Mushy Front Break Lever - Page 2 - Harley Forum

sinolav · #11 08-17-2009, 03:46 PM

No, I didn't change my break lines, they are the same ones that came on my bike. All I did was change brake pads.

I'm sure I installed the pads correctly. I had my manual open, along with the instructions from the pads. Sure is a strange way to do brake pads. On a car, it doesn't matter how they go on, normally.

The anti rattle clip never came out of the calipers. Mine is in the top and presses down on the top of the pads.

Ok, I'll try bleeding with clear hose instead of using the black vacume hose.

I have bled brakes on cars for over 40 years, heck, I can even bleed ABS brakes and master cylinders! I can't believe motorcycle breaks are such a pain.

Thanks Frisco and all

frisco-rigid · #12 08-17-2009, 08:29 PM

Hi Sin

Uh, the clear line is just for the heck of it, you know, you can see the bubbles but it doesn't make any diff whether it's clear or not..

I just wanted to offer my method just in case it might work better for you..

Umm, I cannot really say if I'd ever heard that about Stainless Braided lines..
I can see NO reason what-so-ever why it would make a hill a beans if the lines are St-Br'd or not.. I've used them with no diff at all in perf..
In fact,, it should be the other way around cuz the St-Brd would help to keep the hose from Expanding..

I read once that as lines get old and slightly more supple they can kinda-sorta expand and that allows some of the pressure to NOT be transmitted..

Heck, I don't know if that's for-real or not, sounds possible but I've never experienced it..

unclepsycho · #13 08-17-2009, 09:01 PM

So Here's an idea based on the following.,
you never opened the fluid system until 'after' the pads were changed? and they were mushy?
if that is the case. this sounds alot like the brakes on my wifes Jeep. I know it aint a bike, but the symptoms are the exactly the same...that is if what I said above is correct. I too bled the brakes numerous times... and finally since they worked. but were mushy, I had her take it to work and have the mehanic next door look at it. He said the clip was the reason... I took it apart when she got home and looked again... I saw nothing different, so I fiddled with it until I got it to be mushy again, then put it back. So, that anti rattle clip may be the culprit, again, only if it got mushy before you opened up the fluid system. if the clip is hanging up on a pad, even a little, then when you pull the lever, the hydraulics have the power to push the pads and the clip...then when you let go, the clip will 'spring' back, pulling the pad with it (just a very little). this is what was happeneing with my Jeep brakes. once the clip was re-positioned, it worked perfect. I couldnt believe it. but just a tadd bit relocating the clip did the trick.
watch them pads real careful, have someone else pull the lever if you have to, so you can get in there and watch.

So, if that aint it, boy, I am stumped.

hope this helps.

sinolav · #14 08-25-2009, 09:08 AM

Unclepsyco, I pulled the calipers this weekend, checked the anti rattle clips, they're ok. I never split the calipers, or took the clip out when I changed break pads.

Of course, now the breakes are mushier since pulling the calipers. Makes me wonder if therre's a bad line or the master cylinder needs a rebuild. I'll keep working on it.

butchtc88 · #15 08-25-2009, 03:01 PM

I have a 2000 Road King FLHR that had the mushy brake thing going on for 7 years and I tried everything under the sun to rectify it while attempting to remain with all stock parts. About a year ago I again mentioned it to my dealer and the service manager told me they had came across a fix that cured 95% of the bikes that had the problem. Unfortunately due to shop liabilities I was unable to personally observe the procedure, but what they did was moved the quad-rings on the pistons so that the pads were being held closer to the rotors. Let me tell you, 2 fingers pulling on the lever produced braking abilities this bike never had since new and I might be pulling the brake lever approximately 1/3 of it's total travel, just amazing.

aceharleywrench · #16 08-25-2009, 04:09 PM

I have no idea what the dealer did to improve your brake feel,but it's impossible to move the quad seals,as they are located in grooves machined into the caliper body.Perhaps they did something incorrectly on your bike previously & are now blowing smoke up your butt hoping you wont know the difference.

butchtc88 · #17 08-25-2009, 05:43 PM

I knew better than to subscribe to a forum as many experts loom. My dealer isn't blowing anything up any where and congratulations on your plethora of listed expertise, your humility is just breathtaking. I invite you to contact Mr. Tim Thompson at Ted's Motocycle World located in Alton, Il. and I guarantee he can explain what he had the tech do. He can be reached at 888-695-4740. My brakes were never touched except for my replacement of pads and fluid changes, but like I said I wasn't privileged to view first hand what was actually done. What I do know is that no other dealer knew what to do and after 30 minutes my bike came out with awesome front brakes and have been that way since. Maybe if you contact Tim you might actually learn something that you apparently don't know or is that not possible?

Butchtc88

unclepsycho · #18 08-25-2009, 09:45 PM

sinolav
Keep checking things off the list that you have tried, and maybe you can get the right thing to work. It sure is a mystery at this time. Looks like Butchtc88 found a solution.

Butch
That would have been great if you could have found out what they did. 1/2 hour to fix? wow, that could be a number of things. but thats good you got yours fixed.
Oh, and welcome to the forum, from sunny california.

frisco-rigid · #19 08-26-2009, 02:16 AM

Hey Bitchtc88

I bet you didn't know that our Dr.Ace is also a Gynecologist which judging from your name and "pissy" reply,, you might be needing on a Period-ic basis..
Oooops,,, it's Bu not Bi,,,,, umm, My blunder..

As for his Pletra,, pletor,, um, list of Expertise,, you know,,,, if ya got it Flaunt it baby..

Hey Butch
did ya know they named a city in Nor-cal for me and I still own the bridge,, wanna buy a piece of it..

Hey don't be a stranger,, as there's always a Looming Expert..!!

aceharleywrench · #20 08-26-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butchtc88

I knew better than to subscribe to a forum as many experts loom. My dealer isn't blowing anything up any where and congratulations on your plethora of listed expertise, your humility is just breathtaking. I invite you to contact Mr. Tim Thompson at Ted's Motocycle World located in Alton, Il. and I guarantee he can explain what he had the tech do. He can be reached at 888-695-4740. My brakes were never touched except for my replacement of pads and fluid changes, but like I said I wasn't privileged to view first hand what was actually done. What I do know is that no other dealer knew what to do and after 30 minutes my bike came out with awesome front brakes and have been that way since. Maybe if you contact Tim you might actually learn something that you apparently don't know or is that not possible?

Butchtc88

Butch,
You need to chill,I was just yanking your chain a little (hence the smiley face)
You seem to want to direct a lot of hostility my way,so maybe we shouldn't be BFF's

P.S. I just attempted to contact Tim @ Teds & was told he is at lunch,I will try again later
Tried again @ 3:30,put on eternal hold,gave up for now.