Front wheel alignment
Front wheel alignment
Whilst prepping the storm for her mot tomorrow I took the front pads out and cleaned them up and put fresh copper grease on the backing plates.
When I went to refit them I noticed that the wheel and discs are offset slightly to the left by about 5mm :shock:
Never noticed before, and the handling is fine.
If I look head on at the front end the entire wheel doesnt sit central, the gaps between the discs and the forks are uneven and it doesn't sit central to the mudguard.
I've checked that the wheel is on the right way round and I have the spacers on the right sides but it is definitely out of plonk, wtf ?
Has anyone had this issue before ?
Looks like I might need to make a set of spacers to measure
When I went to refit them I noticed that the wheel and discs are offset slightly to the left by about 5mm :shock:
Never noticed before, and the handling is fine.
If I look head on at the front end the entire wheel doesnt sit central, the gaps between the discs and the forks are uneven and it doesn't sit central to the mudguard.
I've checked that the wheel is on the right way round and I have the spacers on the right sides but it is definitely out of plonk, wtf ?
Has anyone had this issue before ?
Looks like I might need to make a set of spacers to measure
Re: Front wheel alignment
Closeup photos would be handy to see what you are looking at
- lloydie
- Posts: 20928
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: Front wheel alignment
They only time I've seen this is when either the wheel is in the wrong way ( check spokes so they have the same directional patten as the rear)
And when the forks and yokes are twisted/bent .
And when the forks and yokes are twisted/bent .
Re: Front wheel alignment
The front wheel should be central, have the wheel spacers been fitted the wrong way around (left one on the right and the right one on the left) as IIRC they are different thicknesses
Chris.

Chris.
Re: Front wheel alignment
Not had a chance to look today but the thicker spacer is on the right as per the manual and the wheel is definitely on the right way round as the spokes are the same way as the rear.
The bobbins on the left disc are very close to the fork leg compared to the right, are the discs handed ?
The bobbins on the left disc are very close to the fork leg compared to the right, are the discs handed ?
Re: Front wheel alignment
If your sure the spacers are correct then loosen the wheel spindle, pinch bolts and caliper bolts to finger tight and bounce up and down on the front end, this will allow everything to settle in the right place. It's easy to pull the spindle in too far if you tighten up the pinchbolts before tightening the spindle nut.
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2014 CRMC Post classic Superbike champion.
2014 CRMC Post classic senior production champion. On a Suzuki Katana 1100
My bikes, Firestorm, Suzuki GSX-s1000 Katana, VFR800Fi. Projects, 1986 popup Katana, 3 XJ600’s
2014 CRMC Post classic Superbike champion.
2014 CRMC Post classic senior production champion. On a Suzuki Katana 1100
My bikes, Firestorm, Suzuki GSX-s1000 Katana, VFR800Fi. Projects, 1986 popup Katana, 3 XJ600’s
- lloydie
- Posts: 20928
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: Front wheel alignment
With the correct spacers fitted the forks shouldn't be Able to be squished together .
The spacers are there to maintain the specified gap fork to disk .
The spacers are there to maintain the specified gap fork to disk .
Re: Front wheel alignment
Lloydie, you can still move the left hand fork leg into and away from the disk as it is supposed to be self aligning and it doesn't butt up to a spacer. The manual tells you to adjust the left fork leg position so you get the same gap from disk to caliper that is on the RH leg.....I generally don't do that, but I always bounce the forks to make sure the left leg is in its natural position before tightening the pinch bolts on the bottom
AMcQ
Re: Front wheel alignment
That's what I do too.but I always bounce the forks to make sure the left leg is in its natural position before tightening the pinch bolts on the bottom
(:-})
==============================Enter the Darkside
- lloydie
- Posts: 20928
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: Front wheel alignment
cybercarl wrote:That's what I do too.but I always bounce the forks to make sure the left leg is in its natural position before tightening the pinch bolts on the bottom
(:-})
And me to remove any stiction left .
Try turning the lhs fork in the yoke and see if the gap widens or reduces if it does then you have a bent fork and then you will need to check the rh fork .
Re: Front wheel alignment
Hi there. I know this goes back some time but I have a similar issue and wondered if you actually resolved the issue?
Re: Front wheel alignment
these problems are generally caused by spacers being put in the wrong sides
AMcQ
- lloydie
- Posts: 20928
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: Front wheel alignment
Or the wheel in the wrong way roundAMCQ46 wrote:these problems are generally caused by spacers being put in the wrong sides
Re: Front wheel alignment
Yes, sorted it.Vtr06F wrote:Hi there. I know this goes back some time but I have a similar issue and wondered if you actually resolved the issue?
As was suggested, I removed the wheel again and double checked the spacers which were the correct way around. Refitted same as before and torqued up the spindle bolt, then bounced the front end up and down a few times before tightening the pinch bolts.
It was fine after that.
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