2004 RKC Brakes
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2009
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2004 RKC Brakes
I have a problem with my front brakes. The lever is soft and have a grinding sound like one of the calipers is hanging up. Not loud but evident. Goes away when lever pulled slightly. I read the post about extending pistons and cleaning them. Going to do that. Question is do I go with braided lines or keep OEM lines. I don't want to do this twice (right now). Are the braided lines worth the cost? Any suggestions on the caliper noise? Thanks.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Colorado
It's been some time since you posted your question, did you ever figure out your problem w/the grining noise? I hope you don't mind dropping my similar brake problem to the masses in hopes of getting a fix, possibly for both of us.
I'm in the same predicament now. Just installed new rotors, pads, & bled the system. Randomly (every so many minutes as opposed to regular intervals) I can hear the high pitch grinding coming from the front-right brake side at 45mph, & louder at 15 mph. I've read the anti-rattle clip could be the culprit. There is also a lot of sand on the roads due to the weather, so maybe I've got some grains of sand riding in the pads against the rotors.
History: I've had a random similar high pitch sound coming from the right side w/the old stock rotors. Also had bad pulsing on the shocks. I ran a dial indicator on them and found the left side out of spec & same side pads were worn harder on the inner side the rest. The right side was fine. Now with new rotors the pulsing is gone, but I still get the every so often high pitch grind.
I'm in the same predicament now. Just installed new rotors, pads, & bled the system. Randomly (every so many minutes as opposed to regular intervals) I can hear the high pitch grinding coming from the front-right brake side at 45mph, & louder at 15 mph. I've read the anti-rattle clip could be the culprit. There is also a lot of sand on the roads due to the weather, so maybe I've got some grains of sand riding in the pads against the rotors.
History: I've had a random similar high pitch sound coming from the right side w/the old stock rotors. Also had bad pulsing on the shocks. I ran a dial indicator on them and found the left side out of spec & same side pads were worn harder on the inner side the rest. The right side was fine. Now with new rotors the pulsing is gone, but I still get the every so often high pitch grind.
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I am still having the problem and have not found a solution, other than to either replace the calipers or take them apart and clean them. Either way, I am in NJ and it's too cold to ride or work on my bike. I am going to take the calipers off, clean them, bleed the lines and put in new fluid. If that doesn't work,,,??
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Greensboro, North Carolina
There is a great article on cleaning the caliper pistons on the lyndallracingbrakes website.
I had a soft lever and after following the procedure everything worked great. I also had a squeal. I read somewhere about switching the rotors, putting the left on the right side and the right on the left. I did that and it fixed the squeal. No one ever noticed the switch on the stock rotors.
I had a soft lever and after following the procedure everything worked great. I also had a squeal. I read somewhere about switching the rotors, putting the left on the right side and the right on the left. I did that and it fixed the squeal. No one ever noticed the switch on the stock rotors.
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From: Colorado
high pitch noise still heard every so often. It comes and goes even if I don't use the front brakes. Seems to get noisy after a bump or after a turn.
I followed the lyndallracing site's cleaning procedures on both front calipers. It seemed to help, but after about 15 min on the road the gremlin comes back. I cleaned all four pistons at least 10X each and tried to get them to all come out at the same time. Not here, it never happened to either caliper. I did get some grit off the pistons nearly everytime.
I picked up some caliper lube for the pad pins, "anti-rattle" spring, etc. If this doesn't fix it, it looks like the rebuild kit is next since the bike clicked over 25k. What a PITA.
I followed the lyndallracing site's cleaning procedures on both front calipers. It seemed to help, but after about 15 min on the road the gremlin comes back. I cleaned all four pistons at least 10X each and tried to get them to all come out at the same time. Not here, it never happened to either caliper. I did get some grit off the pistons nearly everytime.
I picked up some caliper lube for the pad pins, "anti-rattle" spring, etc. If this doesn't fix it, it looks like the rebuild kit is next since the bike clicked over 25k. What a PITA.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Desert S. West
Might be time to think about some Brembo brake calipers and new rotors. I'm in the same boat with my 99 FLHT. They still work but the pulsing and some rattling are getting on my last nerve.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Greensboro, North Carolina
Rollin - i am not certain if I am reading your post correctly. If all the pistons did not come out then that is your issue. What I did was to hold the pads to 1 side with a screwdraiver or chisel. Then pump the brake lever. They will come out. clean them up. Pull that side in and repeat with other side of that caliper. After you complete the calper push both set of pistons in and then test to make certain they are all coming out when lever is squeezed.
I would agree with Boomer that replacement with a better quality system is an option but it can be expensive. The harley system is not the best by any means. It works it is just a maintenance issue.
I would agree with Boomer that replacement with a better quality system is an option but it can be expensive. The harley system is not the best by any means. It works it is just a maintenance issue.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
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I am still having the problem and have not found a solution, other than to either replace the calipers or take them apart and clean them. Either way, I am in NJ and it's too cold to ride or work on my bike. I am going to take the calipers off, clean them, bleed the lines and put in new fluid. If that doesn't work,,,??
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Colorado
UCRED,
Guess I didn't explain it well, I cleaned both pistons on each side of the caliper (per caliper) using the method you described. I used the old pad to pressure the pistons in while forcing the opposite set of pistons out. I repeated this many times per side while using brake cleaner spray, plastic bristle brush, and q-tips soaked in brake cleaner to finish the job off off. Also, the front rotors, EBC pads, and spacers are new, and I did use the drill bit method to set the fork distance correct.
More info I forgot to add after last night's test ride: The front right rotor (where noise seems to come from) was warm, while the left front was cold. Additionally, the rear was real hot. This leads me to believe that the front-right pistons, and possibly the rear caliper pistons, are not retracting. I do use both front and rear to stop the bike, more so the front.
Guess I didn't explain it well, I cleaned both pistons on each side of the caliper (per caliper) using the method you described. I used the old pad to pressure the pistons in while forcing the opposite set of pistons out. I repeated this many times per side while using brake cleaner spray, plastic bristle brush, and q-tips soaked in brake cleaner to finish the job off off. Also, the front rotors, EBC pads, and spacers are new, and I did use the drill bit method to set the fork distance correct.
More info I forgot to add after last night's test ride: The front right rotor (where noise seems to come from) was warm, while the left front was cold. Additionally, the rear was real hot. This leads me to believe that the front-right pistons, and possibly the rear caliper pistons, are not retracting. I do use both front and rear to stop the bike, more so the front.