Aaaarghh ... Front brake bleed '05 Superglide
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 142
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From: North Saanich, Vancouver Island, BC
Aaaarghh ... Front brake bleed '05 Superglide
This is killing me! Have an '05 FXDXi with dual discs at the front.
I cannot get all the air out of the lines. Have bled 'em 3 times - still spongy. I've reviewed the postings, but no real help. Yes, I've tried strapping the lever open and leaving it overnight, too.
Does anyone know what to do?
I cannot get all the air out of the lines. Have bled 'em 3 times - still spongy. I've reviewed the postings, but no real help. Yes, I've tried strapping the lever open and leaving it overnight, too.
Does anyone know what to do?
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 154
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From:
I am not that familiar with Dyna's. But I think I have an answer for you. Remove your front caliper . Check to see if all the pistons come out equally. If they are anyhting like the roadkings and you have not cleaned them. It will be you problem. Bleeding hte brakes will not help this. It easy, somepeople use a shoe lace, qtips. Clean them until all come out equal. You can google lyndals site, there are good step by step instructions there. 08 and later problems is gone. WIth new style brakes
Last edited by Jonas; Sep 17, 2012 at 11:07 AM.
first start at the far side... i don't use a mighty vac on HD's to me it takes longer without... i just use a tube and jar with some fluid in it... i find that it works faster than my mighty vac
pump it a few times, hold the handle to the grip, crack the bleeder... keep the handle in. close the bleeder, open the handle... do this over and over till you get no more air out of that one, then go to the caliper closer to the master. do this again... after you get no more air... just do a check on both sides one more time and you should be good to go... if i am bleeding them at home and not in the shop i have my wife come out and give me a hand as it really is a 2 person job to do it fast and right
it is key you do not let the fluid get low in the master, and that you HOLD IN THE LEVER while the bleeder is open... ooh ya also tapping on the brake line witht he handle of a screw driver really does help to free up and bubbles in there, exp at the union... typically i will do like a sport bike and get a 2 hose banjo bolt, and run 2 separate lines, one to each caliper, but you can also use the stock line with a split in it... also make sure you have your crush washers in place or your fighting a losing battle
looks like this
pump it a few times, hold the handle to the grip, crack the bleeder... keep the handle in. close the bleeder, open the handle... do this over and over till you get no more air out of that one, then go to the caliper closer to the master. do this again... after you get no more air... just do a check on both sides one more time and you should be good to go... if i am bleeding them at home and not in the shop i have my wife come out and give me a hand as it really is a 2 person job to do it fast and right
it is key you do not let the fluid get low in the master, and that you HOLD IN THE LEVER while the bleeder is open... ooh ya also tapping on the brake line witht he handle of a screw driver really does help to free up and bubbles in there, exp at the union... typically i will do like a sport bike and get a 2 hose banjo bolt, and run 2 separate lines, one to each caliper, but you can also use the stock line with a split in it... also make sure you have your crush washers in place or your fighting a losing battle
looks like this
Last edited by JRK5892; Sep 17, 2012 at 11:12 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 154
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From:
I agree with JRK about the jar and watching for air bubbles. If you have airbubbles my post will not help you.
My response was more for a spongey brake lever or it comes back close to the bars before your brakes engage. I went around with it, thinking the brakes needed to be bleed. It is a very common problem on 04, 05, 06 year range. No dust boot on caliper pistons. I have had to clean them a few times over the years. It slowlycreeps up on you, after you clean them, the difference is big.
My response was more for a spongey brake lever or it comes back close to the bars before your brakes engage. I went around with it, thinking the brakes needed to be bleed. It is a very common problem on 04, 05, 06 year range. No dust boot on caliper pistons. I have had to clean them a few times over the years. It slowlycreeps up on you, after you clean them, the difference is big.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 461
Likes: 12
From: Ca
JRK5892 is right. Get some of these to bleed brakes solo. They have a one way valve don't allow air into you brake line. All you do is pump and pour. Takes literally 5-10 minutes to bleed your brakes.
Good luck
http://www.speedbleeder.zoovy.com/c=...d-Bleeder.html
Good luck
http://www.speedbleeder.zoovy.com/c=...d-Bleeder.html
you apes should not add a spongy feeling bud... i have had 16s on mine and when bled they grip solid
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 196
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From: Philly area
Thanks Joe. Spongy may be a exaggeration. Going from buckhorns to apes I added a longer brake line. From there it seemed it wasn't as solid as it felt before or ,maybe it was longer travel of the brake lever. I heard that may be because the longer brake line. I've put several hundred miles without issue. Dont the bubbles bleed through the top of the master Cylinder after time? I followed a few threads on the forum when i did mine. Sorry to hijack the thread.
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My response was more for a spongey brake lever or it comes back close to the bars before your brakes engage. I went around with it, thinking the brakes needed to be bleed. It is a very common problem on 04, 05, 06 year range. No dust boot on caliper pistons. It slowlycreeps up on you, after you clean them, the difference is big.
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