Learned to do all the maintenance work on 1998 FLHTC . Anything that it needs I do it all . 100,000 miles and still going. Doc Harley is right. Take care of your ride and will take care of you.
I just bought my first Harley a 2014 Road King. While looking at local dealers for service, I heard that my local dealer here doesn't service Harleys over 20 years old, why would that be?
@Aris116 I suspect the biggest reason is simply that newer/younger technicians will be less familiar with older technology. A lesser reason is likely parts availability. Lastly (or perhaps firstly), it's a subliminal message to customers that they should buy a new bike.
I can remember back in the early seventies when a Harley dealer told me he didn't want brakes that would lock up. He wanted brakes that would slow him down. He didn't want the brakes to have the capacity to lock the wheel up. That was the kind of brakes Harleys had back then and people were used to them. Nowadays with triple drilled disk brakes with antilock feature, the Harley brakes have changed for generally the better. Nobody wants to go back to drum brakes unless they are restoring a Classic Harley and want the original drum brakes. Some people say how do you rely on drum brakes. You go through and rebuild them right, and ride sensibly.
Not good on the 2011 Road Glide Ultra when the ABS unit locks up from poor design and they don't warranty it. I will never buy another Harley after that and I was ready for my third bike.
Another great video, Doc. Here's another tip I learned many moons ago from a master HD wrencher.......before pushing back the caliper pistons, crack open the bleeder screw so the fluid isn't pushed back up the line. Helps to keep fluid clean between changes. Just remember to top off the master when finished. Works for any brake job, not just for the bike!
Good video and good advice. I have had to replace the front rotors on my 2005 1200 Roadster because they failed minimum thickness. The bike had over 60,000 miles at the time. When you resume riding, don't assume that your brakes are working properly. I always remove the calipers and pads, and clean everything. I also push the pistons back in to eliminate the possibility of stuck pistons. I was surprised to have an inoperable rear brake. The cause was a cracked piston cup in the pedal cylinder. It was fine when I parked it last October. A rebuild kit and vacuum pump bleed and it's back to normal. The left front brake caliper had stuck pistons. It took an unusual amount of effort to stop the bike when I rode around the block. It normally takes two fingers. Considering that the bike is stored in my heated garage the brake issues surprised me, but they didn't get me hurt...this time. Bottom line: don't take your brakes for granted. Just because they worked yesterday doesn't mean that they are going to work today.
Thank you as always for the informative videos. While I like to care for my own bike, when it comes to brakes, I leave it to the good folks like you. Ride and be safe.
Thanx Doc, I just had a new front disc put on and new pads on front and rear here at the Ride Factory in Tampa, Fl. 346.00, not a bad price. Btw it's a 2018 Lowrider M8.
Tip - open the bleeder screw, attach hose & container to capture fluid, prior to depressing the caliper piston(s). Once depressed, close bleeder, install new pads and move to other side, repeat. This supports changing the dirty fluid in the caliper. Once reassembled, depress brake (frt lever/ rear foot pedal) to properly position brake pads to disc/rotor. Top up brake fluid reservoir. Carefully, go for a ride and seat your new pads to disc/rotor. As a retired tech, I was taught this technic when disc brakes became standard equipment on cars. It works and if performed properly! No bleeding is required.
Changing the fluid in the front brakes is easy...as long as you don't allow the master cylinder to go dry. Then you get to repeat the process. Gravity is your friend here. Stick a hose over the bleeder screw, stick it into a glass jar, and add fluid and pump gently until clean fluid appears in the jar. The back brake requires a vacuum pump because the caliper isn't the lowest point in the system. Pull the fluid through until clean fluid appears in the separation chamber.
Good tip Doc. You see all the brake job vids on YT, but none of them I've seen address measuring the disc! I made sure to include that in the vid I made. Yeah, you really need a micrometer for this as the lip of the disc does not wear like the rest of it. Also a good idea to check the run-out on occasion too.
nice tip Doc. I always service my own bikes. as a reminder, I put a piece of tape on the master cylinder front and rear with the date of service. fluid or brakes, I change my fluid every 2 years, DOT.4-5 is hygroscopic and contaminates easy.
Thanks again Doc, in all honesty ,I wouldn't have thought about the fluid going back, an I didn't know the thickness was marked on the disk, once again you put out good infoe including the $$ cost thanks Doc have great weekend!!
I Told you how I replaced EVERYTHING on my 2009 Flhx front brakes. You said to check the discs and man ! I found a bent disc! the previous owner said he never dropped the bike but something sure happened to it! The left front disc was bent. Thank you for telling me to check the discs, Sure cured the problem!
Nice EBC pads run about $100 for the front 2 sets and much nicer aluminum carrier laser cut (not pressed out like oem) front rotors from companies like twin power are around $120 each. I feel like doing the pads, rotors and flush all together makes more sense. Chances are those old rotors even within spec aren't flat. Imo replacing everything at once with higher quality components will improve braking significantly over oem and cost about the same as a new front tire.
Hi Doc, Maybe do a video of when to replace the rear pully. That soft aluminum wears pretty quick, gets sharp on the end of the teeth & damages the belt. Thanks.
Yep, just replaced the original rear brake rotor on a '85 FXRP @91k miles. $111. Not complaining. I think I got my moneys worth out of the factory unit! Thanks for the vid Doc.
This is the difference between the professional and home mechanic and why it is worth paying for a professional service as the mileage gets big, just so it all really gets checked out.
2017 RGU. Front rotors warped before 10K miles. Pads had plenty of meat on them. Hoping for better results from Galfer. Rear rotor is scored as well. Will replace when time for a tire change. HD is cutting corners in the wrong places :(
People think Harley brakes are bad. I have a '99 FXDL with twin disc front. It's a one finger front brake. Rear brake should lock up without too much effort, my rear brake is not working as it should which is why I watched this. Uneven pad ware but didn't notice the inside pad with solid rear wheel.
Have replaced my OEM rotors, not because of the wear, so much as they were warped and it was obvious during braking. Not hard to do, but an added expense for sure 😉
@@SA-hk8xj I’m right over 20,000 and just had to replace the rear wheel bearings. The back brakes are squeaking. The pads are good but l didn’t check the runout on the rotor. Thanks for getting back to me.
Hey Doc! Wonderful videos! Been a follower for years and now getting into doing some simple maintenance on my 2018 Tri-glide, linked, non-ABS. After replacing front pads with HD stock pads I am getting a LOUD SQUEAL when coming to a stop. Aweful noise and embarrassing. Any fix you might reccomend?
Doc, I noticed the green handlebar streamers in the last video and wondered if it’s my old bike. Does that bike have fishtail straight pipes? If so it’s almost certainly the one I traded in at Savannah HD many years ago.
I turn my rotors on my vehicle everything I change pads. What about a bike? Do people turn their disc's when they change pads? Great videos, keep up the good work.
Long ago I had a machine shop surface grind the rear rotor on my ‘95 RK as it had a slight “dish” to it. When done it was a few thousands under the minimum thickness. The point is there is not enough extra material on a bike rotor to do this even once.
Doc, I enjoy your videos about helping us "dummies" repair their own bikes, if we can. I have a question about my 2012FLHTP and it's 2010 HD sidecar. Where can I get a rotor for it. I can't seem to find one anywhere. Any ideas to help me. My mechanic who does the major work on my bikes, can't find it anywhere. HD dealership told me that they're no where to be found. . Thank You Sir.
Ever since HD stopped offering sidecars parts are harder to find. If you have the part number contact me through my Email. Am I understanding that you have a mechanic working on your bike that does not work at the dealership and your expecting help from the dealer?…..Doc
doc i have a 2014 Harley street glide special my securtiy lighht is on all the time when started and running but is flashing with the key off please help bike runs fine
Hey Doc with that lift and front wheel clamp that your using how do you service the front if you have to pull the front wheel off the bike and still keep the bike stabilized ?
Bike in gear, strapped at both ends, flat jack under front portion of frame. Lift front while loosening front straps until wheel is just off the lift…..Doc
I want to know if the stock evo big twin rotors from sunstar are steel or stainless? Done the magnet test it sticks but some stainless does stick some doesnt
I need to change mine....FXSTDI 05, some wizard built the rear break with the AXEL Holding the caliper on WTF😮 really. Its going in. Im gods. Chew toy, dance monkey dance........my life😂
I have a 2021 Road King with 6k on it and the rotors have warped twice. I am 72 and don't ride it hard and am real ease on the brakes. Have you seen this???
Steve do you live in the beautiful mountains? Your mileage does seem low for warped disc but I do not know your service records, accessories, and how your dealer has answered your questions…Doc
@@LowCountryHarleyDavidson I do not live in the mountains and when I do go there the M8 will slow itself with the comp release. I am a retire mechanic myself of 50 years. This just seems odd to me and was wondering if you have seen this. I think it is a wheel issue and just can't get anyone to listen. Again the bike has 6k and the rotors have been replaced twice.. Just looking for input. Thanks
Stock H-D Sunstar (Made in Japan) rotors? Not the best, but not the worst. Don't go cheap on replacement rotors!!! I've seen guys buy the cheapest Ebay rotors and they warped real quick. Buy the best you can afford like Russel, Performance Machine, GMA. There's about a half-dozen pad materials as well as rotor materials. Make sure replacement pads are compatible with the rotor material.
Semi-metallic material HD uses for superior braking in rain. Old brake fluid so brake pucks won’t retract correctly. Brake dust between disc and pads and worn out too thin brake disc…..Doc
Hey doc I have a problem getting the air out of my front brake, 2006 surperglide , I put a rebuilt kit in master cylinder and caliper, bleed the brake with an air bleeder and a hand pump bleeder, tried every way of bleeding and nothing, I’ve never had this problem before, what started all this was I had 2 of the exact same bikes the anniversary edition superglide 2006 one had chrome everything and one didn’t we switched chrome from one to the other and now can’t get the front brake to work, any suggestions?
2022 Streetglide with warped rotors. Dealer said only 3 thousands, but I can feel the surging when I come to a stop. At what number does harley feel safety over $$
Noooooo! Do not expect a caliper to give you the same reading as a micrometer. The outer edge of most disk rotors will have a thick lip because the pads don't contact there. A caliper cannot get over that lip. There is a special caliper designed just for disks but the one you showed in the video is a garden variety type that cannot get over the lip on the outer edge. A micrometer is still the preferred tool.
You have only 6 thousands of an inch to reach bare minimum you mine as well replace it otherwise it’s a waist of time to replace only pads then come back in a week and replace rotor
