Well, I decided that after a few years of my rear banana caliper trying to kill me that I needed to upgrade the rear brakes on my 1977 FXE. I dont have the dough for a GMA/PM/Wilwood, nor do I want to modify my swingarm for the Softail conversion, So I decided that the most effective, bolt-on and economical choice would be to fit an early 80s FLH/FLT twin piston caliper. Ive read these were the best rear brakes Harley ever made for the shovelhead. I found a caliper with a y-bracket mount that anchors from the bottom for $15, so my first question is: Is this mount for the FLT or the FLH? My second question is: Did the FLH use the same massive 12” rotor as the FLT? Or did it use an 11.5? Also, Im hoping to use my stock Wagner 3/4” bore master cylinder. Anyone else out there done a similar upgrade?
Here's the caliper I bought:

And a 1981 FLH with the set-up Im talking about:

 

I have both an 85 FLHTC and a 81 FLT in the shop with the early caliper but a different bracket then that one

I have seen that bracket before but off hand cant remember what its from

i believe you need to measure the distance from the axle ( center of the hole ) to just proud of the brake pads to see what size rotor it wants

 

Once I get all the parts in the mail, Ill install and report back in case anyones interested. From what Ive read, the FLT/FLH brakes from that period were the best. All done and said, for it cost me around $100 for the caliper/mount, brake line, correct master cylinder and pads.

 

I have a 1984 FLH which came stock with the twin piston caliper. It works good. It has a Y bracket, and the Y bracket visually looks the same as the one in your photo. The brake disc is 12 inches in diameter.

Question, where can I get:

A rebuild kit for that caliper? can't find it on JP cycles etc.
A new brake disc (rotor) undrilled OEM style. can't find one in any of the catalogs including JP.

 

I just bought one of these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Harley-Davi...266542?vxp=mtr

The 12" disc rotor is pretty hard to find. I just got one on eBay for $9.00. Its massive!

 

Thanks Lucky! What key words or part number did you use to search ebay for the 12" disc? I had tried there but was getting a lot of non-applicable stuff.

 

Use the part number 40939-79 to search.

 

Thanks, that part number works! Is that rebuild kit for the two piston caliper? The photo looks like it is for a single piston.

 

Thanks, that part number works! Is that rebuild kit for the two piston caliper? The photo looks like it is for a single piston.