I'll admit I don't know THAT much about the mechanical side of bikes, other than the electrical side... I have a '93 wide glide and the brakes are giving me a bit of a problem. What would cause BOTH front and back breaks to not release? (I can still move the bike, but I can also feel and see the brakes rubbing the rotor). I have dis-assembled and reassembled both front and back calipers and every thing is clean and works smoothly, but when they're back on the bike, they just seem to stick and not retract at all. Surely both calipers can't be bad? Am I missing something?

 

I am not a wrench, but i didnt think brake calipers "retracted". i can hear my brakes brushing/dragging on the rotors on my 2010 FXDWG when i push it in the garage. Is what your describing something that has suddenly gotten worse?

 

yeah, that's right...

 

They don't 'retract'. It may look like they're touching the rotors, but unless you can feel or hear a drag, it's working like it should. /edit I'll just throw something out there. Any chance you mixed DOT 3/4 and DOT 5 fluid?

 

okay "retract" is not right... they won't "release" is what I meant (I can hear and feel them rubbing)... and nope used dot 3

 

Go to my site and loosely follow the instructions and R&R your calipers and clean them out. Your brake fluid should also be changed every year. I have been telling members to clean out your sintered brake pad equipped calipers every 2,500 miles as prescribed and blow out the dust on organic brake pad equipped calipers every 2,500 miles. I have said this so much and heard so many arguments I will say: do what you like. You can always run without brakes if you do not clean them. This is a caliper with 7,500 miles on it below. If you would have practiced proper motorcycle maintenance your brakes will still work properly, your brake pads would not be worn down as much as they are now from possible contact with rotors and the real possibility of warping your rotors. If this is advice sounds like something you wish to take you may find instructions on my DIY pages.

 

the pistons in the calipers retract.
I would say possibly the master cylinders need to be rebuilt.
Systems should be flushed every 2 years.