bit by the bottom of the dropper? Not saddle as a dropper will have a little play.
After all you’ve changed, the shock bushings would be a logical guess.
I’d have changed them much sooner in the process to be honest mate.
To be fair it all needed doing anyway.
No movement lifting by the dropper. Its all out the saddle anyway.
As it's a cheap and easy job, I'd be inclined to sway out the bushings for some from TFT etc anyway bud.
Crack in the frame?
Crack in the frame?
Can't see anything anywhere, not had any big crashes on it.
Out of the saddle you are still compressing the shock and so when you go over bumps any play in the shock is probably noticeable.
As the rest of the bike needed a good service it's likely the bushes do too. Hopefully it's the cause of the annoying issue.👍
Edit: The bolts "should" be ok but if they are showing signs of wear then it wouldn't do any hard to replace them as well as the bushes.
I'd probably just change bushes first though and see how it goes.
Brake caliper/rotor bolts?
Centerlock with a 6 bolt adapter?
Is it a capra model that comes with the e13 rear hub?
If so, it's the hub axle (not the maxle) coming loose, mine, a 2018 capra cf Pro with e13 hub, comes loose every now and again and feels how you describe it, you just need to tighten it back up with a spanner, it takes 30 seconds to fix
Post back if you need detailed instructions
Sram 12spd mechs make the bike sound horrible after 6 months, they lose their clutching ability and the spring tension reduces as well.
Shock bushings would have been the first thing I’d have changed.
YUp, based upon past experience, would have been top of my list.
Have you checked the cassette lock ring for tightness?
I’ve had an issue before, where the cassette was very slightly loose, not cinched up. Couldn’t work it out as it felt like frame/bearings/axle. Sounded just like that, but didn’t happen when the bike was in the stand, or testing outside the house. Only came up on the trail.
Took me a while to identify.
On the subject of the cassette, check the cassette body for any burs. What can happen is that you tighten the cassette up but it's only the outer cogs that are being tightened against some roughness on the splines leaving the inner cogs to rattle about.
The wheel bearings may be bad only under load but spin fine by hand.
You would know if it was the shock bushes, as soon as you picked the bike up, you can feel the rocking/play on them.
Have you checked the cassette lock ring for tightness?
This ^^^ put a dab of thread-lock on it too if it's working loose.
I'm a bit out of touch with full sussers, but it's not your shock topping out is it? Wind a load of rebound damping on and see if that stops it. My forks do it sometimes, if I wind down the U turn a bit they stop doing it.
I’m with shock bushes too - again lift the bike slightly by the top tube see if you can feel it. Maybe get somebody to ride it as well get a second opinion...
Also, 2018 and all of that needed changing 😳 have you done 2 seasons of EWS on it!?
Also, 2018 and all of that needed changing 😳 have you done 2 seasons of EWS on it!?
I dunno where you ride but that’s about right for 2 years of Yorkshire’s finest mud!
Replaceable dropout / gear hanger bolts might need snugging up.
If none of above - brake rotor? Floaters particularly 'playful'.
I live in Yorkshire 😁 To be fair I am pretty anal about cleaning and maintenance! Also my last 2 bikes have been Whytes which do seem pretty well sealed...or I just don’t ride much 🤔
hub bearings developing play and/or axle coming loose. If all the rest of the things have needed replacing, I wouldn't be surprised if the bearings were gone.
First time the bearings needed changing on my Bullit (my first FS frame so I didn't know any better) I'd let them get so bad that it was understeering round corners and then whipping into oversteer half way round, trying to kill me. I took it into a shop and they laughed their arses off at the amount of play 🙄😳
@spooky_b329 - I was considering saying something similar. When I've had this feeling, front or rear, its been the fork or sick that needed a service as was exhibiting a little play right at the top of the travel. Just a few mm of free travel, but that was enough to make the bike feel like it was a loosely connected bag of spanners. Deffo can feel like top out.
With the bike at resting on its wheels, just lift the frame slowly - before the wheels come off the ground, is there a little of this free travel?