I read another thread titled "Brake Upgrade - Woeful to Wow" by Duanneb a few years back and thought it sounded like a good mod. Having now worn out and needing to replace my front disc and pads, I decided it was time to go a step further and upgrade the complete package.
Thought I would write it up incase anyone else wants to giuve it a go. Save you doing the research finding the compatible parts.
I replaced the standard front caliper on my 2005 FLSTFI with a new HD Brembo calpier (off street glides, etc) as per Duanneb's post, but I also replaced the standard solid 293 mm disc with a 300 mm floating disc off a breakout. The new caliper pads overhang the edge of the old 293 mm disc by a few mm. Installing the larger 300 mm disc alligns the pads of the new caliper perfectly on the disc.
The caliper and disc bolt straight on and align perfectly with existing bold holes, without modification.
Before:
After:
The Old caliper has 1 long and 1 short bolt. The new caliper uses 2 short bolts, so you need to purchase 1 short 'lower caliper mounting bolt'.
You will also need to purchase 1 Caliper banjo bleeder assembly as the old caliper has separate banjo bolt and bleeder, which won't work on the new 'single hole' caliper.
Parts List:
Disc, 'Brake Rotor, Front, Black', part no 41500088 ($240)
Lower caliper mounting bolt', part # 44160-00
Caliper assembly 'LH, Black, Front', part # 43027-08 ($276)
'Banjo Bolt Bleeder Assembly' part # 41783-08
You will need some locktite for the threads and whatever you use to bleed your brake system. I purchased a vaccuum pump from SuperCheap Auto for $50. A fairly simple mod, and given I was up for a new disc and pads, (pads come with the new caliper) it really only cost me $275. I just took it for a blat over Tawonga Gap and back and the thing pulls up more positively now.
Worth mentioning there is slightly less travel on the brake lever before brakeing commences (ie, when braking, the lever is slightly further from the grip), so if you have short fingers, that may an issue. I think that is resolvable by replacing the master cylnder, but totally unnecessary with my ape hands. Other than that, a straight forward, greate mod.
N.B. Don't forget to wash the oil film off the new rotor with some brake cleaner before instalation... looking up at the sky, whistling...
Cheers, Mungrel.
Looks like the factory built it
