Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Squishy front brake help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #11  
Old 02-22-2010 | 09:59 PM
rhaneski's Avatar
rhaneski
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Default

make sure your rotors arent bent. A bend in or out will cause the handle to pull almost all the way in on first grab.
 
  #12  
Old 02-22-2010 | 10:12 PM
Harleypingman's Avatar
Harleypingman
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 44
From: Roswell, GA
Default

Here is a link to the caliper piston cleaning procedure:

http://www.lyndallracingbrakes.com/service_tech.htm

The reason the lever is squishy is that the pistons, over time, accumulate brake dust between the piston and the bore they move in making them more difficult to move when you squeeze the lever, so more pressure (via longer lever travel) is necessary to overcome the increased friction between the pistons and their bores. Cleaning the pistons removes the debri allowing the piston to move with less line pressure (i.e. less lever travel). Stainless/braided lines help because they expand less under the increased pressure than the OEM lines delivering more hydraulic pressure to the calipers.

You can bleed your brakes all you like; if there is no air visible when you bleed the brakes, the problem isn't going to be solved by further bleeding.

I used a version of the Lyndal system and it solved my problem as it has for many others.

Good luck with resolving your problem.

Carl
 
  #13  
Old 02-22-2010 | 10:23 PM
Apex Rider's Avatar
Apex Rider
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 986
Likes: 3
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Harleypingman
Here is a link to the caliper piston cleaning procedure:

http://www.lyndallracingbrakes.com/service_tech.htm

I used a version of the Lyndal system and it solved my problem as it has for many others.

Good luck with resolving your problem.

Carl
+1

I had the same complaint before using this procedure.No longer have the squishy lever.
It is a fast and easy fix.
 
  #14  
Old 02-23-2010 | 07:09 AM
clayharley's Avatar
clayharley
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Default

thanks guys, I'll try that.
 
  #15  
Old 02-23-2010 | 07:20 AM
Theakerr's Avatar
Theakerr
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 455
Likes: 1
From: Deep River ON
Default

Same problem on my 03 EG. Cleaned the pistons, minor improvement but soon went back to old situation. Put on Brembo rotors and callipers and braided steel brake lines. Fantastic two finger braking now
 
  #16  
Old 02-23-2010 | 08:28 AM
beary's Avatar
beary
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,929
Likes: 284
From: Edmond Oklahoma
Default

My 02 was the same, I tried all kinds of fixes, but cleaning the calipers using Lyndals web link made the brakes like new. Replacing the old pads with Lyndal pads shiftted the interval time of cleaning the calipers from 2000 miles to about 7000 miles and they kept my wheels a lot cleaner.

I'm not sure how the braided steel lines would help since the problem is likely dirty calipers. I agree steel lines will give a better response and feel if that is what you want once the calipers are cleaned, but it won't fix your present squishy problem.

First just invest in a can of brake cleaner and clean the calipers to see if that fixes the problem. If it does, then invest in the lyndal pads and see if the problem stays fixed, at least for a few thousand miles. If that isn't enough, then start throwing more money at the problem until you get what what you want.

Beary
 
  #17  
Old 02-23-2010 | 12:38 PM
huffhuff's Avatar
huffhuff
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 6
From: guntersville, al
Default

dirty pistons seem to be the most common cause. guy in office has 01 same problem and my neighbor an 03 same-o, same-o. cleaning the pistons without disassembly worked.
 
  #18  
Old 02-23-2010 | 02:03 PM
Bluegrasser's Avatar
Bluegrasser
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 760
Likes: 1
From: Mesa, AZ
Default

Friend just had same problem on his 97. Turned out to be a leaking bleed nipple.
 
  #19  
Old 02-23-2010 | 02:04 PM
Gliden's Avatar
Gliden
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 35
From: NJ
Default You got mail!

Originally Posted by Jday53
Bleed them again but try some braided lines big improvement

You got Air!

Dont know how braided lines would improve anything.....??

Anyone care to explain that one?
 
  #20  
Old 02-23-2010 | 06:00 PM
jag1886's Avatar
jag1886
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,085
Likes: 11
From: Boise Idaho
Default

Old worn out DOT5 fluid caues that problem.
 


Quick Reply: Squishy front brake help



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:29 AM.