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It seems that I'm having a bad week for things going wrong on bikes!
Is it possible for a set of Rebas to - suddenly - develop play inside? My bike suddenly developed a really bad judder when using the front brake yesterday, which I initially thought was the headset (new one, I assumed that it was just settling in). When I felt around it, there is a pronounced "knocking" when pushing back and forwards with the brake on, but I am convinced that it's coming from the forks not the headset. Is this possible or am I likely to be mistaken (which is not difficult!!)?
I admit that they are of uncertain vintage (came with the frame), have had a hard life with me and I've never touched them (I view opening up forks as being equivalent to opening Pandora's box).
Possibly, but unlikely to be the bushes, more likely to be either your brake caliper moving on it it's mount so check that's tight or the pads moving in the caliper.
Hold onto where the stantions go into the lowers & rock again, see if you can feel any play in there.
Thanks goldenwonder, I had a finger-check of caliper at the trailside and it seemed OK but I will re-check. I suspect it's not them as (I forgot to say) that over some bigger bumps on the way home I could feel a distinct and quite scary "clunk" without the brakes on.
check your disk rotor is tight as well.. I had one come a bit loose. However if you're getting a clunking without the brakes on it probably won't be that!
You've not left your lockout on have you?
I get a rather terrifying judder coming from the front of the bike when it's about time to replace the front pads in my Hope Mono Minis. 😯 Methinks it's the spring popping out. Handy little brake wear indicator though! 😀
The first thing I'd check though is the headset, even if you think it isn't the problem it might still be worth loosening up the stem bolts then giving the headset bolt a wee tweak and see if the knocking goes away.
If the problem's still there and your pads / caliper are nice and secure, then I think your fork bushes are the next, most likely culprit. Just hope they aren't rockshoks. I've still got a set of Rev's sitting in my garage because I can't afford to send them away to the one place that'll service the thing and replace the bushes. Grrr!
B. 🙂
And check for play in the rotor itself if it's a floater. Especially if it's 160mm and made by Hope...
Thnaks all. Will check pads and headset tonight and cross fingers....
It is a Mono Mini but not a floaty one
Slightly embarrised to admit finding play on the front end of my new 'to me' bike, I believe you can find if you have fork bushing play by sticking a finger between the stantion & the fork brace, & rocking it back & forth. No play in my 2nd hand forks, tracked the play down to loose bolts holding the caliper adapter on... Oops 😳