I have NEVER not been able to make stock brake components work. If the brakes are properly bled, have the right fluid, the rotors are clean and the pads are good.....all the bikes I've ever owned had very good front brakes with stock components. Maybe I've just been lucky for the past 30-years and 15-or-so Harley's I've owned.

 

I am new to this forum and to HD's. I bought a new 2014 FXDC a few weeks ago and with the weather I only have 110 miles on it. Saturday I went out for ride and the front brake pulled all the way to the grip and braking action was nil. Ran over to the dealer (carefully) to have them take a look at the problem. The tech said that he saw nothing wrong and just bled the system. When I left the brake felt and worked perfectly. Go out today to check out the brake and nothing but mush. Please don't tell me I need to clean caliper pistons every 100 miles, something else has to be going on. I am going tie the lever back for the night and see what happens.

 

Got a prob. with My rear brakes on a 2002 FXST standard. No matter what I've done (bleed, new brake pads) they still squeel when I apply My pedal. Any suggestions??
Thanx

 

If you have original rotors regardless of the mileage they may have really worn surfaces that cause squealing. Did you clean the pistons when you had the pads out? They may be sticking preventing the pads from releasing all the way. Remember you have a 14 year old brake system that may very well need to be rebuilt from M/C to calipers and hoses.

 

Good point Bagman....thanks!

 

I have been searching for brake caliper kits for my 09 RK FLHR but have been unable to find part #s and an online retailer. If you know the part numbers for these kits and who sells them I'd appreciate the info.

 

Tried this cleaning technique tonight after bleeding the front brakes using the MityVac system, whoa! The front lever was 1/2" from the grip and mushy as bell.
What a difference. It's like night a d day.

 

I found this really easy to follow youtube video. I was using his videos to work on my Triumph Scrambler when I had that.

 

Sounds like I may have to try to clean my Brake calipers.

My concern is the brake fluid these days seems to be caustic and discolors everything it touches.

Any ideas for what to use other than brakleen?
Anybody else notice the discoloring from todays brakleen products?

 

Think it may be the crap they sell in CA because we cannot get the same Brakleen as the rest of the country.
The old original Brakleen never gave me problems in the past but this new stuff almost instantly f's things up