Topic: Honda Brake Shoe Supplier/dealers FOUND!!!

[puppytrax]

I've been browsing the FAQ, and sending out related emails for the past two days...Some responses, but mostly either negative or no response at all...thought I'd ask here as well...

I have several Hondas from the 70's...three CB550's, a CB500, and a CL450...

Where can I find brake shoes for these machines??

I have had negative responses from Honda [OEM], David Silver Spares, CRC2, Z1, MR Cycles, Dennis Kirk...

I have Honda, Vesrah, and EBC part numbers, but can't find an online distributor/dealer...Pads for the disk brakes are available, it's the shoes for the drum brakes that are near impossible to find...

eBay has none at present...(I was outbid on the one set available)...   

I'd like to just place one order...

Anyone have any favorite brake suppliers??   

[tbone]

Try,
http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/Index_Main_Frame.htm

[bryanj]

I think you will find that all these bikes take the same rear brake shoes and I am Surprised that DS has none, perhaps he is awaiting stock? I can get them in UK easy enough if you want, just let me know and i will check prices!

[GNXFan]

Well I tried to post to this a few minutes ago but I guess it got lost in Cyberspace. Dennis Kirk has all of the shoes for your bikes you listed. Their phone number is: 1-800-969-7504. I just checked in my catalog and they are all there. If you need part numbers let me know.

[bryanj]

The Honda part number is 43120-283-000 and i have checked that fits all the 450, 500 four, 550 four

[puppytrax]

Thank you all for your replies!    I appreciate it!

Let me go through them in order -

tbone - as posted above, CRC2 says they have none.

bryanj - Here is DSS response -

Hello,

45120-283-000 - No longer available and we have no stock
43120-283-000 - No longer available and we have no stock

Regards
Keith

GNXFan - Kirk replied that they had no shoes for the CL450; if you have the numbers, yes, please let me know! The rears should be the same as the CB500/550, as bryanj posted.

bryanj [2nd post] - Yes, that was the original part number for the rear; according to the Fiche, it was superseded by - SHOE KIT, BRAKE  06430-390-405 (replaces 43120-283-000). MR Cycle says No Longer Available from Honda.

The big stumbling block seems to be the front shoes for the CL450; a dual-leading shoe setup. Both Vesrah and EBC make replacements for both front and rears, but they are very difficult (for me!) to locate.

Here's the numbers I have so far -

OEM Honda      Vesrah      EBC

45120-283-000      VB117      317   [Front, CL450]

43120-283-000      VB128      316   [Rear, CL450/CB500-550]

BTW: No one so far has any Vesrah or EBC shoes either...   

My CL450 front shoes are ~1/2 worn down; one of my rear CB550's is oil-soaked; the rear CB500 is pretty worn and seems to be "flaking"...   

Thanks again for your responses!! 

[merc2dogs]

 Have you looked into a relining service?

 there are quite a few places out there that will reline brake shoes, most are done for classic cars and motorcycles that are long out of production, all you need to do is provide a set of useable shoes.

 most use modern materials, though if you special order period correct materials some are happy to comply.

 cost is -normally- about what premium shoes cost, plus shipping etc.

ken.

 
 

[puppytrax]

Have you looked into a relining service?

Not yet. May have to. 

Most of the reliners I have seen advertised, use riveted brake shoes. The Hondas are glued...   

[merc2dogs]

 most are also set up to do bonded shoes.

Ken.

[puppytrax]

most are also set up to do bonded shoes.

Ken.

Ken - Ever have any done?? There is a nation-wide Model A place here in town; might be worth a ride over...

[merc2dogs]

 Not personally, but know a few people who have.
Know a bunch of old car/bike freaks (like me!) couldn't recommend anywhere, but will ask when I see any of the guys.

Ken.

[GNXFan]

Here are the Dennis Kirk Part Numbers:

CB500 shoes - Brand is DP  No: 19-5788  page number 695
CB550 shoes - Brand is Parts Unlimited no: 19-8202  page number 691
CL450 shoes -  Brand is Vesrah  no: 19-1277  page number 702

Catalog is 2007 Metric Bikes

[MoTo-BunnY]

Here are the Dennis Kirk Part Numbers:

CB500 shoes - Brand is DP  No: 19-5788  page number 695
CB550 shoes - Brand is Parts Unlimited no: 19-8202  page number 691
CL450 shoes -  Brand is Vesrah  no: 19-1277  page number 702

Catalog is 2007 Metric Bikes

Thanks for the info! I too, was having trouble tracking new drum brakes down. . . .here is additional info from the Dennis Kirk site:   

Sintered Metal Brake Pads
Dennis Kirk Part #: 195788
Manufacturer Part #: DP9120

 Part 195788 fits the following machines:

    * Honda - CB500K  1971
    * Honda - CB500K  1972
    * Honda - CB500K  1973
    * Honda - CB500T  1975
    * Honda - CB500T  1976

$42.99

http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/product_catalog/Product.jsp?skuId=&store=Main&catId=&productId=p193884&leafCatId=&mmyId=#altImages

[puppytrax]

Here are the Dennis Kirk Part Numbers:

CB500 shoes - Brand is DP  No: 19-5788  page number 695
CB550 shoes - Brand is Parts Unlimited no: 19-8202  page number 691
CL450 shoes -  Brand is Vesrah  no: 19-1277  page number 702

Catalog is 2007 Metric Bikes

Thanks for that info! But Kirk only has the rear shoes for the CL450...no listing for fronts...(I don't have the paper catalog; and the online site doesn't seem to have a catalog listing...only a 3-step find-your-make/model/year listing...

Did you say you had a part number for the CL450 fronts?? (Sorry to be a pain, but I don't seem to be having much luck with Kirk's online Search...)   

And it is strange that all three rears are different numbers/listings; didn't bryanj say they were all the same??   

[GNXFan]

They do not have the front shoes for the CL only the rears. Sorry.

[puppytrax]

They do not have the front shoes for the CL only the rears. Sorry.

Thanks for your trouble, anyway!! I do appreciate it!! I've been looking through all the listings myself, number by number, and couldn't find them. Kirk does seem to have both the Vesrah and EBC rears in stock...

Is there any compelling reason why I couldn't run rears on the front?? 

[bryanj]

Yep the rears dont fit!
Ok here are some numbers from CMSNL.com site
 Rears started as 43120-283-000
Changed to        06430-390-405
Then to             431AO-390-670

And are definately the same for all CB/CL 450, CB500/550 Four models (including the "K") and the CB500Twin---Brake plates, hubs and wheel spacers vary but the shoes are the same

CB/CL fronts are 45120-283-00 and also come from CB 77/92 and CL 72/77.

All this i found by using two different sites:-

WWW.cmsnl.com  and
http://www.motogrid.com/pages/parts/viewbybrand/7/default.aspx.

It does take a bit of time and patience but all the details are there especially on the CMSNL site which has improved a lot

[tbone]

Maybe this one may have something?

http://www.vintagebrake.com/shoes.htm

Good luck!

[tbone]

Check the very bottom of this page!

http://www.olypen.com/retro/brakes.htm

Might be what you're looking for.

(we need a crossed fingers smiley!)

[puppytrax]

Thank you all for your help!   

I have an email in to that Olypen site for the 450 shoes; and I will order the 500/550 shoes from Dennis Kirk (hopefully!).

Moto-Bunny: On one of the literally dozens of sites I've visited, there was a warning about using sintered metal shoes on cycles that were not designed for them. I'm sorry but I didn't pay a lot of attention to it, maybe one of the other members can comment on this...   

[puppytrax]

Let me say again, a big "Thank You!" to all who have commented and offered links. Like you, I seem to spend all my spare time running around picking up parts and supplies and the few minutes I get to actually work on my bikes is limited. I work six days a week, get way too much forced overtime, and have taken to buying my parts/supplies online to cut down on the time & gas required to get what I need. Parts are piling up here, but "Real Life" also intrudes into my activities, so I really appreciate the help from all the forum people here. 

[bryanj]

What you are looking for are Vesrah VB117 or EBC H317 (apparently discontinued) for the 450 front and Vesrah VB 128 or EBC H316 for the rears.

The reason dave Silver said not available was because  you asked for the Honda part number which is discontinued but i think he carries pattern ones, unfortunately you must have got the rare "muppet" that he employs--Seems to be a rule that every firm should have one!!

[puppytrax]

...unfortunately you must have got the rare "muppet" that he employs--Seems to be a rule that every firm should have one!!

You must not have Radio Shack over there...Their motto is, "You've got questions...We've got blank stares!"...   

...And don't get me going about Wal-Mart...   

Well, we'll see what we can come up with on this side of the Atlantic...If their web site can be believed, Dennis Kirk should have the rears, and hopefully that OlyPen can supply a set of fronts...   

Thanks for the help, Bryan!!!   

[MoTo-BunnY]

Anyone else on the sintered iron brake shoes? Can they be used on the SOHC4 or is that a no-go?

Just wanna make sure before I pick some up, as that is one of my next projects . .  . .   

[puppytrax]

Check the very bottom of this page!

http://www.olypen.com/retro/brakes.htm

Might be what you're looking for.

(we need a crossed fingers smiley!)

Hoo-Ah!!!    Terry and Carole had a couple sets of the Vesrah front shoes in stock; they Priority Mailed a set to me; they came in today!!!   

Thank you very much, tbone!!! 

This is an excellent site to bookmark!!! 

The rear sets are on order from Dennis Kirk; ETA unknown...

Thanks again to all!!! Another happy Forum member!!!   

[tbone]

No  problem Puppy!

When I read your dilemma I said to myself, "self, somebody out there has got to have a set of these"! 

glad you were able to get them!

Oh, and, keep'er shiny side will ya! 

[GNXFan]

I too have used Retrobikes in the past when I was restoring either CT70s or small single cylinder Hondas. They used to actually send you the part first and trust you to pay them on the honor system but no more. They got burned. Not a lot of parts for our bikes but good people to deal with anyway.

[puppytrax]

Just a quick follow-up...I mounted one set of the Vesrah VB-128 shoes from Dennis Kirk on the rear of my daily-driver CL450 yesterday...no problem fitting them on...the pivot holes in the aluminum were quite, ah, shall we say, "ample"...   

I was somewhat annoyed, as the OEM Honda shoes fit nice and snug on the pivots...not tight, but there was no play in them...

A half-hour test ride didn't really show up any great increase in stopping power...but as Bryanj pointed out, they need "bedding in"...(there is actually a technique for this that I've used on my Corvette, but I doubt Honda ever did anything like that to their Customer Serviced bikes)...   

Doing the twin-leading front shoes today...I hope...   

Update: I got the Vesrah VB-117 dual-leading shoes installed today. Nothing unusual; except the pivot holes were as sloppy as the rears. The adjustment rod gave me some frustration; with two shoe springs, the outer helper spring, and the cable spring all pulling on the actuating cams, it was impossible to "feel" the rear shoe touching the drum. So, I milled the heads off the peened-on clevis pins, made up a pair of new 6mm SS clevis pins drilled for Cotter pins, and then installed the brake assembly, hub/wheel, speedo drive, and axle and "bench synchronized" the shoes by holding the front actuator/shoe against the drum; pushed the rear actuator/shoe against the drum also, and adjusted the rod so that the two new pins just slid right in...

Worked great! Took it out for a spin; better braking than the old shoes, but until they "bed in", I won't see any dramatic difference in stopping.

The OEM adjusting rod was disappointing; I expected better engineering from Honda. No flat on it; no hex; no knurling...nothing to get a grip on to turn it...