Sticky front brake on a harley Davidson Sportster?

Sticky front brake on a harley Davidson Sportster?
I have a 2001 model Sportster. Where i live there is a lot of dust and humidity. probably not goood for any part of the bike. but the front brake handle has a lot of free play. I have to press it about 1 inch before i feel any resistance. i had it servicced a few months ago and the guy said that it’s the Claiper that sticks and has to be opened and pressed back.
Is that true? and is it something i can do by myself? Advise please.

Sticky front brake on a harley Davidson Sportster? Answer:

Answer by ronald c
sounds like you may need/want to rebuild the caliper or replace it
being in a high humidity/moisture area some parts may have corrosion started on the parts but you can’t see it yet.
it’s not hard to rebuild it yourself, but if you’re not familiar with part rebuilding,opt with replacing it.
before doing too much, ask several different mechanics for their opinion first, that way you have an informed opinion to make a informed decision

Answer by TXm42
calipers do indeed get “sticky”.
But the symptom of a sticking caliper is Brake Drag caused by the caliper piston not retracting properly.

Even though the Hydraulic Pressure is released from a sticky Caliper,,,the Sticking Piston/Seals hold the Brake Pads in contact with the rotor.
They Can hold the brake “applied” with a surprising amount of force.

A Secondary symptom of a Stuck Caliper is “HARD LEVER”,,,very short hand lever travel.

Think about it>>>>
IF the Pad is already “stuck” out and pressing against the Brake Rotor,,,
Then Pressing Brake Lever which pushes Fluid Thru the system to push out Pads ,,,does not have to move very far at all.
The Line Pressure is “Dead Head-ing” against a stopped Pad.
The Fluid has no where to go,,,so Lever Travel is Very Limited,,and Lever Feel is Very Hard and Firm.

Sticking Caliper==
a)Dragging Brakes
b)Hard Lever with little travel

………………………………………………………………
A Faulty Master Cylinder is what produces symptoms of Soft,Spongy Brake Lever which has a Lot of excess lever travel.

Or,,,Air in the brake lines,,such as an improperly bled system

…………………………….
Brake system hydraulics operate on very,very simple principles.
One result of that is Trouble Shooting is very,very Reliable.

The Type and scope of Faults and Failures is LIMITED.
Each type fault produces specific symptoms which are unmistakeable.

Quirks and exceptions are RARE.
But even so,,,when you consider how Long Hydraulic Brakes have been around,,,
and the probaly TRILLIONS of Brake Apply/Release cycles which entire “brake world” has experienced over many Decades….
There’s NO MYSTERIES about Brake Hydraulics even in the presence of the quirkiest quirks.

If an actual Caliper Problem could be counted on the list of possibilities,,,
It would be on the BOTTOM of the list

It’s Disturbing that anyone working on Brakes or Diagnosing Brakes would imagine a sticky caliper causing excess lever travel.

Far Most likely,,You have a Master Cyl Problem.

………………………………..
Quirks?
I dont have time to list them all.

Fluid Probs are common sources of Quirks.
Contaminated fluids Off-gassing or Boiling,,which creates “spontaneous” bubbles throughout the system.
The effect is same as an Unbled system,,,”air in lines”
Gasses are compressible,,,so lever becoms very soft & spongy,,Long Travel while it compresses the air

Silicone Fluids even when in-spec and good condition will occasionally do it at extreme altitudes.

Extreme Braking over an extended interval with marginal fluid will boil the fluid,result=soft lever/pedal

Dragging Brakes>excess heat>again,,Boiling Fluid

Things of that nature.
Where Brake symptoms leave realm of mechanics which everyone is quite familiar with,,and enters realm of Chemistry.
Which is a Less familiar science to many technicians,mechanics,etc.

The Brakes PHYSICALLY,Mechanically are fine….
The “Mystery Mush” in the Lever/Peddle is a matter of fluids chemistry under certain,intermittent conditions.
Makes it SEEM like a “gremlin”

Especially when it’s a clean,fresh system w/ new fluid who’s Boiling Point “rises and falls” an inordinante amount due to barometric pressure conditions.

Yeah,,there’s quirks and oddities.But they’re Scarce.

In 99%+++ of instances of soft lever/long travel,,,
If Fresh Fluid and Proper Bleeding dont fix it,,
It’s Master Cylinder fault.

Be Careful on that thing till ya get it Fixed.

Good Luck

Answer by Low_Jac
Take it back to Harley shop….Have them fix it….