Change Brake Fluid Every 2 Years?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 800
Likes: 408
From: Middle Tennessee
I had mine done while in for tires and brake pads so some cost may have been offset by the cost of those.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
And a guy at least search, or scan recent threads, before his first post?
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 90
Likes: 14
From: Prescott, AZ
Mityvac worked great-just take it slow and easy and keep the ignition off so that the ABS remains static.
I put in a total of 6 oz of new DOT-4 fluid which was enough to top off the front and rear masters and fill all the lines back to the bleeders. Started at front left, then front right, and finished at the rear caliper. Thoroughly cleaned the housing caps and rubber seals with brake cleaner before reinstalling.
Test rode it a few times around the block and locked the brakes up hard a several times. All good, and Mityvac is paid for at less than half the cost the dealer would have charged me to do the job, plus the wait time, plus me having to clean off all the excess and spilled brake fluid that they wouldn't. And I don't have to buff out any scratches that the "mechanic" with a skull ring on every finger would swear he "didn't do"
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 130
From: Maple City, Michigan
So then I called the next closest HD dealer at 55 miles away and they quoted me $75.00. I questioned them and repeated that I had a 2014 SGS with ABS and they again said $75.00 to flush both the front and rear brake systems.
Can't understand why there is such a price variance from 3-shops?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 130
From: Maple City, Michigan
Took a nice 80 mile ride to ******* and had the HD shop flush my brakes for the first time. (also replaced rear pads 14,000mi).
Flush was under $78! Great service at a fair price!
Brakes feel more responsive and mentally happy I had them do a Flush.
Still can't understand the variance in labor cost after getting 3-quotes.
Flush was under $78! Great service at a fair price!
Brakes feel more responsive and mentally happy I had them do a Flush.
Still can't understand the variance in labor cost after getting 3-quotes.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
Took a nice 80 mile ride to ******* and had the HD shop flush my brakes for the first time. (also replaced rear pads 14,000mi).
Flush was under $78! Great service at a fair price!
Brakes feel more responsive and mentally happy I had them do a Flush.
Still can't understand the variance in labor cost after getting 3-quotes.
Flush was under $78! Great service at a fair price!
Brakes feel more responsive and mentally happy I had them do a Flush.
Still can't understand the variance in labor cost after getting 3-quotes.
My cynical side says it's probably greed. If enough people are willing to pay what you ask then ask as much as you can...
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Joe Kucinski
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
Took a nice 80 mile ride to ******* and had the HD shop flush my brakes for the first time. (also replaced rear pads 14,000mi).
Flush was under $78! Great service at a fair price!
Brakes feel more responsive and mentally happy I had them do a Flush.
Still can't understand the variance in labor cost after getting 3-quotes.
Flush was under $78! Great service at a fair price!
Brakes feel more responsive and mentally happy I had them do a Flush.
Still can't understand the variance in labor cost after getting 3-quotes.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 710
Likes: 7
From: Colorado
I got the Mityvac MV8000 for $31 from Amazon and a couple bottles of Prestone DOT 4 fluid for $6 from Walmart. Brake bleeding took less than 45 minutes. It took far longer to wash the bike afterwards. I followed the instructions in this video.
My old fluid was not very dirty and I didn't experience a difference in brake feel afterwards.
My old fluid was not very dirty and I didn't experience a difference in brake feel afterwards.