Pulsing front brake lever
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,014
Likes: 19,122
From: The Wasteland
Pulsing front brake lever
09 Road King Classic with just a tick over 40k on the clock. Went for a ride today for the first time since February and noticed some pulsing and sponginess in the front brake lever and it feels like the brakes are grabbing then letting off just a little as I come to a stop. If Im thinking correctly my rotors are likely warped. So Im thinking its time for some new binder parts. Heres my list I plan to order. Did I miss anything?
Left front brake rotor #44950-08
Right front brake rotor #44959-08
Front brake pads #41854-08 (x 2 sets)
Rear brake pads #41852-08B
New rear rotor 2 years ago and havent noticed any pulsing in the rear so I figured I can get by with just pads in the back.
Left front brake rotor #44950-08
Right front brake rotor #44959-08
Front brake pads #41854-08 (x 2 sets)
Rear brake pads #41852-08B
New rear rotor 2 years ago and havent noticed any pulsing in the rear so I figured I can get by with just pads in the back.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1,601
I've had rotors pulsate like that before from 'glazing' from certain pad compounds. A real hard stop from a high speed would actually clear them up.
I doubt that's your problem though, mine was a very aggressive compound on a spirtbike. Still, I'd want to try and measure run-out before I dropped the money for new rotors as that bill can add up QUICK.
I doubt that's your problem though, mine was a very aggressive compound on a spirtbike. Still, I'd want to try and measure run-out before I dropped the money for new rotors as that bill can add up QUICK.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 25
Likes: 7
From: Camden, South Carolina
I was told that could be a sign of water in the fluid and that changing the fluid would correct the issue (information from dealership). Haven't changed fluid yet to see if it corrected the occasional pulsing.
Last edited by Sparky here; Apr 28, 2020 at 06:31 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,239
Likes: 3,261
From: west Michigan
Try cleaning the rotors with brake parts cleaner and a mildly abrasive cleaning pad or 0000 steel wool, then do some fairly hard stops from highway speeds if your brakes aren't too far gone for that. The theory here is that the rotors may have been exposed to something that the area under the brake pads wasn't.
If you can elevate the bike and spin the front wheel, you can check for runout on the rotors.
If you can elevate the bike and spin the front wheel, you can check for runout on the rotors.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 5,276
Likes: 4,055
From: central Fl
just get a new set of rotors for the front and 2 sets of pads,, set for front / set for back. new fluid and that should take care of it. you got it should do the job
warped rotors will cause the brake handle to pulsate in and out. just as it would with your foot on a brake pedal, if in a car.
warped rotors will cause the brake handle to pulsate in and out. just as it would with your foot on a brake pedal, if in a car.
Last edited by IBE; Apr 28, 2020 at 08:43 PM.
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Banned
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 14,866
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From: Whiskey Falls, Texas
If your rotors are warped, when you hit the front brake you won't just feel sponginess in the lever, you'll feel a vibration or shimmy in the entire front end.
Rotors aren't astronomically expensive, but check the small stuff first....
Rotors aren't astronomically expensive, but check the small stuff first....
