Quick brake question

[Clumzi]

Are the brake/caliper assemblies the same on all the 550 models from '77 to '82? I have the .pdf shop manual for the 8v that has directions for the calipers front and rear... are they all the same? -nick

[hampshirehog]

They changed design during this period on the fronts. However, on the 550E models they still fit (in the UK anyway) - just look different and have different pads etc. Might be different on the US 550L models.

The rear caliper stayed the same on the 8V models and was a standard part that fitted the 550 to 1000 range.

[Clumzi]

Good to hear. The rear is the one that needs to be completely disassembled and cleaned. I think the front just needs a new pad. Thanks! -nick

[Nessism]

Good to hear. The rear is the one that needs to be completely disassembled and cleaned. I think the front just needs a new pad. Thanks! -nick

Do yourself a favor and tear down all your calipers. The brake fluid turns to chunks after a while and it's good to do a proper clean out. Very simple job which will assure everything is clean and also give you an opprotunity to lubricate the sliding caliper pins - an often overlooked task.

[Big T]

Plus, the "rebuild kit" is essentially that flat O ring the piston rides on

[bwringer]

Order the OEM rebuild kits from Suzuki -- they come complete with new pistons.

They're also usually cheaper than the low-quality aftermarket kits -- most aftermarket kits contain only low-rent copies of the proper seals and do not include pistons. And you almost always need new pistons, since they're usually badly rusted and pitted.

Guess how I learned all this... Go on, guess.

[hampshirehog]

Order the OEM rebuild kits from Suzuki -- they come complete with new pistons.

They're also usually cheaper than the low-quality aftermarket kits -- most aftermarket kits contain only low-rent copies of the proper seals and do not include pistons. And you almost always need new pistons, since they're usually badly rusted and pitted.

Guess how I learned all this... Go on, guess.

I'd certainly agree with this regarding the rubber bits - some I've seen have been only slightly better material than Chivers jelly! With the pistons though, if I can I get stainless - rust problem sorted for ever.

[bwringer]

I'd certainly agree with this regarding the rubber bits - some I've seen have been only slightly better material than Chivers jelly! With the pistons though, if I can I get stainless - rust problem sorted for ever.

OK, where would you find stainless steel pistons for vintage brake calipers? I wouldn't even know where to begin to look.

[hampshirehog]

Brian, I don't believe it - we've got something in the UK you haven't. That has to be a first
Good old Wemoto just down the road from me sell 'em. (Price is a bit steep mind).

http://shop.wemoto.com/pictures.dyn?u=5836498qqq3395473

The bonus bit is that their seal is ok though the boot is a once only fit (swells and won't fit in again once removed).

[Nessism]

OK, where would you find stainless steel pistons for vintage brake calipers? I wouldn't even know where to begin to look.

I looked the other day and couldn't find any. Maybe in the UK, but none to be found in the US...that I could find anyway.

[bwringer]

Brian, I don't believe it - we've got something in the UK you haven't. That has to be a first
Good old Wemoto just down the road from me sell 'em. (Price is a bit steep mind).

http://shop.wemoto.com/pictures.dyn?u=5836498qqq3395473

The bonus bit is that their seal is ok though the boot is a once only fit (swells and won't fit in again once removed).

Cool! I live in Indianapolis, the motorsports capital of the world. (Indycar, NASCAR, drag racing, etc.) There are hundreds of little specialty shoppes for various racing bits and services in this town. Several Indycar and NASCAR race teams have their headquarters within a mile of my house.

The problem is that you have to know a guy who knows a guy who knows the secret password to find any of them. I bet there's a shop somewhere in Indy with a lathe and an old guy named "Earl" all set up to make stainless steel brake pistons in any size you want, but as a civilian I'd never find it in a million years.

Plus, an appalling percentage of the racing stuff here is still measured in inches instead of mm, but that's another rant for another day...

Of course, the UK has a motorsports industry every bit as active.

[p_s]

FWIW, the OEM brake pistons for the '83-'86 GS550E/ES were superseded twice, but they are now stainless. They take about a month to get from Japan through any dealer. I had 8 pitted pistons and no good ones when I tore down 4 brake calipers.