Rear brake upgrade question
 

My front calliper has given up on me so I need to fix this so I can end this year's riding season. You've guest it, we have snow up here. With the photo bucket not allowing 3rd party I'm having a had time figuring this out.

I have a 75' FLH with both front and rear banana style callipers. my front end is surely going to get a FabKevin kit but my concern right now is the rear.

How do I fit a softail calliper :icon_clapclap:? what are the main mods I need to do to the actual fitting on the frame and what years am I aiming for?

Thanks

gma took the lead on this in not stupid expensive for brakes in that series bike - PM also but $$$$$ they do a better job, unless you convert to 11 inch instead of the mistake they used in 10 inch rotors you wont have now brakes

Early twincam softail caliper that fit a 3/4 axle...fabricate an anchor bracket and play with the spacers a little not too tuff.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...bfd1570b18.jpg

I have been running GMA front and rear for 20 years and couldn't be happier. This route would save some headaches over retrofitting a later OE caliper and will perform better IMO.

Please forgive my ignorance, what is GMA? :icon_shrug:

GMA is a manufacturer of aftermarket performance brake calipers. You also see PM mentioned above which is Performance Machine. Both are significant improvements over the vintage OE calipers found on shovels.

Here are some pictures of the upgrade I did on my shovelhead.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...3e0db297e4.jpg


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...1ea8ea60d0.jpg

Some guys use a flat bar as a brake stay similar to the banana caliper. I don't trust that so I welded a piece of heavy angle iron to the swing arm as a brake stay in the correct position so as to allow the caliper to slide smoothly for chain adjustments. If you aren't a GOOD welder then have that done by someone who is. You don't want that stay breaking off on you.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...0537e0672d.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...9c560498c0.jpg

The other thing you will have to account for is the thinkness of the axle bracket. You will most likely have to shave that down to the same size as the stock bracket and spacer.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.hdf...8531cddf6d.jpg

Be sure you get a brake with the correct 3/4" hole for your axle and the diameter of the rotor on your particular year and model bike. Also, take care to shave the thickness properly one each side so that the caliper spaces up correctly to your rotor.

not only does it work but this mod looks real nice - great job dude

:icon_that:
Nice job....

I have a PM rear caliper and hardly get any decent breaking out of it.... Maybe it's the pads. Haven't really looked at it yet...

Or the brake fluid is old. Winter work.