SuzukiSavage.com - Steering bearing symptoms...

Serowbot

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Steering bearing symptoms...
04/09/14 at 08:56:59

Okay,... so you should jack the front end up, and check them every once in a while...
,,,but...

If you feel the bike falling into turns,... or notice it tends to do a slight serpentine weave when slowing to a stop...
Check those bearings...

I've been noticing those symptoms the past few weeks, and sure enough...
The bearings were sticking toward the center...

Cleaned and relubed,.. and all is well again...
...(it also afforded the opportunity to replace the fork oil with fresh ATF, and add a slightly bigger spacer to the fork springs to firm things up)...
Wink

...

(the only "special" tools you'll need, is a 30mm socket for the steering head nut, and a 1" socket for the fork tube caps)...

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« Last Edit: 04/09/14 at 10:46:53 by Serowbot »

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Steve H

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Re: Steering bearing symptoms...
Reply #1 - 04/09/14 at 14:55:38

Serow,

I just went through the same thing a couple weeks ago. I couldn't describe it really but you did it. Like it's falling into turns and weaving a little when stopping. Sometimes felt like it didn't want to turn. I've done it before on other bikes so I knew what it was. Did the same as you. Lube bearings...problem gone.

How often does this usually need to be done on the Savage?

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87 LS650, 2005 Ninja 250, 2009 Yamaha C3, 2001 Honda Reflex. On 2 wheels since 6/80.

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28658 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Steering bearing symptoms... Reply #2 - 04/09/14 at 16:00:56 I'm at 32k miles... I think it depends a lot on weather... very dry here...
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WD

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Re: Steering bearing symptoms...
Reply #3 - 04/09/14 at 23:18:12

Steve H wrote on 04/09/14 at 14:55:38:

Serow,

I just went through the same thing a couple weeks ago. I couldn't describe it really but you did it. Like it's falling into turns and weaving a little when stopping. Sometimes felt like it didn't want to turn. I've done it before on other bikes so I knew what it was. Did the same as you. Lube bearings...problem gone.

How often does this usually need to be done on the Savage?

Once. Add a zerk and fill the steering head. Completely. Remove zerk, insert set screw as a plug. You can do the exact same thing with the swingarm pivots...

Look at a 305 Honda from the mid 1960s, where it has zerks, you need zerks, except for the clutch cable pivot, that gets splash lubricated sufficiently.

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On 2 wheels since 7/87

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28658 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Steering bearing symptoms... Reply #4 - 04/09/14 at 23:48:34 Definitely the way it should be...WD... That was a lot of work to squirt some wheel grease... Seat, tank, front wheel, fender, forks, springs, caliper, headlight, bars. trees... Just to slap some lube... Nothing hard,... but a lot of stuff... ...
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