ABS Failure!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 2
From: Loudon TN. (30 miles from The Dragon)
ABS Failure!
I am hoping someone out there understands how HD's ABS braking system works so you can tell me what just happened. Was driving my 2010 FLTRX to work Monday and was running about 45 mph. Came upon a red light and begin to apply front and rear brakes as always to stop..... The brake pedal for the rear brake went to the floor! No rear brake at all. Spooked me a bit but I came to a normal stop using the front brake. Thank god this didnt happen in a emergency situation. Anyway I take the bike to my dealer to find out what happened. They tell me today the ABS modulator that controls the rear brake failed and they have me another one on order. Done some Q & A with the service guy but i am still not clear as to what happened.
Questions? What if the front had failed also? Does this mean I have no brakes? Is this possible that HD would design a braking system that has the ability to completely fail and leave me with no brakes? Shouldnt my ABS light have come on and warned me of a problem during the start up diagnostics check? If the ABS system failed shouldnt the braking system default into a manual (normal) braking system?
Sorry to be long winded but this has me a bit spooked. If anyone can explain or answer any of these questions it will sure make me feel better.
Questions? What if the front had failed also? Does this mean I have no brakes? Is this possible that HD would design a braking system that has the ability to completely fail and leave me with no brakes? Shouldnt my ABS light have come on and warned me of a problem during the start up diagnostics check? If the ABS system failed shouldnt the braking system default into a manual (normal) braking system?
Sorry to be long winded but this has me a bit spooked. If anyone can explain or answer any of these questions it will sure make me feel better.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
That is really strange. The way it is supposed to be designed (according to HD anyways) is if the ABS unit fails, you will still have normal brake functions, it just wont pulse and could lock the wheels like normal brakes. I can't imagine both brakes 'going all the way to the floor' unless there was a loss of pressure (i.e. broken brake line). I know this doesnt help so im interested to see if you get nay more info
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
I agree, sounds very strange and I'm glad you came to a safe stop. I'm curious, did you try pumping the rear brake to see if it would come back up again (assuming you had the time)?
I've always been told that, assuming no loss of the actual hydraulics (which would mean no brakes, ABS or not), that the brakes would continue to function as regular brakes in the event of an ABS malfunction. Sounds like that "might" not be the case.
Please let us know what you find out.
Steve R.
I've always been told that, assuming no loss of the actual hydraulics (which would mean no brakes, ABS or not), that the brakes would continue to function as regular brakes in the event of an ABS malfunction. Sounds like that "might" not be the case.
Please let us know what you find out.
Steve R.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 450
Likes: 2
From: Loudon TN. (30 miles from The Dragon)
After i got stopped and pulled the bike off the road i did pump the pedal and had some brake. Maybe 50 to 60% of what i would consider normal. I took off again slowly and done a few test stops and starts. If i pumped the pedal i would have brakes for a second or two then they would go to the floor....no brakes again. This continued all the way to the dealership which was approx. 30 miles away. Front brake was fine the entire time. I drove the bike around the parking lot of the dealership to demonstrate the problem. I was driving around at approx. 10 mph with the pedal all the way down as if there wasnt even a brake there. Lots of head scratching going on!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 3
From: Behind you
My ABS went out on my 09' after the recalibration d/l failed. The brakes worked as normal brakes. I actually drove a few days before having the D/L reinstalled.
I think you problem goes beyond an ABS issue.
I think you problem goes beyond an ABS issue.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
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From: Daytona, Fla.
S.W.A.G. (scientific wild *** guess) here. ABS works by *releasing* brake pressure if the wheel locks. I don't know the specifics of how they're released, but that is what ABS does. With that in mind, you may have a failure that simulates (or maintains) that released condition. It'd be real interesting if you could get your dealer to show you the failed part & how it failed.