Brake disc alignment

[cywelchjr]

Nope, not true. The standards have floating calipers (unlike the weird 'pivoting' ones on the special) and will slide to fit. Phils' procedure is the one to use on any bike that has 'conventional' calipers.

'78E original owner

Wrong, the mounting bracket has a slot in it that does not move, and that MUST line up. If you don't do it right, it will not, believe me, I fought with mine for a while before I got it right, and that was with two different set of forks. Yes the calipers do float, but you still have to get it so the disk doesn't drag on the bracket, and you can quite easily. DAMHIK

The standard also only locks one side of the axle with the nut, the other is pinched into place, and the fork on that side can easily be too far out and have to be pulled in. It's easier, because if you pull them together till it stops against the speedo gear assy which serves as the dust cover for the bearing on the left side, it's usually fine, but it doesn't always come in to that position all by its self.

[crazy steve]

Wrong, the mounting bracket has a slot in it that does not move, and that MUST line up. If you don't do it right, it will not, believe me, I fought with mine for a while before I got it right, and that was with two different set of forks. Yes the calipers do float, but you still have to get it so the disk doesn't drag on the bracket, and you can quite easily. DAMHIK

The standard also only locks one side of the axle with the nut, the other is pinched into place, and the fork on that side can easily be too far out and have to be pulled in. It's easier, because if you pull them together till it stops against the speedo gear assy which serves as the dust cover for the bearing on the left side, it's usually fine, but it doesn't always come in to that position all by its self.

Cy, if you're having a problem with either caliper bracket hitting a rotor, there's something out of alignment or bent. Correct procedure (from the factory manual) is to tighten the axle nut first (leaving the two 'clamshell' nuts loose), then 'bounce' the forks to allow them to find their 'natural' alignment then tighten the nuts on the clamshell; there's no mention of 'pulling' them into position ala the special.

Try Phils' method to align the forks, and if you still have a problem after doing this, you have a slightly bent lower tree or fork tube.

'78E original owner

[crazy steve]

Actually, I'll clarify Phil's method a bit. While I don't go to the trouble of pulling the forks all the way up (that's going the 'extra mile'), when you loosen the triple tree clamp bolts, make sure you loosen the stem clamp and stem bolt. Tighten the lower tube clamps first, then the uppers, then the stem clamp/bolt last. This order insures that you get any 'twist' in the trees out and is critical to proper alignment. Follow the rest of the procedure and that's as good as it gets.

'78E original owner

[Mstaab]

Yeah, the washer thing didn't seem right. Did a little research and found the the bike had the wrong dust cover and the spacer was missing completely. Friggin' PO! So I bought everthing new from Yamaha bearings and all. Now everthing makes sense but the left brake disc seems to want to be too close on the left side. argh!

[Ken Talbot]

It is true that the calipers float on the standards, but if you don't follow the suggested procedure, you could end up with the disc not centered within the caliper holder. In some cases, the two will actually rub. I prefer to follow the procedure, and make sure each disc is nicely centered on its caliper holder.