No rear brakes on my sportster 1200c - Harley Forum

big dawg 76513 · #1 10-10-2009, 11:31 AM

My rear brake pedal has slowly become lower and lower to engage rear brakes, and now the rear brakes have very little stopping power, if any at all. Does this indicate that the rear brake pads are gone? If the rear brakes are in need of replacement, then should the front ones be changed as well? Is it very hard to change pads and what are the steps to change them out? quiet1tx@hotmail.com

kc5gxc · #2 10-10-2009, 08:46 PM

If you get the manual......shows how to check pads.
The rear brake cylinder on these models are prone to fail. I had to put a kit in my xlc '05 rear master cyl.
They also sell rebult ones.
Good luck
Pete

Hammerhead Pat · #3 10-10-2009, 08:54 PM

Changing the pads is very easy!! Have you checked the brake fluid in the rear resevoir?? If you don't have the service manual get it, it will walk you right thru the project, step by step. Another thing to look at if that doesn't solve your problem is the rear master cylinder. Have you tried to bleed the brakes? What is the thickness of the brake pads? Manual states to replace them once they get down to 0.04in.(1.02mm), whatever that is. I have an 05 and a manual, if you need more info let I'll be happy to give it to you.

No, you don't have to change the front pads at the same time.

unclepsycho · #4 10-10-2009, 09:56 PM

Hi there, welcome to the forum
I'll add to Hammerhead pat's info = .040 is a little thicker than your thumbnail. If my pads were even twice that thick, I'd change them.
Oh yeah, you dont hafta change the front pads at the same time as the rear pads, but ya might as well take a look to see how they are doing too.
Pads are cheeper than the resulting crash that happens when ya dont have brakes

Hammerhead Pat · #5 10-11-2009, 02:02 PM

kc59xc brought up an interesting point about 05's having a problem with the master cylnder. I just had to replace mine at 13,000 miles

May want to ask someone at your dealership if they have any info on this.

big dawg 76513 · #6 10-11-2009, 05:30 PM

turns out, the fluid level was just low enough to allow air into the lines.

unclepsycho · #7 10-11-2009, 05:43 PM

Glad ya figgered it out.
But, being a closed system, I would wonder where the fluid went??? normally a the pads wear, the fluid level drops, then when ya replace the pads, the fluid comes back up. So, if the fluid is low and the pads are fine (I'm assuming), there must be a leek somewhere?
Just a thought.

big dawg 76513 · #8 10-11-2009, 06:25 PM

I know very little about mechanics. My brother-in-law came down from Houston for a meeting in this area. He was the one who bled the brakes. I hope it solved the problem.