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Just got my bike back from the dealer service today. When dropping the bike off I mentioned the brakes were making unpleasant noises.
They got back to me saying all disks front and back needed to be replaced along with the cush drive. I said yes to the work - guess how much the bill was for? - $1761.91 AUD. That's around $400 for the standard service and the balance being for the brake / cush drive work.
I have to say it really hurt paying up for that one. I had to sell off some shares as I didn't have the full amount handy.
On the positive side - they did a really good job and she rides and brakes like a new bike would. It's just a little disappointing the disks wore out so quickly - I was only up to my 56,000Km service, so the bike is still fairly young. The brakes shouldn't have gone bad so early.... Anyone else out there have a similar experience with their '14 FLHTK?
I have about the same distance as you do- roughly 36,000 miles. No issues with the rotors. I did replace the pads a couple years ago when I put on new tires, but they really didn't need replacing.
My rides are more back roads and longer distances vs city, so maybe I'm not on the brakes so much.............
Brake component longevity does start with the quality of the parts but after that there's no way to compare two bikes because of riding/braking style(s). That said, you did go to a dealer and some are known for reporting dire circumstances that need to be attended to ASAP with the emphasis on $ in A$AP. If you don't do your own work (and I get that) you have to at least be informed so you don't wind up paying for unnecessary repairs. Just reading your posts for the last few years I wouldn't think you needed three new rotors and a cush drive but that's just a guess.
What are the symptoms of a cush drive needing replacement?
The symptom is usually going into a dealer for a tire change and having more than 5K miles on the bike, provided it's out of warranty. If it IS under warranty then it usually checks out OK Here's how you check it.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Oct 22, 2019 at 11:08 AM.
Did they return old parts....?? That's a tell right there.... If you had the old parts, you could see for yourself....
All Harley rotors have the minimum spec (thickness) stamped on them, a cheap caliper and you'd know if they needed to be replaced or not... If all the pads were down to metal and scored the rotors, or if the rotors were below min spec ... they need to be replaced. I am skeptical that all three needed to be replaced at the same time...
I'd also want to see the cush drive, and have them explain what went wrong with it....
I'm not saying you got ripped off, I've just been around too many dealers trying to find a way to mark up the work order, to give any dealer the benefit of the doubt....
I do my own work now, but before I had a place to work on my bikes, I would want them to show me the problem with the discs before they replaced them. If I wasn't there, I would tell them I wanted all the old parts....
I did have the "cush drive" replaced under the 2 year warranty on my 2009 Ultra Classic. I was complaining about noise from the compensator, and the cush drive rubber isolator was one of the items that got replaced first. Isolator, Rubber (#40278-09) $24.48. Eventually, with the help of the service manager, I was able to get the compensator replaced. I'd want to see the old parts if the dealer said they replaced the SPROCKET & BEARING ASSEMBLY, REAR, 68 T W/ REF # 3, 5 (BLACK) $215.99. I don't think the sprocket (Rear belt pulley) could be worn out at 56,000 Km. I have the same bike, and I'm still running the original rubber isolator & sprocket @ 100,000+ miles.
Did they return old parts....?? That's a tell right there.... If you had the old parts, you could see for yourself....
All Harley rotors have the minimum spec (thickness) stamped on them, a cheap caliper and you'd know if they needed to be replaced or not... If all the pads were down to metal and scored the rotors, or if the rotors were below min spec ... they need to be replaced. I am skeptical that all three needed to be replaced at the same time...
I'd also want to see the cush drive, and have them explain what went wrong with it....
I'm not saying you got ripped off, I've just been around too many dealers trying to find a way to mark up the work order, to give any dealer the benefit of the doubt....
I do my own work now, but before I had a place to work on my bikes, I would want them to show me the problem with the discs before they replaced them. If I wasn't there, I would tell them I wanted all the old parts....
I really didn't need to see the old rotors after change out to know they had issues - they were definitely making noise when I brought her in. As far as the cush drive goes - I just left it up to trust that it needed replacing - lame I know...
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Expensive service
Here's how you check it.
