No rear brakes
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Okinawa
No rear brakes
Posted this over in the brake section as well but figured I would ask here too.
I have a 2008 street glide went out for a ride today and got about 30 miles in and noticed my rear brakes went out. I mean there is nothin there. Brake pads look good so checked the reservoir is completely empty. Noticed that all the way down the brake line along the frame is wet as well as underneath the bike. Also I found this.
Rear brake light cable fried. Any ideas on how I can go about fixing these problems without having to go to the dealer to spent an arm and an leg on parts and labor.
I have a 2008 street glide went out for a ride today and got about 30 miles in and noticed my rear brakes went out. I mean there is nothin there. Brake pads look good so checked the reservoir is completely empty. Noticed that all the way down the brake line along the frame is wet as well as underneath the bike. Also I found this.
Rear brake light cable fried. Any ideas on how I can go about fixing these problems without having to go to the dealer to spent an arm and an leg on parts and labor.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 65
From: Earth
Refill the rear M/C and find out where the fluid is leaking from. Replace that leaking part, refill the fluid and bleed.
As far as the connector, see if the dealer has both male and female and replace just those.
As far as the connector, see if the dealer has both male and female and replace just those.
Last edited by SpiderPig; Jan 18, 2016 at 10:22 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
My money says leaking rear brake light switch or one of the junctions associated with it. The picture you provided is of the very unit I'm taking about. It's a switch for the rear brake light that's in the fluid circuit. Clean it up good, refill the reservoir and spray foot powder on the area. Apply the brake over and over in the driveway, don't go riding. The wind can fool you about the true origin of a leak. Once the leak shows itself you have it made. If you're not sure about what you're looking at then post the new pic of the leak. There are some helpful people on this forum.
Semper Fi Marine
Semper Fi Marine
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 658
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake, VA
There is a recall or maintenance bulletin on the brake light switch. Call your dealer or go to HD website and search for recall with your VIN. Mine went bad (did not leak though) and the rear brake light stayed on. I replaced the switch in your picture and all was good...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Yup, agree! Check with your dealer to see if the recall applies to you and if you can get in on it. If you have aftermarket exhaust I would say their going to say no dice, but most likely the diaphragm in your switch either melted or failed. Maybe when you install a new one you can index it in a way that its not so close to the pipe.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,490
Likes: 610
From: USA
From the picture it looks like one of the male connectors on the brake light switch came off. This may mean that the brake light switch is leaking. It looks like the switch needs to be replaced. Look to see if the male connector is inside the female connector. You should be able to remove it and then you can reconnect the wire to a new switch. After replacing the switch, fill the master and bleed the rear caliper. You didn't mention if you had ABS. If so bleed the brake without turning on the key. With ABS you may have air trapped that the dealer would have to bleed out using the Digital Tech. Good luck.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 159
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From: Okinawa
Thanks for the advice. Going to call Harley today and try and get the parts need. Now just need to figure out how I'm going to go about doing it myself.
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