Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Brake calipers - big and little pistons

  1. #1
    Join Date
    3rd February 2004 - 08:11
    Bike
    1982 Suzuki GS1100GK, 2008 KLR650
    Location
    Wallaceville, Upper hutt
    Posts
    5,049
    Blog Entries
    4

    Brake calipers - big and little pistons

    Looking at front brake calipers - in the case of floating (sliding) types, some have two equal sized pistons, others have one large and one small piston. Does one type have an advantage over the other?
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    14th July 2006 - 21:39
    Bike
    2015, Ducati Streetfighter
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    9,082
    Blog Entries
    8
    Oooooh I have read the theory. Can't remember why! Something about either more even pad wear or heat distribution.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    3rd February 2004 - 08:11
    Bike
    1982 Suzuki GS1100GK, 2008 KLR650
    Location
    Wallaceville, Upper hutt
    Posts
    5,049
    Blog Entries
    4
    Thanks Allan, that jogged a few brain cells. Many years ago I read something about heat in the pads but I can't recall the details (ageing is a bitch). With the rotation of the disk the small piston is the "leading" one and there is gong to be less pressure on the pad at this point than from the bigger piston. I'd like to know if this was better or just a theory of the time thats since beed disproved. Goggle hasn't been much help so far but that may be because I'm not asking the question correctly.

    The calipers in question are from an early 2000's Kawasaki Concours 1000, and will be replacing the single piston items on the GS1100, along with larger disks.
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    2nd March 2018 - 15:32
    Bike
    1998 Yamaha R1
    Location
    Auckland
    Posts
    1,178
    Google was indeed not that helpful. The first answer here seems correct, but he doesn't explain the meaning of the diagrams very well.

    https://www.quora.com/Why-do-BMW-bra...e-same-caliper

    One thing to note is that the "turning moment" will decrease as the pads wear, so it's not possible to accurately compensate for it by having different piston sizes. It also depends on the coefficient of friction (µ) between the disc and pads.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    13th June 2010 - 17:47
    Bike
    Exercycle
    Location
    Out in the cold
    Posts
    5,624
    Doesn't matter which way round you fit them - they'll be shitloads better than the OE Suzuki ones...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    3rd February 2004 - 08:11
    Bike
    1982 Suzuki GS1100GK, 2008 KLR650
    Location
    Wallaceville, Upper hutt
    Posts
    5,049
    Blog Entries
    4
    Quote Originally Posted by SaferRides View Post
    Google was indeed not that helpful. The first answer here seems correct, but he doesn't explain the meaning of the diagrams very well.

    https://www.quora.com/Why-do-BMW-bra...e-same-caliper

    One thing to note is that the "turning moment" will decrease as the pads wear, so it's not possible to accurately compensate for it by having different piston sizes. It also depends on the coefficient of friction (µ) between the disc and pads.
    Thank you, that explains it well.
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    3rd February 2004 - 08:11
    Bike
    1982 Suzuki GS1100GK, 2008 KLR650
    Location
    Wallaceville, Upper hutt
    Posts
    5,049
    Blog Entries
    4
    Quote Originally Posted by Grumph View Post
    Doesn't matter which way round you fit them - they'll be shitloads better than the OE Suzuki ones...
    Yeah the Suzi ones were pretty crap. the bigger disks (CBR600) wont hurt either. I got the Concours master cylinder along with the calipers, and the calipers have received an All Balls rebuild kit each, plus new pads. Might get a stoppie out of it yet
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    25th March 2004 - 17:22
    Bike
    RZ496/Street 765RS/GasGas/ etc etc
    Location
    Wellington. . ok the hutt
    Posts
    20,500
    Blog Entries
    2
    No it will just slide the front wheel.
    I ran CBR600 calipers on plate with std cylinder of my 1100G. It was a wonderous improvement all the way to 'just about safe' actually more would have been silly on the tyre.
    Sold it before they started getting tough on brake mods. You will need LVV to get a wof unless you can somehow convince them it is how they came.
    Not sure who you'd use now . Last guy got out for health or I would have recommended him.
    Don't you look at my accountant.
    He's the only one I've got.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    3rd February 2004 - 08:11
    Bike
    1982 Suzuki GS1100GK, 2008 KLR650
    Location
    Wallaceville, Upper hutt
    Posts
    5,049
    Blog Entries
    4
    going to try "don't ask don't tell" initially, take from there.
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    25th March 2004 - 17:22
    Bike
    RZ496/Street 765RS/GasGas/ etc etc
    Location
    Wellington. . ok the hutt
    Posts
    20,500
    Blog Entries
    2
    Worked for my YZF with blue spots, but figured I'd just tell them the SP had them.
    Don't you look at my accountant.
    He's the only one I've got.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    3rd February 2004 - 08:11
    Bike
    1982 Suzuki GS1100GK, 2008 KLR650
    Location
    Wallaceville, Upper hutt
    Posts
    5,049
    Blog Entries
    4
    The GSX1100 used the same calipers (as the Concours - same rebuild kit, anyway) so it's only stretching the truth a wee bit to say they are standard Suzi 1100 parts.
    it's not a bad thing till you throw a KLR into the mix.
    those cheap ass bitches can do anything with ductape.
    (PostalDave on ADVrider)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •