Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Better Brakes

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 03:29 PM
  #1  
army_eod's Avatar
army_eod
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 594
From: Alabama
Default Better Brakes

So I ride a 2001 FXST. The brakes suck. Especially with a passenger.
Does anybody make aftermarket brakes that work better than a broke down garbage truck?

 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 04:44 PM
  #2  
Bone Doc's Avatar
Bone Doc
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,040
Likes: 12,960
From: Texas, USA
Default

What brake pads are you using? When did you change the brake fluid last? Braking technique also plays a role here. What is your ratio of front brake usage to rear brake usage when braking? In other words, do you use more front brake or rear brake?

Here are steps you can take:
The first step would be to bleed the brake lines and replace the brake pads. If that is not satisfactory then you can change calipers.

Everyone has their opinion on what brake pads they like best. It has been a thread topic since man was clubbing dinner. As far as calipers go, Brembo and Performance Machine come to mind.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 05:49 PM
  #3  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,029
Likes: 12,550
From: South Carolina
Default

I threw the front caliper on my `89 FLSTC into the scrap bin a couple of years ago and replaced it with a Wilwood 4 piston caliper, it was a direct bolt on replacement.

I should have done this 30 years ago...

It was a big improvement over the stock single piston caliper. All replacement parts are available for these calipers.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 06:15 PM
  #4  
m1369x's Avatar
m1369x
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 677
From: Arm pit of America, S.D.
Default

No brake complants here But I've been wondering if there's brake shoe's that give a noticeable improvement with stock caliper & roter? ?
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 06:44 PM
  #5  
army_eod's Avatar
army_eod
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 594
From: Alabama
Default

Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
I threw the front caliper on my `89 FLSTC into the scrap bin a couple of years ago and replaced it with a Wilwood 4 piston caliper, it was a direct bolt on replacement.

I should have done this 30 years ago...

It was a big improvement over the stock single piston caliper. All replacement parts are available for these calipers.
dan. Thanks for that info. Their fronr caliper looks nice. I will contact. What about rear?
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 06:57 PM
  #6  
470004's Avatar
470004
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 24,931
Likes: 19,403
From: New York
Default

I current use EBC brake pads.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 07:12 PM
  #7  
Dan89FLSTC's Avatar
Dan89FLSTC
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Active Streak: 30 Days
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,029
Likes: 12,550
From: South Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by army_eod
dan. Thanks for that info. Their fronr caliper looks nice. I will contact. What about rear?
I have a Wilwood caliper on the rear also, but I had to also buy a mounting bracket, the bracket was almost as expensive as the caliper if I remember correctly.
 
Reply
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 07:36 PM
  #8  
Clammy's Avatar
Clammy
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
Default

I upgraded Reaper's front caliper to a Performance Machine 6 piston unit, front rotor to a Lyndall Lug Drive full floating unit, and use Lyndall pads (their Xtreme series, which is HH rated, on the front, and Z-Plus series on the rear). With the stock setup, just changing to the Lyndall pads made huge difference for the better (before upgrading the front caliper, I ran Z-Plus pads on the front with the stock caliper/rotor).

Cheers!
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 18, 2020 | 08:09 PM
  #9  
back again's Avatar
back again
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Top Answer: 10
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
Likes: 9,246
From: Georgia
Default

I’ve been running HHI 4 piston calipers for 12 years now on the Train. Stop great ,chrome has held up well.
 
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2020 | 02:25 PM
  #10  
NoRegerts's Avatar
NoRegerts
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
Shutterbug
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 16,982
Likes: 9,059
From: Texas Hill Country
Default

Performance Machine front and rear. I have one of the few Springers in the world that can actually stop.


 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:38 PM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE