Changed Brake Fluid today .
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: Not too far up the BC border
I changed my brake fluid last year and mine was 8 years old and it was showing its age. I just couldn't believe how the fluid changed color from pretty mauve to a morning pee yellow. I bought Speed Bleeders and they made the job simple and now I have the added insurance of good brakes again. If your going through the work of replacing the brake fluid then you may as well clean the caliper pistons with a brake cleaner soaked bootlace. If you don't know then research it in these forums cause thats how I found out how to do it and it works great, it solved my constant brake grinding I had when I bought the bike and along with the fluid change I now have rock solid brakes.
Fork fluid does the same breakdown of quality as brake fluid so the forks are this springs endevor with treading on new things for me, what I've read up on its fairly simple procedure to do the heritage.
Fork fluid does the same breakdown of quality as brake fluid so the forks are this springs endevor with treading on new things for me, what I've read up on its fairly simple procedure to do the heritage.
Moderator
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 107,687
Likes: 20,116
From: Ft. Worth, TX
I guess I must be one of the few that replaces their brake fluid when it starts to change colors, usually once a year. Brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs moisture. Get enough of that in your brake system and your calipers will corrode leading to all sorts of bad things.
The Mighty Vac is a handy tool but it is no means a requirement for doing the job. I usually sit on the right side of the bike, pump up the front or rear and crack open that bleeder while holding pressure on the lever after I have put a piece of tubiing on it to direct the fluid into a suitable container. Repeat until resevoir almost empty. Refill resevoir and repeat until fluid is new coming out of the bleeder. Probably takes three resevoirs of fluid before the system is purged.
All said, it might take half an hour to do it.
The Mighty Vac is a handy tool but it is no means a requirement for doing the job. I usually sit on the right side of the bike, pump up the front or rear and crack open that bleeder while holding pressure on the lever after I have put a piece of tubiing on it to direct the fluid into a suitable container. Repeat until resevoir almost empty. Refill resevoir and repeat until fluid is new coming out of the bleeder. Probably takes three resevoirs of fluid before the system is purged.
All said, it might take half an hour to do it.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 19,745
Likes: 1,183
From: Jamestown, CA
I guess I must be one of the few that replaces their brake fluid when it starts to change colors, usually once a year. Brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs moisture.
The Mighty Vac is a handy tool but it is no means a requirement for doing the job. I usually sit on the right side of the bike, pump up the front or rear and crack open that bleeder while holding pressure on the lever after I have put a piece of tubiing on it to direct the fluid into a suitable container. Repeat until resevoir almost empty. Refill resevoir and repeat until fluid is new coming out of the bleeder. Probably takes three resevoirs of fluid before the system is purged.
The Mighty Vac is a handy tool but it is no means a requirement for doing the job. I usually sit on the right side of the bike, pump up the front or rear and crack open that bleeder while holding pressure on the lever after I have put a piece of tubiing on it to direct the fluid into a suitable container. Repeat until resevoir almost empty. Refill resevoir and repeat until fluid is new coming out of the bleeder. Probably takes three resevoirs of fluid before the system is purged.
. and YEP , didn't Realize it would take so much , Now I Gotta go get another $10 jug of Brake Fluid To-Do Front , 
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
From: A SaltwaterHillbilly-Surrounded By Cages
I change out the brake fluid when I change brake pads. Did the rear brakes on my '09 a few months ago and that old fluid was pretty nasty. Always use a vacuum bleeder and you'll have no air trapped in the system.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 19,745
Likes: 1,183
From: Jamestown, CA
[quote=SJ58;11072824]I change out the brake fluid when I change brake pads. Did the rear brakes on my '09 a few months ago and that old fluid was pretty nasty. Always use a vacuum bleeder and you'll have no air trapped in the system.[/quote]
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
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I just went ahead and ordered some speed bleeders
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 11
From: Huntley, IL
. This bike was a 1999 Wide Glide. I asked him if he ever had the fluid checked. He said the Harley dealer changes his oil once a year and taught they checked the brake fluid too. Evidently, they didn't. Tell your tech to check the brake fluid when you have it serviced. Don't take it for granted, he will.
Need to check that brake fluid every year. He had no front brake and could have lost the rear in a panic stop just riding to my house or the dealer.
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