Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

New Brakes?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 03:14 AM
  #1  
beckmanj1's Avatar
beckmanj1
Thread Starter
|
Stage II
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
Default New Brakes?

Very often when I go to back up my bike I get a pulsing hum from my rear brake... but if I semi jam on the rear brake it will stop, and about once every ten minutes while riding around town as I go to stop my front brake makes a pop or a click.. I just bought this effing bike, its an 04 with 10,000 miles.. anyone know more than me?
 
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 06:22 AM
  #2  
dbleagle's Avatar
dbleagle
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,438
Likes: 6
From: Gulf Coast of Mississippi
Default

This is a good one...

Rear Brake... Since the only thing electrical on the rear braking system is the stop light we can eliminate everything but the braking system itself... I would go so far as to say it would have to be in the rotor or calipar... As far as the what type of sound it actually is... well that is subjective... Are you sure its not just the pads rubbing on the rotor... When you release the pressure of the brake the pistons in the calipar only back off far enough to releave the pressure on the rotor... they still scrub a little. The wear on the rotor could be causing the, what you call pulsing... the humming part... I would have no earthly idea... unless its some kind of chatter again with the pads rubbing the rotor...

Front brake... Pop or click.... Could be the piston in the calipar sticking a little and when you apply enough pressure it clicks as it starts to move... maybe the pads where they slide in the clipar has some kind of burr causing it to stick slightly and then move and you get the click... Of course it could be in the front suspension, the fork tubes, but if you are sure its coming from the brakes itself... then I would check the calipar itself...

Then again... its a used bike and if the previous owner did any brake work... who knows...

Charile D.
 
Reply
Old Aug 16, 2008 | 07:13 AM
  #3  
cHarley's Avatar
cHarley
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Default

The one thing you don't mention is the condition of the pads. The stock HD pads are pretty crappy compared to others, like Lyndall or EBC. My rear pads were shot at 10K miles.

I know it's tempting for some people to gauge their brake pad condition by looking at the front pad because it's easier to see than the rear, but that's often a mistake. Many riders use a lot more rear brake than they realize.

At 10K miles you should be close to needing a new rear tire if it hasn't been done already. That's the best time to replace the pads, the job's a lot easier when the wheel is off. Even though my Lyndall rear pads have miles left on them, I replace them whenever I replace the rear tire.
 

Last edited by cHarley; Aug 16, 2008 at 07:23 AM.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cajun1957a
Touring Models
5
Sep 26, 2017 08:21 AM
SANTA DEUCE
Dyna Glide Models
12
Jan 2, 2013 08:25 PM
myred55
Touring Models
18
Aug 17, 2009 04:46 AM
Lifelong Biker
Touring Models
11
Apr 24, 2009 09:20 AM
Navychief
Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes
5
Oct 1, 2007 09:05 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:36 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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