brakes locked open
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Texas
brakes locked open
hi,
I have an 09 Ultra Classic with a rear brake problem. I noticed a couple of times the brake pedal was stiff & I had to push it really hard before it would move and engage the rear brake. It became more frequent.
I figured good time to bleed the brakes, but even with a vacuum pump hardly any fluid would come out the bleeder (I did remove the master cylinder cover).
I had heard that the caliper (Brembo, factory ABS) could get gunked up, so I pulled the pads, pushed in the pistons, cleaned everything out, installed new pads (since it was apart, might as well put new pads in).
Now the brake is locked up in the 'open' position. I can see at least a couple of the pistons have moved out, but not all of them and the rear wheel isn't locked up. I can stand on the brake pedal and basically nothing happens.
I'm suspecting a master cylinder problem or possibly the caliper, but I'd like to get some input before I go shopping for rebuild kits.
thanks
I have an 09 Ultra Classic with a rear brake problem. I noticed a couple of times the brake pedal was stiff & I had to push it really hard before it would move and engage the rear brake. It became more frequent.
I figured good time to bleed the brakes, but even with a vacuum pump hardly any fluid would come out the bleeder (I did remove the master cylinder cover).
I had heard that the caliper (Brembo, factory ABS) could get gunked up, so I pulled the pads, pushed in the pistons, cleaned everything out, installed new pads (since it was apart, might as well put new pads in).
Now the brake is locked up in the 'open' position. I can see at least a couple of the pistons have moved out, but not all of them and the rear wheel isn't locked up. I can stand on the brake pedal and basically nothing happens.
I'm suspecting a master cylinder problem or possibly the caliper, but I'd like to get some input before I go shopping for rebuild kits.
thanks
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 218
Likes: 2
From: Mass
Find out if it's your master or caliper by cracking open the caliper bleeder (put a tube or rag on the bleeder) and apply the brake. No or little fluid coming out of the bleeder means your master is the problem.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 20
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From: Texas
what kind of brake fluid did you use and or what was in it?. It sounds like the seals are swelled up due to the wrong fluid being used. Like a contaminated system.
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 20
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From: Texas
Find out if it's your master or caliper by cracking open the caliper bleeder (put a tube or rag on the bleeder) and apply the brake. No or little fluid coming out of the bleeder means your master is the problem.
good idea. I'll try that next.
thanks.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 222
Likes: 7
From: Palm Springs
+1 My buddy had a bike that wasnt ridden for 6 years.....he had no rear brakes. It turned out to be dirt/gunk in the master cylinder. I took it apart and cleaned it with brake parts cleaner. We flushed all the fluid out and brake works like new. You already cleaned the caliper and put new pads so I am certain its your master cylinder. Good luck
Thread Starter
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Find out if it's your master or caliper by cracking open the caliper bleeder (put a tube or rag on the bleeder) and apply the brake. No or little fluid coming out of the bleeder means your master is the problem.
Any recommendations on where to get a rebuild kit? HD does not sell them.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels TX
You may not need a rebuild kit. You may just need to take it apart and clean it up. I have never done this on a MC before, but I have on a car and I didn't need a rebuild kit. You may also have something in the line. Smart or not on the car that I took apart the brakes master cylinder I also too a air compressor and blew out the line and bunch of hard stuff came out.
Where to get a rebuild kit if you need it, I don't know.
Where to get a rebuild kit if you need it, I don't know.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 204
Likes: 4
From: Fort Worth, TX
I had this exact same issue on my '10 Limited. Incredibly hard pedal and no brakes. Turned out to be the ABS module. Took it in to the dealer and they replaced under my ESP. $50 later all is working as it should.