Brake pad replacement Blunder?
#21
Need Someone With A Service Manual
I know this to be true of cars but if anyone here has a service manual with a Harley ABS section in it, it would be helpful to chime in on proper procedures!
#22
Clean the pistons before pushing them back in.
Put a hose on the bleeder valve and open it before I push the pistons in.
I do this to my ABS and non ABS Harleys.
I use DOT 5 fluid in my non ABS bike and it gets changed every 2 years. I use DOT 4 in my ABS bike and that gets changed every 12 months without fail. Additionally, after I flush my ABS bike, I button everything up and go for a test ride where I engage ABS on the front and rear wheels (separately) ten times. Then, I go home and bleed the system one final time to insure I purge the fluid previously captured in the ABS HCU.
One final note; every time I ride my 2011 with ABS I engage it at least once using stutter bumps, gravel, wet pavement or rough lever/pedal engagement. There have been a number of ABS HCU failures that resulted in a frozen pedal or lever that rendered the brake completely inop. I'd like to avoid that if I can as I'm an aggressive rider and wouldn't like to have such a failure at the entry of a fast sweeper.
#24
This is nothing more than a video on how to bleed ANY brake system on a Harley or other motorcycle; ABS or not. It does NOT bleed or exchange the captured fluid in the HCU. For an ABS bike you have three choices:
Have the dealer do it and they will activate the ABS HCU during the proce$$.
Do what I described above.
Do what the posted video says to do and hope the new fluid eventually purges the fluid from the HCU.
Have the dealer do it and they will activate the ABS HCU during the proce$$.
Do what I described above.
Do what the posted video says to do and hope the new fluid eventually purges the fluid from the HCU.
Here's a youtube.com video on proper procedure for ABS equipped Harleys:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tddIQ3uuBs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tddIQ3uuBs
#25
I replace the pads when installing new tires, every time. The calipers have to come off anyway and the price of pads hardly puts a dent in my bill for tires and install.
I had the dealer bleed/flush my ABS system last fall. They also replaced the front master cylinder cap with an upgraded cap and gasket. I think the bill was just a little over $100 for flushing the system, fluid and the new cap. Pretty cheap to keep the system up to specs.
I agree the ABS should not default to no brakes due to fluid contamination but this is the system Harley sold us.
I had the dealer bleed/flush my ABS system last fall. They also replaced the front master cylinder cap with an upgraded cap and gasket. I think the bill was just a little over $100 for flushing the system, fluid and the new cap. Pretty cheap to keep the system up to specs.
I agree the ABS should not default to no brakes due to fluid contamination but this is the system Harley sold us.
#26
I'm the original OP. I changed my brake fluid before I put her up for the winter so fluid was brand new. Piston bores were cleaned. I took the bike out for a long ride this past weekend and after a few fade in brake stops the brakes felt perfect. It just took a few miles of use.
Not loosening the Master Cylinder covers when I pushed the pistons back in the bores to install the new pads does not seem to have had any ill affect on the brake system or ABS. Next time I'll loosen the cover....Lesson learned.
Not loosening the Master Cylinder covers when I pushed the pistons back in the bores to install the new pads does not seem to have had any ill affect on the brake system or ABS. Next time I'll loosen the cover....Lesson learned.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Mountain Top, Alabama
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I'm the original OP. I changed my brake fluid before I put her up for the winter so fluid was brand new. Piston bores were cleaned. I took the bike out for a long ride this past weekend and after a few fade in brake stops the brakes felt perfect. It just took a few miles of use.
Not loosening the Master Cylinder covers when I pushed the pistons back in the bores to install the new pads does not seem to have had any ill affect on the brake system or ABS. Next time I'll loosen the cover....Lesson learned.
Not loosening the Master Cylinder covers when I pushed the pistons back in the bores to install the new pads does not seem to have had any ill affect on the brake system or ABS. Next time I'll loosen the cover....Lesson learned.
#28
This is nothing more than a video on how to bleed ANY brake system on a Harley or other motorcycle; ABS or not. It does NOT bleed or exchange the captured fluid in the HCU. For an ABS bike you have three choices:
Have the dealer do it and they will activate the ABS HCU during the proce$$.
Do what I described above.
Do what the posted video says to do and hope the new fluid eventually purges the fluid from the HCU.
Have the dealer do it and they will activate the ABS HCU during the proce$$.
Do what I described above.
Do what the posted video says to do and hope the new fluid eventually purges the fluid from the HCU.
#29
It is "industry standard" NOT to push used fluid back into an ABS system when pushing the pistons in for new pads but to open the caliper bleed screw and let the fluid out at that location. If you have a VERY hard pedal, you may have had the infamous ABS hydraulic lock happen at the same time as your brake change, just a matter of bad luck, but likely not the cause. If you ultimately determine this is your problem, replacing the ABS unit is the only fix.
#30
This is nothing more than a video on how to bleed ANY brake system on a Harley or other motorcycle; ABS or not. It does NOT bleed or exchange the captured fluid in the HCU. For an ABS bike you have three choices:
Have the dealer do it and they will activate the ABS HCU during the proce$$.
Do what I described above.
Do what the posted video says to do and hope the new fluid eventually purges the fluid from the HCU.
Have the dealer do it and they will activate the ABS HCU during the proce$$.
Do what I described above.
Do what the posted video says to do and hope the new fluid eventually purges the fluid from the HCU.