78E Brake rebuild - info & question

[buggrin]

Guess after 25 years it's time to overhaul the brakes. Got rebuild kits for front & rear master cylinders and calipers (including pistons) from Parts-N More. Good guys to work with. Bought a Mityvac from Harbor Freight - so looking like a winter project along with putting on the new rubber bought a couple a months ago. (K491s & Michelin tubes)

After rereading threads & info section (it's been awhile since I had the calipers apart) I'm convinced that the brakelines need replaced too (still running the ones that came on it). Where can I get the lines and parts needed? PartsN More may have them later, but not now. I don't really care if they're stainless or not, just don't want to have to chase down a bunch of pieces & parts. I remember some threads about getting them from Chris Rawson, is he still in business??

Ken, great pics of spooge cleaning. What is the wire dia??

Thanks for any help.

Bob

[Ken Talbot]

The spooge cleaning wire I used was .013, and it was nothing fancier than a piece of wire clipped from my parts cleaning brush.

[stevec5000]

You can get brake lines from any bike shop, ebay or on the internet. You only need to specify the length and banjo fitting size (10mm). Be sure and get braided stainless lines, they don't expand and give much firmer braking. Actually any new ones you get will be stainless but older ones might be plain rubber so avoid those. Most commercial lines will be factory made with crimped ends but some are available that are cut to size with screw-on ends. Those can be assembled incorrectly so watch out. You can get them for the front in 3 pieces using the stock Y adapter or in a two piece design that has 2 long lines going directly from the M/C to each brake caliper. Either kind will work just as well. Don't forget the rear line. The combo metal and rubber line can be replaced with one long braided stainless line.

[xssiveone]

Re: 78E Brake rebuild - info & question

Originally posted by buggrin
Got rebuild kits for front & rear master cylinders and calipers (including pistons) from Parts-N More. Bob

Pistons? For the calipers, or just the master cylinders?

[buggrin]

pistons

Got both caliper pistons (all three the same) and MC pistons (front and rear) from Parts n more. I was suprised they had the caliper pistons since reading about folks troubles locating them. I have not put them in yet, but they look like what I remember them to be. My old ones were pitted pretty badly, but still seem to work ok -- just figgered changing them was the thing to do while rebuilding. 29 bucks ea.

[buggrin]

brake lines

just found the lines for 78E listed on the Spiegler web site. From Ken's experience with Russel I'm a little nervous about them. Approx. 200 bucks for braided stainless. I'm guessing this included the banjos and fittings, but they don't say. Has anybody dealt with these guys? THis rebuild project is starting to make a serious dent in the liquid refreshment fund!! ouch