2022 Sportster Forty-Eight rear brake much weaker after bike fell — does this linkage look right?
I have a 2022 Harley-Davidson Sportster Forty-Eight (XL1200X). The bike fell over on the right side and damaged a few things:
Right/front brake lever broke
Right grip was damaged
Rear brake/forward-control assembly came loose because the mounting screws broke
The rear brake assembly itself looked okay, so I removed the broken screws and replaced them with new screws I got from Advance Auto Parts.
Since putting everything back together, though, my rear brake is noticeably weaker than it was before the fall.
The pedal itself feels fairly normal. There’s a little free travel at first, and then it becomes firm when I press it. The brake does work, but the stopping power is definitely weaker than it used to be.
One thing that doesn’t look right to me is the rear brake linkage/pushrod area in the pictures. The silver part at the connection looks like it’s sitting partly out of its joint/seat rather than being firmly seated. I’m wondering if the fall knocked something out of position and that’s causing the reduced braking.
Does this linkage look normal in the pictures, or does something look damaged/out of position? What should I check before assuming the brake needs to be bled?
I’m also planning to replace the broken right/front brake lever and damaged right grip. How difficult are those jobs on a 2014–2022 Sportster, and what tools would I need?
I should also mention that I have basically no experience working on or repairing motorcycles. I’m willing to learn and DIY simple things, but since this involves the brakes, I’m not sure where I should draw the line. Based on what you see in the pictures, is this something a beginner can realistically diagnose/fix, or would you recommend taking it to a mechanic?
I’ll attach all the pictures showing the damage and rear brake assembly.
Thank youuuu🙏🙏🙏