SuzukiSavage.com - Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners

Surviving Philly

Senior Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 268

Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners
07/29/23 at 20:46:49

Yo savages,

I've been noticing over time my rear wheel has been getting squirrelly in corners -- it's not like I'm losing control but the bike has been making some subtle yet unpredictable movements while cornering at various speeds, feels like the rear is weightless.

Tires have about 7k miles on them, Metzler 888s -- tire pressure is within specs for the tires, however I have a slightly oversized inner tube in the back. ( Possible contribution?)

Any ideas for where to start with a diagnosis? Wheel bearings?

Appreciated

Back to top

IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #1 - 07/30/23 at 01:18:34 Spokes tight? Melted asphalt..?
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

zevenenergie Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1380 The Netherlands Den Haag	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #2 - 07/30/23 at 04:11:08 If the climate changes while driving, this will have an effect on the driving behaviour of your bike But it is also possible that if your tire has become flat in the middle due to driving straight ahead, and in a corner you switch to the round part that can feel a bit strange.
Back to top	Do what you know is right. (you can always use fear as a counselor later) IP Logged

LANCER

Serious Thumper
Alliance Member

Offline

Savage Beast
Performance Parts

Posts: 10660
Oklahoma
Gender: male

Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners
Reply #3 - 07/30/23 at 04:19:36

Several years ago when a group of us were riding into the hills of S Texas I had the same experience. Everything checked but no answer; then I decided I wanted to tighten up my chain for the next days ride and when I attempted loosen the axle nut/bolt I found it loose already. Yep. It shocked me because it had been a long time since I had worked on the axle.
You never know, take a look with wrenches to make sure.

Back to top

IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #4 - 07/30/23 at 13:55:18 Lift the rear up and wiggle the wheel. If it’s loose there’s your sign. Fix what’s loose.
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

Surviving Philly Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 268	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #5 - 07/30/23 at 18:22:54 Great suggestions thanks guys
Back to top	IP Logged

ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2768	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #6 - 07/30/23 at 18:32:39 Inspect the swingarm where the rear pegs are mounted. A few of us have had them crack there. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1624400028/8
Back to top	IP Logged

Surviving Philly Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 268	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #7 - 07/30/23 at 19:22:10 Wow! Never would have thought of that och! What a strange failure point.
Back to top	IP Logged

Surviving Philly

Senior Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 268

Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners
Reply #8 - 07/31/23 at 10:32:07

Spokes feel right, wheel looks fine (not squared). I have not noticed isolation in the rear wheel when lifted and wiggled, nor in the swing arm.

I do have two pretty pronounced dents on both rear shocks from different crashes, on the bottom cylinder. Could this be a contributor?

Both rear shocks are maxed in terms of setting (highest setting).

Thoughts?

Back to top

IP Logged

ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2768	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #9 - 07/31/23 at 17:12:26 Now that you mention it... I blew out a set of shocks and it affected the handling quite a bit. I would take a closer look at the shocks.
Back to top	IP Logged

springman

Serious Thumper

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 2217
Spring, Texas
Gender: male

Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners
Reply #10 - 08/03/23 at 15:14:07

I am not the expert that others on this forum are. But recently my rear tire was feeling squirrely. I did immediately look to see that the axle bolts were tight (and they were). My tire was due to be changed so I figured I would take a closer look when the wheel came off the bike. When I put the wheel back on, while tryin to adjust belt alignment I noticed a clicking sound coming from the wheel. The guys on the forum indicated the it was the bearing on the belt pulley on the rear wheel. I replaced the single row bearing with the double row bearing and the modified spacer. I have about 150 miles on the bike since the mod and it sure feels good.

Back to top

06 S40 seat mod, airhawk, HD muffler, Shinko 712 140-90-15 rear tire, Shinko 230 front tire, versy cam chain tensioner, Rotella oil, Volar brake pads, EBC clutch & springs

IP Logged

Surviving Philly

Senior Member

Offline

SuzukiSavage.com
Rocks!

Posts: 268

Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners
Reply #11 - 08/05/23 at 10:19:24

Thanks for the suggestions everyone -- one thing Ive noticed immediately is that the rear pulley wobbles in the hub -- it's hard to explain but the pulley is connected to like a hub flange via the six bolts, the pulley it tight on that flange, but the flange itself wobbles in the hub. Could this be the cause? I'm thinking that bearing could be bad -- has anyone run into this issue? How much wobble is acceptable on the pulley?

Thanks

Back to top

IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #12 - 08/05/23 at 12:09:35 the pulley is held in place by 1 bearing and a ring of rubber dampers. the dampers are mainly for rotational power pulses but do help with position. I don't know the requirements but if you can't fix the squeaking with adjustment replacing the bearing is the next step. see the tech section index
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

Surviving Philly Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 268	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #13 - 08/07/23 at 10:59:35 Searching through the tech section as I'm writing this but would anyone happen to know the size of the hub bearing? I'd like to replace it with a fully sealed/double sealed bearing if possible. Thinking this may be my issue.
Back to top	IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Rear wheel feels squirrelly in corners Reply #14 - 08/07/23 at 11:10:05 http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1561964431
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged