Dyna Glide Models Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Soft front brake

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 24, 2011 | 09:32 AM
  #1  
JerryDinMD's Avatar
JerryDinMD
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Default Soft front brake

Just got a new Super Glide-saleman told me the front brake might feel soft for awhile-it felt fine to me till i got about 500 miles on it-now seems VERY soft--will bleeding them help? or is that useless? or should i look for different pads? Thanks
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2011 | 10:01 AM
  #2  
reded's Avatar
reded
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: KC
Default

Soft as in spongy lever pull or it just doesn't have much stopping power at the wheel with a firm lever pull?
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2011 | 02:47 PM
  #3  
RichardH's Avatar
RichardH
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 3
Default

The front brake on my 2011 Super Glidewould almost hit the hand grip if I pulled it in that much. I figured there was some air in the line. The dealer wasn't concerned about it so I figured I would bring it back at the 1,000 mile service. After about 100 miles it went away and the front brake works great. It has not come back yet. Talk to your dealer but my guess is that bleeding it would fix it. Unless you have a leak.

Originally Posted by JerryDinMD
Just got a new Super Glide-saleman told me the front brake might feel soft for awhile-it felt fine to me till i got about 500 miles on it-now seems VERY soft--will bleeding them help? or is that useless? or should i look for different pads? Thanks
 
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2011 | 03:22 PM
  #4  
Shovelhed's Avatar
Shovelhed
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 403
Likes: 0
Default

Just bleed em. A monkey could do it...
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 03:20 AM
  #5  
JerryDinMD's Avatar
JerryDinMD
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
Default

They are soft as spongy-lever will almost go to the bar
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 09:07 PM
  #6  
mtnlvr's Avatar
mtnlvr
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 8
From: Minneapolis Area, MN
Default

Doesn't seem right to have spongy brakes after run in. I can understand brand new as the pads aren't worn in to the disc, but they should stiffen up. As mentioned, a good bleed can't hurt. If it doesn't help, something would seem off.
 
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2011 | 03:28 AM
  #7  
srshaw's Avatar
srshaw
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 302
Likes: 8
From: Huddersfield. U.K.
Default

Originally Posted by mtnlvr
Doesn't seem right to have spongy brakes after run in. I can understand brand new as the pads aren't worn in to the disc, but they should stiffen up. As mentioned, a good bleed can't hurt. If it doesn't help, something would seem off.
Agree with that. After they have run in you shouldnt have to pull excessively on the lever.

I remember with my fat bob that the brakes wore shockingly poor when I took delivery. If it wasn't for experiencing similarly poor braking from a new fat bob I took for a test drive (I almost drove straight into the back of a car) I would have probably took it to the dealers. I had been used to using just two fingers to stop my Honda VFR.

After about 500 miles the front brakes started working quite nicely and about 1000 miles for the rear (I dont use that much).
 
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2011 | 03:38 AM
  #8  
Spanners39's Avatar
Spanners39
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Default

This is caused by the 4-pot pistons being a tight fit in the bores and the O rings and there are two ways of fixing it (apart from wait and pray).

#1: You take the caliper off and pump the lever so the pistons come out of the bores slightly and then you work the caliper back on (it will be a bitch to do).

#2: Gaffer tape or bungee the lever right back to the bars after pumping them about 5 or 6 times. Tape it back real hard and leave overnight....2 nights is better.

This will allow the piston O rings to slide back up the piston body to the rest position and the pistons will then be where they should be.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
WVHogRider
Sportster Models
32
Mar 27, 2012 08:05 AM
Jerry1834
Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes
1
Nov 17, 2011 04:22 PM
Scooter68
General Harley Davidson Chat
25
Jul 24, 2009 08:26 AM
Marsh
General Harley Davidson Chat
13
Jul 7, 2009 07:27 PM
Figstr
Softail Models
7
May 4, 2008 10:26 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:42 AM.

story-0
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-8
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE