Author Topic: Improving CB400f front brake, other CB's too? 11mm master cylinder swap (Read 27455 times)

dawdish · « **Reply #50 on:** March 25, 2012, 09:27:06 AM »

Though I haven't ridden the bike yet, I installed a MC from a CBR600R. the lever feel is MUCH better than the stock MC, and the lever position is adjustable.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #51 on:** March 25, 2012, 10:49:53 AM »

Quote from: Psychonaut on March 25, 2012, 08:44:59 AM

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 24, 2012, 08:10:03 PM
Psychonaut,
I'm considering installing the caliper you're using from the EX650 Ninja...but was thinking of fabbing a bracket to the right side fork lower rather than the left. I think that EX650 Ninja comes with dual disc's so I believe it's possible;do you think it will work ?

I mounted mine on the left only because the of the speedodrive and I didn't want to mess with relocating and rotation issues. I actually just wanted to swap masters, have a little better braking and be done but that didn't happen. When you get around to it I have an extra spacer or I can send you my drawing with measurements. I just made a paper template for the bracket and trimmed it to fit.

Psycho,
It sounds like you've built a real winner in the Custom front brake system you built on you're CB400F ! I am very interested to do the same thing; how does she modulate when you want to just give it progressively a little more w/o locking it up...lets say braking mid-corner ?
I'm glad you didn't give up on the project,but kept on until completion; it sounds like a 2 thumbs up to me

!

Psychonaut · « **Reply #52 on:** March 25, 2012, 11:17:08 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 25, 2012, 10:49:53 AM

Psycho,
It sounds like you've built a real winner in the Custom front brake system you built on you're CB400F ! I am very interested to do the same thing; how does she modulate when you want to just give it progressively a little more w/o locking it up...lets say braking mid-corner ?
I'm glad you didn't give up on the project,but kept on until completion; it sounds like a 2 thumbs up to me !

I'm not a mid corner braker. I don't even like trail braking a bike.
It is very easy to control lock up. I was intentionally squeezing hard enough to see where it would lock. I think the stock brake is good for most people but it just can't give more if you need it, especially at speeds above 30 mph. Grab that brake at 50 and it doesn't really stop too fast. I started out on a CB400 in the 80's but I never knew how lacking the CB400's brake was as it was my first bike and I didn't really push it too hard until I went to 600's. If you have ridden a modern sport bike (Ninja, CBR, ect) it is pretty much the same just lighter and slower. If you want more out of the brake it's a must have. If you have never pulled the lever on the stock set up as hard as you can you probably wouldn't notice the improvement.

camelman · « **Reply #53 on:** March 25, 2012, 03:26:56 PM »

Can you list out the parts you used and thoughts on using those parts again?

Thanks,
Camelman

grcamna2 · « **Reply #54 on:** March 25, 2012, 03:37:43 PM »

Psychonaut,
Thanks for giving us sohc4 members a better option for stronger front brakes;I think that they use the exact same caliper on the CB500 & CB550's...and God knows our Vintage Honda's need a bit more stopping power. I'd like to speak with you about this a bit more...

.

BTW, I'm not much of a mid corner braker myself but I have got myself in over my head a couple of times..or the odd car pulling out while mid corner..Scary stuff.

Psychonaut · « **Reply #55 on:** March 25, 2012, 04:24:18 PM »

I was talking to Bill and decided to post some of this here as it might be helpfull to some other people reading this.

I used a 4 1/2" grinder with a cutting wheel to remove the fork brackets. You can get cheap ones at HF and you can buy an assorted wheel pack that has the thin cutting wheels along with a grinding wheel and two flapper disks for sanding for under $10. Use the cutting wheesl for as much as you can. Aluminum will gall up the grinding wheel pretty fast. I finished it with a 6" sander with 220 grit paper then hit it with rattle can high build primer, let it flash and then some Duplicolor Perfect Match (BGM0508). Slingshot hooked me up on both brake lines. He is very reasonable on price, rubber or braided.

You could use a 550 hub and just slightly slot the rotor instead of drilling 4 new holes. I had already laced a 1.85 rim with new spokes to my 400 hub and I didn't want to go through that again.

From what I have seen the ZX's use nearly the same rotor. There are people selling new ones on Ebay and they list the specs. I used an EBC rotor only because it was new and cheap as it didn't have a part number. The rotor I used is stamped 4012 measurements are below. They match what people sell as a ZX9 rotor.

13.5mm offset
61mm center
81mm bolt spacing
310mm diameter

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Brake-Disc-Rotor-ZX-9R-NINJA-ZX9R-00-ZXR-400-750-/280835004192?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4163121720&vxp=mtr

Psychonaut · « **Reply #56 on:** March 25, 2012, 04:38:43 PM »

Quote from: camelman on March 25, 2012, 03:26:56 PM

Can you list out the parts you used and thoughts on using those parts again?

Thanks,
Camelman

To do again with the stock caliper I would use the 1/2" (12.7MM) master. This would give better feel and a little more bite. The new brake line was mandatory with the smaller MC to keep the lever of my knuckles. I think the 11mm MC was a little small as it would still hit my knuckles on a hard pull.

As far as with the ZX rotor. I think the only thing I would have liked to do would be to use the 550 hub so I didn't see the old holes in the rotor.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #57 on:** March 25, 2012, 05:03:13 PM »

I personally wouldn't mind seeing the extra holes...it'd be a decent trade off for more stopping power on my 18" 36 spoke CB400F O.E. hub.I believe the CB550 has a 19" rim w/ a 40 spoke front hub which would mean replacing all the spokes and buying another rim...so a few extra holes..OK

.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #58 on:** March 26, 2012, 06:23:05 AM »

Psychonaut,
Can I use a standard ZX-9 left front rotor..and would that be the same dimension that will fit that inner rotor spacer ? Please PM me.

I checked that Ebay link..interesting rotor pattern! What you're saying is those are the exact measurements of the rotor you installed,correct ? Thanks
I am enjoying you're Avatar..it's got a Lot of good Art

lucky · « **Reply #59 on:** March 26, 2012, 06:38:14 AM »

I bought one of the four hundred fours off of the assembly line. The brakes worked very good. No problems.

Psychonaut · « **Reply #60 on:** March 26, 2012, 02:55:23 PM »

Quote from: lucky on March 26, 2012, 06:38:14 AM

I bought one of the four hundred fours off of the assembly line. The brakes worked very good. No problems.

I'm sure they did in 1975. A 1975 Corvette also worked fine but it is slower than most modern econo cars. Some people are happy with less performance some aren't.

Psychonaut · « **Reply #61 on:** March 26, 2012, 03:01:22 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 26, 2012, 06:23:05 AM

Psychonaut,
Can I use a standard ZX-9 left front rotor..and would that be the same dimension that will fit that inner rotor spacer ? Please PM me.

I checked that Ebay link..interesting rotor pattern! What you're saying is those are the exact measurements of the rotor you installed,correct ? Thanks
I am enjoying you're Avatar..it's got a Lot of good Art

Yes, those are the exact measurements of mine. My spacer is just under 61mm. The 61.5mm rotor center is too big.

Greenbat · « **Reply #62 on:** September 30, 2013, 03:30:39 AM »

Thanks for your help. I do like Neevos swing arm, that might be the way to go...

BTW, I'm asking questions about two bikes-the disc question was for my stock 400/4. The other idea I had was to put a left fork leg on the right side, backwards, and have a twin disc setup with one caliper in front and one behind the fork legs.

crazypj · « **Reply #63 on:** September 30, 2013, 09:28:59 AM »

That's the way they do the 'racers'
Personally I would fit 500 or 550 35mm forks with mountings for dual disc.
The 400f 33mm forks are pretty flimsy
I've fitted Suzuki Katana 41mm forks to CB360 and intend to fit some USD to another - mainly for looks rather than practical handling improvements
400f and CB360 are similar size and weight

grcamna2 · « **Reply #64 on:** April 05, 2014, 05:20:27 AM »

Great work Psychonaut. I'll be referring back to this thread plenty ! I Love to have Good brakes and you've shown us how to have Great Front Brakes on our CB400F's.
I hope others consider this type of front brake upgrade,it could save a few lives.

Psychonaut · « **Reply #65 on:** June 24, 2018, 04:29:07 PM »

I had a request for a pic of the spacer I made as the pics are no longer on here so I am re adding it and a few of the bike.

Saperlipopet · « **Reply #66 on:** June 24, 2018, 04:34:47 PM »

This is incredible work!

sbeckman7 · « **Reply #67 on:** June 25, 2018, 01:59:39 AM »

Thanks so much for sharing Psychonaut!

skunitomi · « **Reply #68 on:** February 26, 2019, 04:50:20 PM »

Hey Psychonaut,

I'm trying to replicate the brake setup that you've done. Do the bolts that attach the rotor to the spacer go all the way through the hub as well?

Laverdaroo · « **Reply #69 on:** January 31, 2021, 12:30:03 PM »

Quote from: Psychonaut on March 12, 2012, 03:39:22 PM

Quote from: grcamna2 on March 12, 2012, 06:38:53 AM
Psychonaut,
I want to do the same modification to my CB400F front forks as you're doing.I don't have any connections for Fab work here...but I'm moving soon & I'll be able to hopefully find a good Shop there.
I also am willing to live with some flex on my forks(I don't plan on doing "stoppies" )..I plan on using my front brake hard when I get into some high speed sweepers and the unexpected "panic stop".I want that extra "bite" along with much better modulation of the modern disc brakes; that is a Very nice looking Caliper & it looks like it will have Plenty of Bite .

I don't know your access to tools but I can hook you up with a spacer but for you the hard part would be welding the bracket on. The easiest way I can think of would be to buy an extra triple clamp, mount your forks and wheel and have a shop weld the bracket on. You can make a bracket pretty easily.

Hiya, Im new on this as a new owner of the 400f, been biking for years and undertaken several builds but really interseted in th espacer dimensions. The drawing you bobbed up on here isnt very clear, is there any chance you could send me the details of the dimensions and a piccies of the item pre fitted? Im gonna get this done on mine as it sounds a better fit and keeps the look of the CB rather than the cb550 front end. Flexing forks arent a hassle on a 400 of this weight, it just makes you learn more

grcamna2 · « **Reply #70 on:** January 31, 2021, 01:40:21 PM »

Quote from: Laverdaroo on January 31, 2021, 12:30:03 PM

Quote from: Psychonaut on March 12, 2012, 03:39:22 PM
Quote from: grcamna2 on March 12, 2012, 06:38:53 AM
Psychonaut,
I want to do the same modification to my CB400F front forks as you're doing.I don't have any connections for Fab work here...but I'm moving soon & I'll be able to hopefully find a good Shop there.
I also am willing to live with some flex on my forks(I don't plan on doing "stoppies" )..I plan on using my front brake hard when I get into some high speed sweepers and the unexpected "panic stop".I want that extra "bite" along with much better modulation of the modern disc brakes; that is a Very nice looking Caliper & it looks like it will have Plenty of Bite .

I don't know your access to tools but I can hook you up with a spacer but for you the hard part would be welding the bracket on. The easiest way I can think of would be to buy an extra triple clamp, mount your forks and wheel and have a shop weld the bracket on. You can make a bracket pretty easily.

Hiya, Im new on this as a new owner of the 400f, been biking for years and undertaken several builds but really interseted in th espacer dimensions. The drawing you bobbed up on here isnt very clear, is there any chance you could send me the details of the dimensions and a piccies of the item pre fitted? Im gonna get this done on mine as it sounds a better fit and keeps the look of the CB rather than the cb550 front end. Flexing forks arent a hassle on a 400 of this weight, it just makes you learn more

Hi Laverdaroo,
I can get you the dimensions of the spacer,I just need to get over to my storage:I never installed the spacer,I could sell it to you as I purchased it from Psychonaut back then.
Do you plan on also welding a new mount onto your fork leg as has been done here ?

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Author Topic: Improving CB400f front brake, other CB's too? 11mm master cylinder swap (Read 27455 times)