Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Front break problem, PLEASE help!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 6, 2015 | 07:23 PM
  #31  
rpeters282's Avatar
rpeters282
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Montgomery Alabama
Default Same problem

Had the exact same problem. Warped rotors. Fixed.
 
Reply
Old Apr 11, 2015 | 09:10 PM
  #32  
m_mcdonnell314's Avatar
m_mcdonnell314
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 99
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Default

UPDATE EVERYONE: so it turns out it was 110% the ROTORS. I put the new ones on, bled a bit, took the bike of the jack (expecting the worse) and all of a sudden I finally had brake pressure. Took it for a ride around the block and it felt great. Went riding all morning today. Thanks for the help everyone
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 06:12 AM
  #33  
geezer glide 56's Avatar
geezer glide 56
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
Default

I am glad you are back on the road.I hope some that totally disputed that it couldn't couldn't be the rotors learned something.Again it is great you are riding again.Thanks for the update.
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 07:41 AM
  #34  
lp's Avatar
lp
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,477
Likes: 3,006
From: Charleston, SC
Default

They had to be really, really bent - and not just warped.
Plenty of people on here daily with a "bent rotor" post that don't have a loss of hydraulic pressure. Same with cars.

On a normally functioning dual piston caliper system, a warped rotor will cause the caliper pistons to rock back and forth (in and out) inside the caliper and cause the lever to pulse.

I'm wondering if his problem is really solved though.
Stated that he had to rebuild the calipers due to frozen pistons...
What rebuild kit did he use for the brembos?

Anyway, glad it's working out and he's back on the road.
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 08:41 AM
  #35  
oakmossy's Avatar
oakmossy
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,920
Likes: 77
From: dallas
Default

geezer glide 56...I learned something today. U R DA MAN
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 08:57 AM
  #36  
BIGRED1's Avatar
BIGRED1
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 212
Likes: 1
From: Florida Space Coast
Default

OK OP, it seems that since you have left it sit, the air in the lines bleed back into the master cyl., that is good.
Just curious, did you bleed the master cyl BEFORE bleeding the calipers? If not, you will continue to get air.
Just a thought!!
Roger
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 10:54 AM
  #37  
geezer glide 56's Avatar
geezer glide 56
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
Default

Originally Posted by lp
They had to be really, really bent - and not just warped.
Plenty of people on here daily with a "bent rotor" post that don't have a loss of hydraulic pressure. Same with cars.

On a normally functioning dual piston caliper system, a warped rotor will cause the caliper pistons to rock back and forth (in and out) inside the caliper and cause the lever to pulse.

I'm wondering if his problem is really solved though.
Stated that he had to rebuild the calipers due to frozen pistons...
What rebuild kit did he use for the brembos?

Anyway, glad it's working out and he's back on the road.
If the rotor is warped enough The piston will be pushed back into the caliper bore and will not return to it's operating position until the lever is pumped.If the rotor has high spots on it or a very slight warp they will do as you say,you will in fact feel a pulse in the lever and not lose lever pressure.Usually rotors get bent when someone is careless changing a tire or wheel,or installing a wheel that is not properly spaced between the forks.
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 11:24 AM
  #38  
lp's Avatar
lp
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,477
Likes: 3,006
From: Charleston, SC
Default

Originally Posted by geezer glide 56
If the rotor is warped enough The piston will be pushed back into the caliper bore and will not return to it's operating position until the lever is pumped.If the rotor has high spots on it or a very slight warp they will do as you say,you will in fact feel a pulse in the lever and not lose lever pressure.Usually rotors get bent when someone is careless changing a tire or wheel,or installing a wheel that is not properly spaced between the forks.
Totally agree with you. The other thing I was thinking was those frozen pistons.
On a single caliper with dual pistons, if only one piston is frozen, wouldn't take too long to straight up bend/warp a rotor up with only one side pushing.
And the frozen side... yeah probably causing a lot of heat if it was stuck in the out position.

Hope the OP has those calipers dialed in now...
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

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

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 12:03 PM
  #39  
m_mcdonnell314's Avatar
m_mcdonnell314
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 99
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Default

I used just a regular rebuild kit fr jp cycles. I don't have brembos on my bike. The last few rides I took there was a pulsing when braking hard, probably due to the rotors warping. Like I said before there was always a brake drag when I bought it, the piston probably froze on the last few rides and caused it to over heat everything
 
Reply
Old Apr 12, 2015 | 12:10 PM
  #40  
m_mcdonnell314's Avatar
m_mcdonnell314
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 99
Likes: 1
From: NJ
Default

But thanks everyone I'm thrilled I'm back riding
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:05 PM.

story-0
10 Most Awkward-Looking Motorcycles Ever Built

Slideshow: Not every motorcycle can be a design icon, and these machines prove that bold styling doesn't always age gracefully.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:58:41


VIEW MORE
story-1
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


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