Maintaining Your Harley Brakes

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Author: Andy Freeman

As motorcycles accelerate fast, you depend on your Harley brakes to keep you safe and stopping like you should. In order for this to continue, you need to know how to maintain your brakes. Learning how to do your own brake work, can help keep your brakes in top condition. Any maintenance should be performed by those who have undergone specific training or have assistance from someone who has.

Motorcycles often have two brake fluid reservoirs. The one for the front is usually found near the handlebars. The other is on the back. Make sure that both are checked regularly. You don't want your fluid to ever run low. This can cause many dangerous problems and damage to your brakes.

Check the thickness of your brake pads. Replacing worn brake pads is the quickest way to get increased power back into your Harley brakes. In order to check your brake pads you will have to remove the calipers from the rotors. Once they are free you can then slide them off to inspect for anything that indicates replacement. If you find that the pads need to be replaces, go ahead and do it. If you are not sure, go to a professional who can make sure it is done correctly.

Your next step in caring for your Harley brakes is to bleed the brake fluid. This can be a hard task. This is to be done approximately every two years, or if the fluid turns dark in color. You need to be careful when bleeding your Harley brakes. The fluid can eat paint and plastic. You need to be careful not to get any on your bike that may have gotten on your clothes and hands.

To make it as easy as possible, make sure that you have all the tools you need before you start. You can attach the brake bleeding kit to the nipple located on the caliper. You will want to loosen the nipple to make sure fluid can drain. Keep track of the master cylinder. Do this by removing the cap and replacing brake fluid as it is needed. If you let it run out, air will enter your lines, and you will have to start over. Pump the brake lever until you see clear fluid. Make sure all the air bubbles are out you will want to hold pressure on the brake level. You will then retighten the nipple to close it off. At this time, you will replace the master cylinder cover. You can now remove the brake bleeding kit from the caliper.

It can be very difficult to bleed your Harley's brakes on your own. If you are not sure, get help from someone who can show you how, or visit a mechanic. Once you know how, you should be ok to do it yourself. Just never risk doing it if you are not sure. You could cause a brake failure while you are driving.

Taking care of your Harley brakes is vital to the bike's performance and your safety. You can also avoid unwanted repairs due to maintaining the proper care of your brakes.


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