need advice from backyard mechanics
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 648
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From: North Virginia
need advice from backyard mechanics
I have a 2014 Street Glide special with brake problems. Front brake is just fine rear brake feels like it's not existent. I tried bleeding the brakes but no help. I did remove the brake line from rear caliper and was able to see brake fluid coming out. before I spend the money to replace the calipers, is there anything else I should check?
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,190
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From: USA
Crack the bleeder on the rear caliper and push the pedal. If fluid squirts out, the problem is in the caliper, and is likely a stuck piston or two.
if no fluid comes out, and youve abs, its likely failure of the abs module.
if no fluid comes out, and youve abs, its likely failure of the abs module.
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 51
Likes: 14
From: Delaware
I like to use a vacuum bleeder on non abs brakes. Then you can be sure to get ALL of the air out.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,456
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From: Deep South, Louisiana
Ok. I ride constantly. Had this happen on my 2011 Limited. It was winter and weather was nasty so I was not washing it and it sat up between rides. I lost my rear brake and could stand on the brake pedal. I could not activate the ABS. and was pushing very hard. I even went on a sand covered road and stood on that brake pedal. So I went home and parked it waiting for a good day that I could bring it in. I go in the garage one day and see something on my right side rear wheel. Oil dripping on the tire coming off the rotor coming from the wheel bearing. Like I said I could not wash due to weather and that’s how I noticed the oil. The wheel bearing was gone and leaking grease or the oil from the grease breaking down. It had dripped onto the rotor and that’s why it was not breaking. Brakes were good just rotor covered in oil so it was not any friction to stop.
Last edited by K Melancon; Dec 6, 2018 at 08:56 PM.
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Rear brake on all the fat bikes are weak first thing I noticed on my RK, look into different pads that give you more grab, somebody in here will name drop the right brand & type.
Last edited by TwiZted Biker; Dec 6, 2018 at 08:54 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 51
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From: Delaware
One thing to consider is that a master cylinder which is air bound won't produce any pressure, and if it does it won't produce much pressure. If the reservoir was permitted to become empty at any point in time there is an above average chance that the master cylinder might be air bound.
That's why I said that I like to use a vacuum bleeder, because it hooks up to your caliper's brake bleeder screw and uses vacuum to draw fluid from the brake reservoir, through the master cylinder, lines, and caliper. It will remove all of the air.
That's why I said that I like to use a vacuum bleeder, because it hooks up to your caliper's brake bleeder screw and uses vacuum to draw fluid from the brake reservoir, through the master cylinder, lines, and caliper. It will remove all of the air.