1978 cb750k front brake caliper
- Thread starter tommypace
- Start date
d9canada
Just keep pluggin' every day and it'll get done!
Tommy, it's unlikely you'll get a 38 year old part in good working order. Your life depends on good brakes so don't take chances. If you are able to find used ones that still work, rebuild them, it costs very little.
If you have one that's seized and need to get it apart so you can rebuild it, buy a metric grease fitting, put it in the hole where the brake line attaches, put a grease gun on it and you can actually pump the piston out. To help a really tough one to move, put it in a pail and pour boiling water on it until it's covered then pump the grease gun. Remember brakes have a working temp higher than that so don't worry about damaging it. You can buy replacement calipers and rebuild parts at www.vintagecb750.com And rebuild the master too. You'll see why in a second.
While you're at it, chuck the old brake lines and get stainless steel reinforced replacements. On Ebay search for APEX or Galfer brake lines. If you get APEX lines, Raymond Chan can set you up with a hose that runs right up to the caliper, eliminating the short metal line, if your bike has that. A banjo bolt is the same thread as the metal line where it threads into the caliper.
Now, the point of all of this is - with all new or as new parts, use DOT5 brake fluid which won't wreck paint like DOT 3 or 4. And while you've got the front wheel off, check the wheel bearings and spokes. This is how you build reliability into an old bike.
If you have one that's seized and need to get it apart so you can rebuild it, buy a metric grease fitting, put it in the hole where the brake line attaches, put a grease gun on it and you can actually pump the piston out. To help a really tough one to move, put it in a pail and pour boiling water on it until it's covered then pump the grease gun. Remember brakes have a working temp higher than that so don't worry about damaging it. You can buy replacement calipers and rebuild parts at www.vintagecb750.com And rebuild the master too. You'll see why in a second.
While you're at it, chuck the old brake lines and get stainless steel reinforced replacements. On Ebay search for APEX or Galfer brake lines. If you get APEX lines, Raymond Chan can set you up with a hose that runs right up to the caliper, eliminating the short metal line, if your bike has that. A banjo bolt is the same thread as the metal line where it threads into the caliper.
Now, the point of all of this is - with all new or as new parts, use DOT5 brake fluid which won't wreck paint like DOT 3 or 4. And while you've got the front wheel off, check the wheel bearings and spokes. This is how you build reliability into an old bike.
I have one that is in great shape. Caliper is already sandblasted and ready to be polished, brand new pads (still in packaging), brand new OEM Honda seal (still in packaging) and the caliper is in decent piston is in working order, it does have some minor pitting but still very usable. DM me if interested and I'll get you some pictures
