front brakes
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
How many miles on the bike? The maintenance schedule calls for rebuilding the brake system at 25,000 miles. However, I believe and several others I have discussed this with concur, that is just because HD only prints maintenance schedule up to 25,000 miles, and then says......repeat.
I've never rebuilt my brakes, at 80,000 miles they are working just fine.
First check the little vacuum type top on the brake fluid reservoir. Also check the gasket there for any leaks.
I would replace the brake fluid, but that's not likely your problem here.
I've never rebuilt my brakes, at 80,000 miles they are working just fine.
First check the little vacuum type top on the brake fluid reservoir. Also check the gasket there for any leaks.
I would replace the brake fluid, but that's not likely your problem here.
Last edited by SportyPig; Nov 15, 2011 at 05:46 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 180
From: east texas
however if you have every thing correct , will not happen.
sorry for the crashes...were you the setup man ???..
yeah I am just a noob....
dont ask me to tune up my offroad vehicles
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 67
From: Saint Amant, Acadiana
heybaylor, you should not make posts like this, people may think you are retarded or smoking wrong stuff.
So Casey Stoner had cheap parts on his prototype Honda when he went off track in Japan. Sure.
So Casey Stoner had cheap parts on his prototype Honda when he went off track in Japan. Sure.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
On that topic, the only thing I can think of that would cause excessive lever play in the brake is air in the system or a malfunctioning piston like I said earlier.
If it is air, it will feel mushy or spongy. Just a little air might cause some play, but it would be progressive. Like, you would start to squeeze and it would be easy with it eventually tightening up except closer to the bars than it should be.
If it is just no brake power at all, and all the sudden it connects, as if someone just adjusted the lever to actuate closer to the bars, then it's most likely the piston assembly.
Last edited by Scuba10jdl; Nov 15, 2011 at 08:31 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
Ok. 10,000 miles on a 10 year old bike. So, that means a lot of sitting with no riding. Humm....which are the most likely areas in the Sporty brake system are most prone to sticking up due to lack of use?
It's possible that the sliding pins are just dirty. Really need to know about the brake fluid level dude!!
If it's just the sliding pins...that is a pretty easy fix.
It's possible that the sliding pins are just dirty. Really need to know about the brake fluid level dude!!
If it's just the sliding pins...that is a pretty easy fix.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 212
Ok. 10,000 miles on a 10 year old bike. So, that means a lot of sitting with no riding. Humm....which are the most likely areas in the Sporty brake system are most prone to sticking up due to lack of use?
It's possible that the sliding pins are just dirty. Really need to know about the brake fluid level dude!!
If it's just the sliding pins...that is a pretty easy fix.
It's possible that the sliding pins are just dirty. Really need to know about the brake fluid level dude!!
If it's just the sliding pins...that is a pretty easy fix.
Ended up doing full rebuilds on both front and rear calipers. Took them apart and cleaned/polished the pistons and flushed the whole system. The brake fluid was yellow/cream (supposed to be a clear purple) and it was dirty as hell.
How much you wanna bet the same thing is going on here?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,597
Likes: 180
From: east texas
I bought my 2002 with 7200miles on it. The brake pads were **** at 10000miles. Turns out that the brake pistons (the part that pushes the pad against the disc) were so dirty and corroded that they were stuck out and wore out the brake pad slowly but surely.
Ended up doing full rebuilds on both front and rear calipers. Took them apart and cleaned/polished the pistons and flushed the whole system. The brake fluid was yellow/cream (supposed to be a clear purple) and it was dirty as hell.
How much you wanna bet the same thing is going on here?
Ended up doing full rebuilds on both front and rear calipers. Took them apart and cleaned/polished the pistons and flushed the whole system. The brake fluid was yellow/cream (supposed to be a clear purple) and it was dirty as hell.
How much you wanna bet the same thing is going on here?
the front brake was spongey, would go to grip and not lock up.
the pistons in the caliper were stuck/binding ..
popped the caliper pistons out , cleaned re-filled the dot 5 , and viola !!
hard brake lever, can skid the front wheel (if I want to)..
and have yet to have a "hard bump" knock the pads away from the disc