Steering head bearings loose?
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 8:16 pm
Hi,
'Been putting some miles on my recently acquired '93 907 and as it turned over the 10k mile mark this week, I noticed a funny feeling in the steering. At first it felt a little less planted in turns, then it got more pronounced over the next 100 miles till I parked it last night. It was feeling very nervous up front like I was on snow. Even going straight the slightest ridge in the road at low speed was getting scary. I looked it over. The tire pressures are normal. The rear axle/chain is adjusted properly, measured not only with the crude markings by the axle, but by measuring the swingarm pivot to axle distance. OK, up front; with the wheel off the ground, the bars glide back and forth with no resistance and no slow spots. I also didn't hear/feel clicking when, while on the bike (off the stand) forcing the forks up and down with the front brake on. The wheel bearings don't seem to have play as I grab and pull the wheel side to side and front to back. And there's no play in the forks, side to side. Which leaves me thinking the steering head bearings are loose, so here's my simple question -- what steps do I take to adjust them correctly? What tool, torque etc.? Is it upper and lower? Or is it possibly something else causing this? Thanks!
'Been putting some miles on my recently acquired '93 907 and as it turned over the 10k mile mark this week, I noticed a funny feeling in the steering. At first it felt a little less planted in turns, then it got more pronounced over the next 100 miles till I parked it last night. It was feeling very nervous up front like I was on snow. Even going straight the slightest ridge in the road at low speed was getting scary. I looked it over. The tire pressures are normal. The rear axle/chain is adjusted properly, measured not only with the crude markings by the axle, but by measuring the swingarm pivot to axle distance. OK, up front; with the wheel off the ground, the bars glide back and forth with no resistance and no slow spots. I also didn't hear/feel clicking when, while on the bike (off the stand) forcing the forks up and down with the front brake on. The wheel bearings don't seem to have play as I grab and pull the wheel side to side and front to back. And there's no play in the forks, side to side. Which leaves me thinking the steering head bearings are loose, so here's my simple question -- what steps do I take to adjust them correctly? What tool, torque etc.? Is it upper and lower? Or is it possibly something else causing this? Thanks!