Topic: Brake ID please. Nothing ordered matches...

[UFgatorEE]

So come to find out, none of my brake rebuild parts match up so far.  Bleed screw is a 10mm instead of a 7mm, which I found a replacement for.  The pads don't match either.  Pads I bought have mounting indents, pads I need have mounting tabs.  I'm hoping my master cylinder parts line up.  EDIT: MC brake line bolt is a 12mm, IIRC.

If anyone can ID what bike these brakes are from so I can purchase proper parts, I'd really appreciate the help.  If anyone needs a new bleed screw or new pads, I wouldn't mind reducing the money loss...

Calipers have "Tokico 3" written on the bottom outside.







The pads:






and the Master Cylinder:

[flybox1]

what year/model bike do you have?

those appear to be an early K caliper and you'd need the EBC FA12 pads
MC is pretty standard.  order the rebuild kit for the same year of your bike. 

[UFgatorEE]

what year/model bike do you have?

those appear to be an early K caliper and you'd need the EBC FA12 pads
MC is pretty standard.  order the rebuild kit for the same year of your bike.

1978 CB550K.  So earlier model year.  Can you give an example for the parts fiche?  1975, maybe?  I don't know these bikes very well.

Also, doing an image search for the FA12 pads shows a proper back pad (not sure what to call it), but my piston  pad has a raised nub, and the photos don't show that.  Did they change that?

[flybox1]

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb-four_model7148/

[UFgatorEE]

I mean no disrespect, but I don't know what you want me to do with that link.  It takes me to a page where I have to choose a model, then I have to choose a year (model revision).  I've already stated I bought parts for my model that don't match.  And it's overseas.   

[flybox1]

none taken...The link is for you to look at the various types of 550's, find yours, and look up Honda part numbers for items you need.
Your caliper, however, does not look like its from your 78 550K. 

The FA12 pads come with the 'nub' in the package.
Its actually a screw that fits into the top of the pad to keep it from rotating in the caliper.

what is overseas? 

Duanob, dave500, and TwoTired are the members you want to chime in...

[UFgatorEE]

The company you linked.  All the prices were in pounds, I think.

Anyways, I was browsing BikeBandit's fiches (I guess your reply hit home, but indirecty...lol).  Looks like a 1974 CB750K matches.

EDIT:  Which looks like it uses the FA12 pads.  Thanks!

[LesterPiglet]

Weird e's are Euro.  £ is a pound.
I've never seen that ribbed caliper before.

EDIT I've just seen that caliper on a 750 k2

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb750k2-four-usa_model14362/partslist/F06.html#results

[flybox1]

The company you linked.  All the prices were in pounds, I think.

yes, i did not intend for you to purchase from them.   just use that site to locate the part numbers for what you need, as i stated, then, google the part number, and find all the US dealers and prices.

[Dave Voss]

Your caliper, however, does not look like its from your 78 550K. 

I have a 1978 CB550K, and I just completed a brake rebuild last month, and I can tell you that the pads you ordered and received are correct for your make/model/year, however the brake caliper in your picutres is not the stock caliper, apparently it was changed at some point.

[LesterPiglet]

See my previous post.

[flybox1]

See my previous post.

Exactly.  I have two 750K1 calipers just like that on my K8

[Lost and Confused]

Looks like my 74 750k. Looks like a lower brake line might be in order?


Bob

[bryanj]

Not the correct caliper for your bike, somebody in the past has fitted 750 parts. you need to check the diameter of the disc to see if that has been changed as well, possibly even the forks and wheel

[scottly]

That is a '73-'76 750K caliper; the '72 and earlier had a "C" shaped mounting bracket instead of the "T" shaped one pictured. The disc is a 500; there is a sizable gap between the outer diameter of the disc and the underside of the caliper. The 750 disc is about 3/4" larger in diameter. About 3/8" of the pads are above the edge of the disc with this configuration, rendering that area ineffective. The best solution, IMHO, would be to fit a matching 750 disc. It will bolt right on to the 550 wheel, and will be an upgrade over the 550 setup.

[bryanj]

As I remember it all the calipers were the same size just the bracket changed, best overall solution would be to fit a 500 caliper complete (same as 500four, 500 twin, 400 four and 360 twin)

[scottly]

best overall solution would be to fit a 500 caliper complete (same as 500four, 500 twin, 400 four and 360 twin)

I disagree. Why not just step up to the larger 750 disc, since he already has the 750 caliper? Is this case, bigger is better.

[UFgatorEE]

That is a '73-'76 750K caliper; the '72 and earlier had a "C" shaped mounting bracket instead of the "T" shaped one pictured. The disc is a 500; there is a sizable gap between the outer diameter of the disc and the underside of the caliper. The 750 disc is about 3/4" larger in diameter. About 3/8" of the pads are above the edge of the disc with this configuration, rendering that area ineffective. The best solution, IMHO, would be to fit a matching 750 disc. It will bolt right on to the 550 wheel, and will be an upgrade over the 550 setup.

I noticed the odd pad wear, but it didn't click until you said something. A better brake is good.  The brake leaves a lot to be desired compared to my last bike (my last bike had two 4-pot calipers).  Thanks for the heads up.

[Bailgang]

best overall solution would be to fit a 500 caliper complete (same as 500four, 500 twin, 400 four and 360 twin)

I disagree. Why not just step up to the larger 750 disc, since he already has the 750 caliper? Is this case, bigger is better.

Interesting idea but will the 550 caliper mounts accommodate the the larger O.D. 750 rotor? If so then I might just give that a try on my 550 because I have all the front brake hardware from a 77 750K. RATS!! come to think of it no I don't because I just recently took the 750 rotor I had, cross drilled it and gave it to my kid for his 750. Oh well but if everything will interchange then I'll just pick up another rotor off ebay.

[Dave Voss]

Interesting idea but will the 550 caliper mounts accommodate the the larger O.D. 750 rotor?

From the original poster's pictures, the caliper and mount were changed at the same time, and possibly the pivoting T-bracket as well, in which case fitment of a larger diameter brake rotor would depend on whether or not the location of the mounting holes on the fork legs are the same between the 550 and 750.  Perhaps the fork legs were also swapped in this case, could be the results of being put back together from alternate parts following an incident, accident, etc. at some point.

[bryanj]

If its a 500/550 caliper mount and sliders the 750 disc is too big

[Bailgang]

From the original poster's pictures, the caliper and mount were changed at the same time, and possibly the pivoting T-bracket as well, in which case fitment of a larger diameter brake rotor would depend on whether or not the location of the mounting holes on the fork legs are the same between the 550 and 750.  Perhaps the fork legs were also swapped in this case, could be the results of being put back together from alternate parts following an incident, accident, etc. at some point.

I have all the pivoting and mounting hardware including caliper from a 750K that I would need but it's the height of the mounting holes on the fork legs that concern me, I'll check and see because I do have the 750 forks as well. Not crazy about the idea of swapping forks if that's what is needed to make it work because I'm just now wrapping up putting new progressive fork springs in the 550's forks. 

[KRONUS0100]

mrcycles.com   is another site you can check out.........you can compare different bikes in seperate windows if you need to cross reference part numbers.

[UFgatorEE]

Interesting idea but will the 550 caliper mounts accommodate the the larger O.D. 750 rotor?

From the original poster's pictures, the caliper and mount were changed at the same time, and possibly the pivoting T-bracket as well, in which case fitment of a larger diameter brake rotor would depend on whether or not the location of the mounting holes on the fork legs are the same between the 550 and 750.  Perhaps the fork legs were also swapped in this case, could be the results of being put back together from alternate parts following an incident, accident, etc. at some point.

I couldn't tell you (and i doubt my dad could either) why the parts were interchanged.  My dad bought this bike as a barn bike, so the history is unknown.  He spent a lot of time restoring it, but he didn't know about the front brake until I asked him.

I think the benefits are minor.  Slightly larger rotor size (so more braking torque) and potentially better caliper cooling due to the heat sink shape.  The piston size is the same, so clamping force is the same.  It's the only part I ordered for the caliper that actually fit...

[UFgatorEE]

Looks like my 74 750k. Looks like a lower brake line might be in order?


Bob

I just noticed this post, and yes, a replacement hard line is in order.  It's a tight squeeze to get it to fit where it is.  It works (not sure if it's been tweaked to fit), but the ends screw in easily enough.  One thing I noticed is the rubber grommet on the fender is twisted to be more parallel to the floor, due to the higher routing of my current line.  I assume I can use a 750 hard line.  I'll have to find some pictures and/or get measurements.

[LesterPiglet]

If it were mine I would just replace it with stainless braided hose. Prettier and better.

[crazypj]

For the caliper to be sitting that high on disc they have to be 750 forks?
Wouldn't using 750 caliper on 550 forks would move pads over the rivets?

[scottly]

The 550 arm mounts at a downward angle compared to a 750 arm, to account for the smaller rotor, 275mm Vs 295mm. Also, a 550 caliper will not bolt on to a 750 arm, due to the different bolt hole spacing. The "T" brackets are interchangeable. I believe the mounting lugs on the fork lowers are the same distance from the axle center line on both models, but I only have a 750 to measure. I found out about all these differences when trying to fit a 550 caliper to my 750; the caliper arm wouldn't clear the 750 disc. If there is about 12mm or more clearance between the outer edge of the 550 disc and the underside of the arm, the 750 disc will clear. The disc hubs on both models are exactly the same.
The arm on the left is a 550 arm, and the one on the right is a K7 750 arm (which is different than a K3-K6 arm)

[scottly]

RATS!! come to think of it no I don't because I just recently took the 750 rotor I had, cross drilled it and gave it to my kid for his 750. Oh well but if everything will interchange then I'll just pick up another rotor off ebay.

I have some cross drilled 750 rotors on hand, and would be willing to accept your rotor as a core.

[bryanj]

Scotty is right, its a long time since i worked on a 750, I know the later 750 calipers bolted on like the 500 rather than will allen screws from the back as the earlier ones

[Bailgang]

I have some cross drilled 750 rotors on hand, and would be willing to accept your rotor as a core.

I really appreciate the offer but no worries. I talked to my kid yesterday and he's planning on putting the cross drilled rotor on today and sending me back his old one so I'll still have a 750 rotor to play with.

[crazypj]

The 550 arm mounts at a downward angle compared to a 750 arm, to account for the smaller rotor, 275mm Vs 295mm. Also, a 550 caliper will not bolt on to a 750 arm, due to the different bolt hole spacing. The "T" brackets are interchangeable. I believe the mounting lugs on the fork lowers are the same distance from the axle center line on both models, but I only have a 750 to measure. I found out about all these differences when trying to fit a 550 caliper to my 750; the caliper arm wouldn't clear the 750 disc. If there is about 12mm or more clearance between the outer edge of the 550 disc and the underside of the arm, the 750 disc will clear. The disc hubs on both models are exactly the same.
The arm on the left is a 550 arm, and the one on the right is a K7 750 arm (which is different than a K3-K6 arm)

Thanks for the pic, I wish I had known that in 1978 when I did dual disc conversion, would have been a lot easier than machining 750 rotors to 550 size