Rear brake issue
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
Rear brake issue
Hi all,
So I finally got sick of my 96 softail rear brakes hardly working, i took the entire system apart, replaced brake lines, cleaned out all components, rebuilt the caliper and master cylinder. After all that the brakes still don't feel that great, this is the only evo Ive ridden so Ive got nothing to compare it against. Are the rear brakes just not that good or could there be another issue?
Thanks
So I finally got sick of my 96 softail rear brakes hardly working, i took the entire system apart, replaced brake lines, cleaned out all components, rebuilt the caliper and master cylinder. After all that the brakes still don't feel that great, this is the only evo Ive ridden so Ive got nothing to compare it against. Are the rear brakes just not that good or could there be another issue?
Thanks
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 786
Likes: 177
From: wv
Just a though... while you were bleeding the rear brake did it seem to have a good flow rate of fluid through the bleeder? If not then maybe the master cylinder still has issues. And does the pedal have any fade when you hold it down? Another sign of an issue with the master I think.
Good luck
Good luck
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,097
Likes: 7,623
From: Poolville
What brake pads are you using and is the rotor glazed over.. I have no issues locking the rear... I use organic Kevlar pads and have replaced the rotors 4k miles ago.. OEM single piston calipers are not the greatest but they are quite efficient.. a little side note, I personally don't think sintered pads are the way to go..
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Oct 26, 2019 at 05:02 AM.
Thread Starter
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Stage III
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
I had no dramas bleeding the brakes so i dont think theres an issue with the master cylinder. Its been completely rebuilt and it bench tested fine as well.
I just run bendix pads, nothing fancy just an oem replacement. It will lock, just needs a lot of pressure. Its the initial bite point that puts me off, I need to apply a fair bit of force before it slows. Unlike the front which you feel straight away.
I just run bendix pads, nothing fancy just an oem replacement. It will lock, just needs a lot of pressure. Its the initial bite point that puts me off, I need to apply a fair bit of force before it slows. Unlike the front which you feel straight away.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,097
Likes: 7,623
From: Poolville
Definitely the front works better than the rear and you should be using the front as the primary brake..
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2019
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From: wv
Did you replace the rubber hoses? I had to replace them on my old farm truck 2003 Ram this summer because both fronts were plugged off inside.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,190
Likes: 6,635
From: Gruene Texas
Good topic, hoping to learn more about this subject.
When I test rode my project bike a few times before tear down, the rear brake was at the top of my very short list of concerns. The last 5 years on my 2014 Limited I can stop on a dime while towing a freight train. On a previous 2003 Heritage you hit the rear brake a bit too hard and that sucker locked up and skidded every time. It was a hoot with slick, oily roads. Not too far down the road when I start the wheel/tire/brake phase on this bike I'm putting extra effort into beefing up the rear stopping power.
When I test rode my project bike a few times before tear down, the rear brake was at the top of my very short list of concerns. The last 5 years on my 2014 Limited I can stop on a dime while towing a freight train. On a previous 2003 Heritage you hit the rear brake a bit too hard and that sucker locked up and skidded every time. It was a hoot with slick, oily roads. Not too far down the road when I start the wheel/tire/brake phase on this bike I'm putting extra effort into beefing up the rear stopping power.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Good topic, hoping to learn more about this subject.
When I test rode my project bike a few times before tear down, the rear brake was at the top of my very short list of concerns. The last 5 years on my 2014 Limited I can stop on a dime while towing a freight train. On a previous 2003 Heritage you hit the rear brake a bit too hard and that sucker locked up and skidded every time. It was a hoot with slick, oily roads. Not too far down the road when I start the wheel/tire/brake phase on this bike I'm putting extra effort into beefing up the rear stopping power.
When I test rode my project bike a few times before tear down, the rear brake was at the top of my very short list of concerns. The last 5 years on my 2014 Limited I can stop on a dime while towing a freight train. On a previous 2003 Heritage you hit the rear brake a bit too hard and that sucker locked up and skidded every time. It was a hoot with slick, oily roads. Not too far down the road when I start the wheel/tire/brake phase on this bike I'm putting extra effort into beefing up the rear stopping power.
When I converted my Heritage to dual front disk brakes it got a lot better.
You can probably get the same result for far less money using a different caliper than the single piston OEM one.