Was going over the 89 flhtp doing my normal checks when I noticed the right side front brake ( from sitting position ) was worn right down where as the left side was still good. I'm going to order up 2 sets for the front but was wandering why they didn't wear out evenly, any ideas? isn't there some kind of equalizer that makes the brakes apply same pressure both sides?

 

Maybe the forks are not at the right adjustment

 

Could you elaborate on that a bit?

 

You have to center the caliper on the rotor by lining up the right fork

 

To me it sounds like your caliper is stuck. Pull the bolts that hold it to the forks, clean em up and put some anti-seize on when you re-install. Seen this same thing a bunch of times on car calipers. The caliper should be able to slid side to side or the pads will wear uneven. Think I misread your post, thought you were saying one pad was good, the other not. If one caliper 's piston is froze up, that would account for little or no wear.

 

Let me restate, the left set of brakes are good while the right set are worn right out.

 

An equal amount of pressure goes th,ru both brake lines, if one side is not showing wear, then you either have a plugged line or a froze up caliper piston. on a 20 something year old bike you're bound to come upon this. On my 90 fxrs-sp, new oil lines, new push and pull throtle cables, new clutch cable, relaced wheel bearings, new fuel lines, brake pads, master cylinder for the front, etc. One piece at a time, when you're done it will be kike new.

 

I have one more thing to say about fork alignment, how can it get out of spec, you've got a axle rod that cannot twist!! I've replaced fork seals and the lowers are true and straight with the tubes. What is this talk of having someone hold the front wheel while you turn the bars. doesn't seem possible to me. But, I don't know everything, just seems out if whack to me! If someone can explain, I'm all ears!

 

One end has a single nut and the othe end has the axel cap that can slide on the axel. If the fork is not adjusted right it will hold more pad on the rotor. I had the same problem on my 07 after a new tire was put on and it worn the pad so low that the pistons inside the caliper got push out. I had looked at the left side and not the right. Now I take the wheel off myself and have the tire changed.

 

Sorry Dodson, don't know about everyone else but I sure don't savy anything you're saying.