GS550E Front and Rear Brake Caliper rebuild kit

[Guest]

Hi everyone,

Does anybody know of anyone selling an 'overhaul'/'rebuild'/'service kit' for the 1978 GS550E front and rear brake calipers?

i have (as we are all instructed) searched this and other forum threads and cannot find anything. My front and rear are in pretty crappy order so i thought that perhaps do a complete refresh of all moving parts.

Any thoughts, links, recommendations gratefully received.

Thanks as ever

 

[Grimly]

CMSNL have them for your year.
Beware, it's the crappy hockey-puck earlier caliper and if you're happy with that, best of luck.
https://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs550-1978-c-usa-e03_model34240/partslist/BLCK0004.html

 

[Guest]

CMSNL have them for your year.l

Thank you Dave always appreciate your replies mate. CMSNL do seem to take the *@%^$*@%^$*@%^$*@%^$ on price

 

[roeme]

Hi everyone,

Does anybody know of anyone selling an 'overhaul'/'rebuild'/'service kit' for the 1978 GS550E front and rear brake calipers?

i have (as we are all instructed) searched this and other forum threads and cannot find anything. My front and rear are in pretty crappy order so i thought that perhaps do a complete refresh of all moving parts.

Any thoughts, links, recommendations gratefully received.

Thanks as ever

Ebay. for a front example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS-...eal-repair-rebuild-kit-1978-1979/181937526491
(Can recommend this seller, bought from him before, contacted me to verify that I _really_ got the right kit, because 550E '78/'79 models are different between countries).

If need new pistons (been there), I had good experience with https://www.wemoto.com.

If you need a complete new caliper...well, best look locally for a second-hand one (that's what I did). Parts houses and/or regular suppliers do price such parts/assemblies dearly.

 

[roeme]

CMSNL have them for your year.
Beware, it's the crappy hockey-puck earlier caliper and if you're happy with that, best of luck.
https://www.cmsnl.com/suzuki-gs550-1978-c-usa-e03_model34240/partslist/BLCK0004.html

...I assume there's a newer and better caliper that is backwards compatible?

 

[salty_monk]

You can fit the twinpot caliper upgrade with a Honda Blackbird disk/rotor....

There are a couple of different calipers you can fit.

https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...e-Upgrade-on-GS550E-GS750C-GS1000C&highlight=

 

[roeme]

You can fit the twinpot caliper upgrade with a Honda Blackbird disk/rotor....

There are a couple of different calipers you can fit.

https://www.thegsresources.com/_for...e-Upgrade-on-GS550E-GS750C-GS1000C&highlight=

Ah, the twinpot upgrade - no, I had something like a bolt-on, no-modification needed, just translating a caliper from later models in mind.
Model designations are a bit mushy for these years around here, hence my confusion. My GS550's, in other countries might have an 'E' designation (and it's punched on the frame),
but have dual discs at the front, and have been assigned a 'D' or 'DC' designation in Germany/Switzerland. Makes it quite hard to find the correct literature. But thanks to the dual discs, guess I don't need the twinpot upgrade

 

[Guest]

If you need a complete new caliper...well, best look locally for a second-hand one (that's what I did).

Roeme,

Thanks for taking the time to respond and the details that you passed are really helpful - much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

You can fit the twinpot caliper upgrade with a Honda Blackbird disk/rotor....

Thanks Salty,

i had a really good look at that thread and maybe next time....i am rebuilding this bike having bought it in boxes! So i am trying to keep the price of things i throw at it to a minimum. Once its working and ridable then i will put more money into the project.

Thanks again

 

[roeme]

Btw, can you provide some pictures? It takes quite a bit for a caliper to be unusable. As long as the sealing grooves and threads are fine, they should be recoverable.

 

[Guest]

Btw, can you provide some pictures?

Hey Roeme,

Sure will, spent the day in the workshop (i am on holiday just now having been stuck in Saudi for 8 months) but i have been building benches for my wife in her part of the workshop. I will get back out tomorrow and take some pics and post them up.

Thanks again guys

 

[Grimly]

...I assume there's a newer and better caliper that is backwards compatible?

Not certain about the 550E, but the other ones with that caliper / fork leg(s) are a bolt-on upgrade for the 80-onwards better calipers.

 

[Guest]

Not certain about the 550E, but the other ones with that caliper / fork leg(s) are a bolt-on upgrade for the 80-onwards better calipers.

I'm pretty sure the situation is the same for the 550s. I have both types of caliper in the workshop - if I get a minute I'll see if they fit the same fork leg.

 

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure the situation is the same for the 550s. I have both types of caliper in the workshop - if I get a minute I'll see if they fit the same fork leg.

That would be great to see Steve, thanks

 

[hampshirehog]

If you need new pistons go stainless and they're done forever. I've bought a good few from this guy - excellent quality, service and price:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-g...3d8cbffdc3:g:uUcAAOSwJNpc-9N6&redirect=mobile

 

[Guest]

If you need new pistons go stainless and they're done forever.

Thanks Hog, i'll check that out

 

[cowboyup3371]

Mike, if you look real close you'll see the left side of my twinpot calipers from a Ninja 650 (I have the MC from one as well). Someone had already swapped my stock single caliper set up for a dual caliper before I got the bike and I installed Salty Monk's adapters to it in 2011 or so

Antiquity by Scott Baker, on Flickr

 

[Guest]

Mike, if you look real close you'll see the left side of my twinpot calipers from a Ninja 650

Thanks Cowboy, (Scott)

I am actively considering this but rapidly running out of time at home before re-deploying back to Saudi later this month. Trying really hard to get the bike rideable before i go, managed to get it to start last weekend and have a buddy coming round tomorrow to help me progress with the electrics. I may have to leave any further upgrades until it get home next time...maybe January or February.

oh....(pause for effect) and God bless Chris Ledoux!

 

[Guest]

The earlier calipers fitted my 1980 perfectly - so you could use the later style on your 78 if you wanted. Straight swap.

 

[Guest]

The earlier calipers fitted my 1980 perfectly - so you could use the later style on your 78 if you wanted. Straight swap.

Thanks Steve, will look into that next trip home, running out of time now!