Change Brake Fluid Every 2 Years?
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 23
From: Covington, La.
Years ago I had a Beemer touring bike with a 36,000 mile warranty. Within that time I had a rear wheel caliper dragging due to some crud and corrosion. BMW would not honor the repair under warranty because my fluid had not been flushed on a yearly basis. That was in 1987. That was the first time I had heard of fluid flushing on an annual or biannual basis. Annual if you live in a high humidity climate. How many of us do it with our cars? I do it on my cars only when changing brake pads, so not that often. I try to do it on my bikes every other year. A good practice but as I get older that two year period sure comes around faster and faster. :-(
Last edited by northshore_paul; Mar 2, 2018 at 05:54 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
The important thing with brake fluid is to bleed every last little spec of air out of the system.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 95
From: lancaster, pa
it seems to catch up with me on the bike if I let it go. cars seem to let you slide longer but you can still feel the difference. Its about being lazy for me. There fine until they start sticking
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 23
From: Covington, La.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Years ago I had a Beemer touring bike with a 36,000 mile warranty. Within that time I had a rear wheel caliper dragging due to some crud and corrosion. BMW would not honor the repair under warranty because my fluid had not been flushed on a yearly basis. That was in 1987. That was the first time I had heard of fluid flushing on an annual or biannual basis. Annual if you live in a high humidity climate. How many of us do it with our cars? I do it on my cars only when changing brake pads, so not that often. I try to do it on my bikes every other year. A good practice but as I get older that two year period sure comes around faster and faster. :-(
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 95
From: lancaster, pa
there use to be alot of posts about getting in there and cleaning calipers. By the time I futz in there.. id rather put them on the table and rebuild,more of a personal thing,during off time.
There was a time when i never changed bf and got lucky for years and years. Now my days are filled with riding and tinkering with the bike.
There was a time when i never changed bf and got lucky for years and years. Now my days are filled with riding and tinkering with the bike.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
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From: Coastal Carolina
If you have a 2011 as your signature suggests, you are subject to the recall and an H-D dealer will do it for free.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
In my 2013 owner's manual there is a note in the brakes scheduled maint. table about changing brake fluid every two years. There is also a single line in the brakes section about the fluid flush. I would think something that could cause death or serious injury would be highlighted better than printed in regular type, especially when it concerns a brake fluid that is hygroscopic in nature. Another RTFM moments.
Last edited by seniorsuperglideE8; Mar 5, 2018 at 02:34 PM.