Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Clicking from front end - headset problem?

I have a 2 year old Supersix Evo. Changed the bars and stem from stock to FSA Carbon a while back. Recently when I'm out the saddle and pulling on the bars, there is a clicking noise coming from the front end - no sound when I'm in the saddle.

I've made sure the stem bolts are tightened according to the recommended Torque and the expander in the steerer tube / top cap. Still making a noise.

Any ideas? Could it be the headset bearings?

 

 

 

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
le Bidon | 8 years ago
0 likes

As the first poster said, headsets tend to clunk when loose. Perhaps try reseating everything and tightening back up with torque wrench. Might be worth a re-grease while you're at it.

Are you sure it's coming from the headset? It's notoriously difficult to locate clicks on a bike - most common causes of clicks for me has been a filthy bottom bracket, followed by loose wheel hubs. Noises tend to travel in hollow tubes.

Avatar
ribena | 8 years ago
0 likes

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be the stem. Dissappeared when I swapped it for another one. Binned the old stem, it was very lightweight and I didn't trust it anymore. Not the sort of thing you want failing!

Avatar
Woldsman | 8 years ago
0 likes

Have you tried tightening up the front QR skewer? 

Avatar
andsaw | 8 years ago
0 likes

I have the same but the 105, i too had the clicking, did my head in, did all the loosen, clean, grease threads, tighten , tighten bit more still had it, what i did was change the bung for BBB BAP-03 Powerhead 1 1/8 Compressor as the original was crap and was creeping up the stem,  and a one piece ally spacer, and changed the bearings, top one of ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headset-Spares-Integrated-Tange-4T5-5-45-45-De..., get the exact one as any other the dust cap wont sit properly and lower from qwertycycles (HDL004) as you cant get them anywhere else and again anything else will give you a too big of a gap between the fork and headtube, trust me ive been there, and so far all ok, but time will tell, seems a bit extreme but at least i have done all i can to eliminate it, hope this helps you.

Avatar
Alessandro | 8 years ago
0 likes

Can you make the noise if you apply rotational force to the bars? In other words, do they creak if you try to roll them backwards and forwards in the stem? I had the same problem and managed to narrow it down to the bolts not being quite tight enough so tightened them slightly and applied a little GT40 and it seems to have resolved the issue. 

 

When headset bearings go it tends to be more of a 'clunk' noise rather than a 'click'. Do you have any spacers in the headset though? I also have an Evo and the ones supplied with it seem to be made of mashed potato. I swapped out the top one for a carbon one so that the top cap had something to press against properly and can now ride in peace. 

Latest Comments