My machine sounded like somebody getting their money’s worth in a cheap motel bed.
My front and rear suspension creaked and squeaked No matter how much grease I pumped into it. I also had a loud metallic ping and random clunking while riding (not the one way bearing, I’m familiar with that). I assumed the clunk was the sway bar bushings but the metallic ping was kind of spooky. I couldn’t pin point it or duplicate it, only did it on the trail. All three noises are gone now, here’s why. I bought this wheeler with 120 miles on it and it started getting noisy soon after. I’m pretty sure the dealer that I bought it from power washed it which would explain the source of the squeaky suspension. I decided to check the shocks as the source of the squeaking. When I unbolted the top and moved the shocks I found that the lower pivots squeaked like hell. Removed all 4 shocks and cleaned and greased the bushings and pivots. The pivots had no grease in them (power washer) and were really hard to move, now they’re smooth like buttah. This alone completely changed the suspension of the bike. It actually got plush and absorbs small washboard type stuff like it never did before.
My front and rear suspension creaked and squeaked No matter how much grease I pumped into it. I also had a loud metallic ping and random clunking while riding (not the one way bearing, I’m familiar with that). I assumed the clunk was the sway bar bushings but the metallic ping was kind of spooky. I couldn’t pin point it or duplicate it, only did it on the trail. All three noises are gone now, here’s why. I bought this wheeler with 120 miles on it and it started getting noisy soon after. I’m pretty sure the dealer that I bought it from power washed it which would explain the source of the squeaky suspension. I decided to check the shocks as the source of the squeaking. When I unbolted the top and moved the shocks I found that the lower pivots squeaked like hell. Removed all 4 shocks and cleaned and greased the bushings and pivots. The pivots had no grease in them (power washer) and were really hard to move, now they’re smooth like buttah. This alone completely changed the suspension of the bike. It actually got plush and absorbs small washboard type stuff like it never did before.
I replaced the rear sway bar bushings with Garage Products bushings and bingo, no more clunk and no more ping. the clunk was obviously the bushings. I think the ping was actually the metal bushing mounting block shifting ever so slightly on it’s through bolts from the force of the sway bar slamming around in there. Either way it’s like I have a new machine. Two things worth checking if you never have.
