Brembo Brake Problems on Various Makes

[MDO]

Brembo is having Brake Problems on Various Makes, resulting in recalls on Aprilia & Ducati that I know of.

I believe in this case it was a problem in the master cylinder causing cracking near/at the piston.

Is anyone aware of any Harley brake problems associated with Brembo?

If I read correctly, this part is used on other brands, so this may spread.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Good read Michael

I have not seen any thing out of the normal complaint wise or defect wise yet on Harley Brembo brakes

They are a BIG improvement over any thing HD used in the past JMO

 

[rhino 2]

And the rumor mill rears its head again....What does this have to do with Harley freewheelers....

Or as my old man' God rest his soul would always say, What in hell does this have to do with the price of tea in China...

 

[MDO]

And the rumor mill rears its head again....What does this have to do with Harley freewheelers....

Or as my old man' God rest his soul would always say, What in hell does this have to do with the price of tea in China...

Well, Harley Davidson contracts Brembo to make brake parts for them. They are used on the Freewheeler, I don't know about the Tri-Glide, you can update me on it's brakes.

In Brembo's case, quit often they make the calibers & master cylinders.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Well, Harley Davidson contracts Brembo to make brake parts for them. They are used on the Freewheeler, I don't know about the Tri-Glide, you can update me on it's brakes.

In Brembo's case, quit often they make the calibers & master cylinders.

Brembo brakes are a huge improvement on a Harley

If they have problems, they will fix them

They are a premiere brake manufacturer leading the European market for years

IMO Harley's brakes were NEVER the best, enter Brembo NOW we have better brakes

Brembo also has retro fits for older model Harley's now

The TriGlides brakes look the same to me as the Freewheeler

 

[MDO]

I love the brakes on the Freewheeler. IMO, the linked braking system is great & when you add in the stopping power of the other four pistons up front, the trike comes to a quick, straight stop.

Brembo has supplied quality brakes for sport bikes for years.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I love the brakes on the Freewheeler. IMO, the linked braking system is great & when you add in the stopping power of the other four pistons up front, the trike comes to a quick, straight stop.

Brembo has supplied quality brakes for sport bikes for years.

Yeah boy

My 15 and 17 stop on a dime

Compared to all the Harley's Ive owned, this is by far the best braking supplied by Harley

I am thinking on Lyndall pads when the stockers are worn out

Less dust = more stopping IMO

 

[Pegasus1300]

Not a Harley product but Can Am Spyder went to the Brembos in 2013 with a different ABS set up and the breaks are better now then before. There has been no reports of any caliper or master cylinder problems on Spyders.

 

[MDO]

Yeah boy

My 15 and 17 stop on a dime

Compared to all the Harley's Ive owned, this is by far the best braking supplied by Harley

I am thinking on Lyndall pads when the stockers are worn out

Less dust = more stopping IMO

Thanks Jack. You know how I like to line up my replacement parts in advance

 

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks Jack. You know how I like to line up my replacement parts in advance

I got to quit giving away my secrets

https://www.lyndallbrakes.com/

Check here

For a short time they stopped production of the rear pads

I dunno why

They IMO are as better brake than stock pads

 

[MDO]

UPDATE TO THE HD BRAKES!!!

Here is a link to the story:



WITI FOX 6 Milwaukee: Harley-Davidson recalls nearly 175K bikes because brakes can fail. ​

http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwl964wzY

​

 

[dannymax]

No recalls or product programs on my '17 Freewheeler....FWIW

 

[LadyonaMission]

The Freewheeler came out in 2015 so it's not an issue.​

The linked article clearly states "Documents posted Wednesday by the ​

U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

say the recall covers more than 30 models from the 2008 through 2011 model years." ​

 

[MDO]

I am glad it's not affecting our Freewheelers & I started this thread before that latest HD recall because I saw a lot of other recalls on Brembo brakes on European models.

I personally agree with Jack in that I love the brakes on the FW & think, in general, Brembo is an improvement for HD.

I know you are supposed to flush the brake fluid every couple years, but also know people with 10 & 15 year old cars with ABS & all people have done is change the pads & the brakes work fine.

My point here is, the Harleys should not fail after 6 or 7 years, whether flushed or not.

I know this spring I am flushing my cars brake system. I have a friend that every year, vacuums the fluid out of the master cylinder (turkey baster) & adds fresh & he says that's good enough.

To me, it's way easier on a bike/trike that a car & after you have done it once, it's an under an hour job after the rear wheels are off. The clutch cylinder is a little harder to get to, but still not that bad.

I am strange in that I do not mind doing a little preventive maintenance on my ride & love saving the dealer labor charges + I know it's done right. Yes, I have trust issues.

 

[Jack Klarich]

I know this spring I am flushing my cars brake system. I have a friend that every year, vacuums the fluid out of the master cylinder (turkey baster) & adds fresh & he says that's good enough.

That is better than not doing any thing IMO

I also with a lint free cloth wipe the inside of the resivour

You would be surprised at the gunk that can build up

Follow up with a bleed @ each wheel for peace of mind

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Dot3 dot4 dot5 dot5.1

I thought I would enclose this chart so that those interested might become a little more informed. The Harley-Davidson recall is for only models with ABS but these same fluid pollutants are floating around in the non-ABS DOT4 models as well.

 

[dannymax]

I know this spring I am flushing my cars brake system. I have a friend that every year, vacuums the fluid out of the master cylinder (turkey baster) & adds fresh & he says that's good enough.

That is better than not doing any thing IMO

I also with a lint free cloth wipe the inside of the resivour

You would be surprised at the gunk that can build up

Follow up with a bleed @ each wheel for peace of mind

The same gunk in the master reservoirs builds up in the calipers as well....good idea to clean everything, clutch slave also as I s'pect there's one of them in that system too.

 

[Jack Klarich]

The same gunk in the master reservoirs builds up in the calipers as well....good idea to clean everything, clutch slave also as I s'pect there's one of them in that system too.

Yup, tho the clutch actuator is a bit more difficult to get to

Another reason for thorough flushing

 

[dannymax]

Clutch Actuator is what I'm referring to as the Slave Cylinder, right Jack?

They always stick them in the gawd awfullest place....kinda makes you yearn for the old cable op'd clutch! :xzqxz:

 

[Jack Klarich]

Clutch Actuator is what I'm referring to as the Slave Cylinder, right Jack?

They always stick them in the gawd awfullest place....kinda makes you yearn for the old cable op'd clutch! :xzqxz:

Yes, it acts like a slave cylinder

Hydraulic clutches are OK, I just wish HD would have made this 1 adjustable

It can be done but it would take TOO much machining IMO

Your Freewheeler looks like mine A good choice

 

[dannymax]

Yeah, seems the best they can do is adjustable levers, which is just a bandaid approach.

Thanks, my wife picked the color....she's got all the taste in the family.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Clutch Actuator is what I'm referring to as the Slave Cylinder, right Jack?

They always stick them in the gawd awfullest place....kinda makes you yearn for the old cable op'd clutch! :xzqxz:

#33 is the actuator, it is behind the right side tranny cover. It will be a bugger to service

 

[dannymax]

That's an interesting set-up, looks to be completely hydraulic? Fluid changing could probly be accomplished fairly easily with a Mity-Vac tho eh....if #6 is a bleeder.

 

[MDO]

That's an interesting set-up, looks to be completely hydraulic? Fluid changing could probly be accomplished fairly easily with a Mity-Vac tho eh....if #6 is a bleeder.

I have seen a video on the clutch bleeding/flushing procedure and it was very straight forward, the difficulty was getting the cover off. The service manual says you need to remove the exhaust, but you don't.

If you remove the heat shields, you can get enough wiggle room to get the cover off.

After that, it's a very routine job. Look at the thread on servicing the hydraulic clutch.

*NOTE: The maintenance video I saw was done on a 2017 2-wheeled touring model.

I have not gotten to verify this clearance issue on my Freewheeler & it could be different on the trike frame i.e. better or worse.​