Topic: Front brakes problem revealed, the @#$@#$ pads!

[Sweep]

As mentioned in this thread http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=48820.0 my front brakes were only good for coasting the bike to a stop.  Even though I now have a new master cylinder, direct braided line to the caliper, nicely rebuilt caliper, and I tried two different rotors, one cross drilled.  No luck.

I finally had the brainfart to order a different set of pads off of ebay.  This time I went with a brand called "SAFE*D" instead of the EBC pads I had installed.

Well now I have brakes.  It seems that the EBC A pad was quite a bit wider than the new pad and must not have been allowing enough fluid into the piston or enough leverage of caliper to rotor.  Also the new B pad seated much tighter into it's mount and doesn't budge.  The EBC pad B floated all over the place including in and out.

Here is a picture of the old A pad compared to the new:

[edbikerii]

Any chance you could measure them, or place a ruler next to each of the pads in the pictures?

[jaknight]

Just curious,

What brand, who did you go with, for the braided brake line component?

~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[Sweep]

I'm sorry, I can't measure now that I've just gotten it all together for hopefully the last time but it looks to be at most a 1/8" difference.  Thought I didn't take a picture of the back pad, I suspect that one was also a large problem.

The master cylinders are always on ebay, here is one now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FRONT-BRAKE-MASTER-CYLINDER-CB650-CB750-CB900-NIGHTHAWK_W0QQitemZ140317265545QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotorcycles_Parts_Accessories?hash=item20ab8f8e89&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=72%3A1171|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318  Just search ebay motors using this text: "FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CB650 CB750 CB900 NIGHTHAWK"

I can't remember where on the internet I got my length of brake hose from but I measured the length I'd need by using a string routed correctly to the brake, I think it was like 22" but I can't remember for sure.  I also bought two inline fittings (I didn't use angled banjos at all).  I also needed two male to male adapter fittings since the hose was female on both ends as were my master and caliper.  I'll try to dig up where I got this stuff and add it here laster.

[edbikerii]

I got my braided brake line components from Paragon Performance, but that was quite a long time ago:

http://www.paragonperformance.com/

[Sweep]

I got my stuff from z1 enterprises but I can't find a receipt but this thread has everything I did:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=49773.0