When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have a 2006 Softail Deluxe. The master cylinder lid leaks and the paint is flaking off of the master cylinder.
I have a new master cylinder on the workbench. I am going to be upgrading the brake line to a stainless braided one and I need new brake pads.
Since I am not a fan of the DOT4 brake fluid that comes in the 2006 models, I want to switch to DOT5 - the master cylinder and brake line are new so that won't be an issue. However, I will need to clean and flush my caliper - what is the best way to do that and what do I flush it with?
The brake calipers on the Deluxe are a one-off and I personally believe they are a poor design. Earlier this year I worked on a buddies Deluxe and as an experiment I test fitted a front caliper off an 02 Fatboy. Perfect fit and alignment. My recommendation would be to check ebay for a caliper, HD part number 44046-00, which fits numerous models and should be easy to find. Rebuild the caliper with a new seal kit and install a fresh set of pads. You'll have a better designed brake system which accepts DOT 5.
I would change the seals also. not worth the risk.... you would have to spilt the caliper to change the seals it would be very easy to clean the caliper out then...just my 2cts....swifty
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
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.
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.
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.