'81 FLH with banana caliper...

[Mother]

Whats the trick to getting the best performance from one of these? Bled it 3 times, still needs 'pumped' up acouple times to get pressure. New chrome caliper, old chrome controls. Maybe the piston/lever needs rebuilt. any opinions. I have asked a few people and they all said good luck those suck.

[VRSCR]

Thats exactly what I heard when I was messing with mine. I found that pushing fluid through the bleeder and to the caliper worked best. Double check for a leak also! O' good luck....

[Dr.Hess]

Good luck. Those suck. Especially when they droop down 1K miles after a rebuild, then the pin holding it together rides on the disk, cuts the pin in half, pop, the caliper splits open when you try to stop.

Make sure the bleeder nipple is at the highest part of the caliper. Try sucking air through the bleeder with a vacuum pump thing. But, it sounds like you have a very small air leak in the system. Clean everything very well with brake cleaner, especially around any junction/union. Put new crush washers on if they take that kind. Pump it up really, really good and check for the tiniest drop or moist area. It will suck air in when you try to bleed it. You could go through 20 reservoirs of fluid and not bleed it. Or, the MC or caliper may need a kit.

[Hollywood63]

Wilwood use to make a check valve that would go inline a hold a 5-10 psi pressure in the line. Because the way the caliper is mounted (higher) then the master cylinder the fluid drains back to the master cylinder(somewhat) Causing you to pump it up. I looked in drag but they don't show them. Might want to call Wilwood Brakes. It worked on my 73 FLH

[VRSCR]

How do I get the droop out of mine? I checked it. It's just barely riding on the rotor now. I amagine the more I ride it. The more it will droop.

[Dr.Hess]

VRSCR, what we used to do is put a small block chevy valve spring between the caliper and swingarm. I had one bounce out and lock up my rear wheel in a freak accident, causing me to go down. It sucked. Then the aftermarket places like Custom Chrome came out with a spring on a piece of angle iron, chrome plated, of course, that went on your swingarm and you axle went through the angle iron so it won't come out. That is about the only thing you can do with those banana calipers to keep them off the disk. It is a terrible design.

[Jonas]

I have a 81 FLH. Is this the pin you are talking about?

[VRSCR]

Thanks DR. I will check out Drag Specialties
Jonas, Iam not able to look at your attachment. I am a non paying member.

[atrick]

You can use the outside valve spring out of a shovel, its bigger diameter seems to stay put better, mines been in since 78 and 60,000 miles.