Topic: Brake Pads and the little plastic ring

[JDrider]

I have a 1975 cb550K1.
I have read that those years dont need the plastic ring that goes behind the pad.
Since I am having issues with soft lever, I thought i'd ask.
Mine doesnt have the plastic ring. Should it?
What is the purpose.
Thanks.

[jlh3rd]

It's called a seal. Surely Honda wouldn't have it if it wasn't needed....

[bryanj]

That little plastic ring has no effect on lever at all, its there to try and stop noise but dont work. By now i would guess way over 70% of the bikes that had them originally dont now, soft lever is something else

[bryanj]

That cap is supposed tobe peened into the piston and is not available seperate

[TwoTired]

The plastic nylon ring helps keeps the brake puck (a shallow cylinder) aligned or square in the caliper cylinder, so it won’t get jammed or sticky with coincident uneven wear.

If you are confident you won’t ride the bike long enough for uneven wear to occur, you don’t need the plastic ring. 

I’m not that confident.  And, I would rather later owners of the bike don’t have to deal with sticky brakes and missing parts.

[bryanj]

The cap was always peened on the 500/550, only the 750 was loose and that nylon ring was always there from new, loose and never part of the pad it just sticks on there.
Never came as a seperate part only with a genuine honda pad.
I been pdi these since 74

[CycleRanger]

The cap was always peened on the 500/550, only the 750 was loose and that nylon ring was always there from new, loose and never part of the pad it just sticks on there.
Never came as a separate part only with a genuine honda pad.
I been pdi these since 74

You are absolutely correct sir and I am an idiot this morning. Not enough coffee perhaps, or too much, I never can tell.