11.5 rotor/Brembo caliper
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Cruiser
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From: Kansas
11.5 rotor/Brembo caliper
Can you use 08 and newer Brembo calipers on an 2007 SG with 11.5 rotors. I know the 08 and new bikes with Brembos have 11.8 rotors. stock. Anyone done this? Any problems?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: eastern oklahoma
you could begin with comparing the thickness of the rotors, and where the contact patch is going to be with the brembo pads in relation to the friction surface of the 07rotors. consider also whether the brembo caliper would be capable of riding on center line of the rotor too. that shouldn't be hard to adjust if needed. 0.15" is what your caliper would see as the difference in the radius of the circle/rotor and that would seem to be insignificant. i'm sure someone has tried it, hopefully they'll chime in.
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Cruiser
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From: Kansas
07 and 08 use the same brake fluid. 2005 and newer use DOT 4. The master cyl bore may be different. I'll need to check on that.
Last edited by oldguy1946; Jan 27, 2011 at 11:31 PM.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Kansas
you could begin with comparing the thickness of the rotors, and where the contact patch is going to be with the brembo pads in relation to the friction surface of the 07rotors. consider also whether the brembo caliper would be capable of riding on center line of the rotor too. that shouldn't be hard to adjust if needed. 0.15" is what your caliper would see as the difference in the radius of the circle/rotor and that would seem to be insignificant. i'm sure someone has tried it, hopefully they'll chime in.
I don't have the Brembo calipers or rotors so I can't measure. I was wanting the info from someone that has done this before I bought the Brembo calipers so I wouldn't waste my money. I don't want to spend more money on new rotors since my after market chrome rotors are like new.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Longview, Washington
I don't have the Brembo calipers or rotors so I can't measure. I was wanting the info from someone that has done this before I bought the Brembo calipers so I wouldn't waste my money. I don't want to spend more money on new rotors since my after market chrome rotors are like new.
As you already stated, the rotors are different. I was told that you have to change the rotors to match the calipers. So that's what I did.
I can't say for sure what the issue would be if you used your older rotors with the Brembo calipers. I do remember reading somewhere here on the forum that the pad contact area would be reduced. By how much, I can't say.
My advice is . . . install the correct rotors and sell you chrome rotors on ebay.
Or skip this upgrade and live with the brakes they way they are.
I can say that the Brembos were much better brakes than the stock 07. I went with floating rotors so I had zero flutter in the brakes. They stopped the bike so well that I was considering heavier fork oil to lessen the front end dive from the better brakes.
Funny thing, I traded that bike for an 11 and now I have ABS Brembos that REALLY work well.
Sorry I can't be more help. Just my experience.
Last edited by sifularson; Jan 28, 2011 at 12:24 AM.
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Cruiser
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From: Kansas
I upgraded my 07 Road Glide to Brembo brakes. I changed the entire system including master cylinder, brake lines, calipers, and rotors.
As you already stated, the rotors are different. I was told that you have to change the rotors to match the calipers. So that's what I did.
I can't say for sure what the issue would be if you used your older rotors with the Brembo calipers. I do remember reading somewhere here on the forum that the pad contact area would be reduced. By how much, I can't say.
My advice is . . . install the correct rotors and sell you chrome rotors on ebay.
Or skip this upgrade and live with the brakes they way they are.
I can say that the Brembos were much better brakes than the stock 07. I went with floating rotors so I had zero flutter in the brakes. They stopped the bike so well that I was considering heavier fork oil to lessen the front end dive from the better brakes.
Funny thing, I traded that bike for an 11 and now I have ABS Brembos that REALLY work well.
Sorry I can't be more help. Just my experience.
As you already stated, the rotors are different. I was told that you have to change the rotors to match the calipers. So that's what I did.
I can't say for sure what the issue would be if you used your older rotors with the Brembo calipers. I do remember reading somewhere here on the forum that the pad contact area would be reduced. By how much, I can't say.
My advice is . . . install the correct rotors and sell you chrome rotors on ebay.
Or skip this upgrade and live with the brakes they way they are.
I can say that the Brembos were much better brakes than the stock 07. I went with floating rotors so I had zero flutter in the brakes. They stopped the bike so well that I was considering heavier fork oil to lessen the front end dive from the better brakes.
Funny thing, I traded that bike for an 11 and now I have ABS Brembos that REALLY work well.
Sorry I can't be more help. Just my experience.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Roswell, GA
Send a PM to Fast Harley (Howard) who is "in the business" of Harley brakes/suspension; knows more about the topic than anyone else here; and, is very generous in sharing his knowledge.
A couple of things to bear in mind regarding HD's Brembo system. HD changed the master cylinder, brake lines, calipers and rotors. The Brembo system is a higher pressure hydraulic system than previous models. I mention the new parts because they are a "system." Introducing new rotors (with the funky "rivet" and greater diameter) for the Brembos repesents an increase cost to HD; it would have been cheaper to stay with the pre-Brembo rotors from a manufacturing standpoint; ditto the new brake lines and m/c. From that one can infer the changes were "required" for the new system to function as designed.
In my own experience, I installed the Brembo calipers and rotors, but retained my stainless brake lines and m/c. The improved braking was certainly moderate, if any. Certainly it was no worse.
When I finally installed the m/c, the difference was dramatically greater braking power than the OEM system and the pre-m/c Brembo calipers and rotors w/o the Brembo m/c.
The reason for the delay in installing the Brembo m/c was due to the fact that I had chrome controls with the OEM m/c, and was waiting to see if I could find a chrome set of Brembo m/c and clutch perch and levers. Eventually, I simply sent the OEM Brembo m/c and clutch perch out for chrome plating and purchased some new levers. Sort of like the OP trying to retain the chrome plated rotors.
PM Howard and see what he has to say. For me, the Brembo conversion (once completed) has been a substantial increase in braking power at the front of the bike. I left the OEM rear caliper and rotor because I didn't want more braking power there.
http://
A couple of things to bear in mind regarding HD's Brembo system. HD changed the master cylinder, brake lines, calipers and rotors. The Brembo system is a higher pressure hydraulic system than previous models. I mention the new parts because they are a "system." Introducing new rotors (with the funky "rivet" and greater diameter) for the Brembos repesents an increase cost to HD; it would have been cheaper to stay with the pre-Brembo rotors from a manufacturing standpoint; ditto the new brake lines and m/c. From that one can infer the changes were "required" for the new system to function as designed.
In my own experience, I installed the Brembo calipers and rotors, but retained my stainless brake lines and m/c. The improved braking was certainly moderate, if any. Certainly it was no worse.
When I finally installed the m/c, the difference was dramatically greater braking power than the OEM system and the pre-m/c Brembo calipers and rotors w/o the Brembo m/c.
The reason for the delay in installing the Brembo m/c was due to the fact that I had chrome controls with the OEM m/c, and was waiting to see if I could find a chrome set of Brembo m/c and clutch perch and levers. Eventually, I simply sent the OEM Brembo m/c and clutch perch out for chrome plating and purchased some new levers. Sort of like the OP trying to retain the chrome plated rotors.
PM Howard and see what he has to say. For me, the Brembo conversion (once completed) has been a substantial increase in braking power at the front of the bike. I left the OEM rear caliper and rotor because I didn't want more braking power there.
http://
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 126
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From: CA
+1
on Harleypingman's experience, I was waiting on a black lever for my Brembo master cylinder but went ahead and changed over the calipers, rotors, and brake lines. Braking was better but required much more effort at the lever to see an improvement. Got the master cylinder mounted and the difference was dramatic, first few stops I was bouncing the front end like a pogo stick until I got used to the increased braking with less lever effort. These brakes make a huge difference, but you need the whole package. I'd change the rotors, .15 doesn't seem like much loss to your brake swept area but since you have less than 2 inches total you've just given up 7-8% of your braking by keeping the smaller rotors, which means you'll increase stopping distance and heat by the same 7-8% so the advantage you'd gain by going to the Brembos is negated.
on Harleypingman's experience, I was waiting on a black lever for my Brembo master cylinder but went ahead and changed over the calipers, rotors, and brake lines. Braking was better but required much more effort at the lever to see an improvement. Got the master cylinder mounted and the difference was dramatic, first few stops I was bouncing the front end like a pogo stick until I got used to the increased braking with less lever effort. These brakes make a huge difference, but you need the whole package. I'd change the rotors, .15 doesn't seem like much loss to your brake swept area but since you have less than 2 inches total you've just given up 7-8% of your braking by keeping the smaller rotors, which means you'll increase stopping distance and heat by the same 7-8% so the advantage you'd gain by going to the Brembos is negated.