dumb brake question 81gs400

[Guest]

This one just might be a little too dumb, but I'm going to ask anyways.

last night I cleaned and rebuilt the front brake on my 81gs400. Its working now (except the pads need to be baked as they have gone soft), however some parts are missing. I know I definately need a piston boot because I'm in ontario and we use a lot fo salt on the roads, but I'm also missing a pad shim and and pad guide. Are these parts really needed? And what do I risk by leaving them off.

also, for the pads, can anyone suggest a safe baking temperature?

Thanks!

BentRod

[fgh]

You're kidding right! Brake pads can't get soft, at least the one's we buy down here. I have never in all my life heard of baking a brake pad. Don't bake buy new!

The shim is there to keep the brakes from squeeling. If you don't use it you may need ear plugs.

I don't know what you mean by a "guide". I tried to look at the fiche on BikeBandit but they don't list an '81 GS400. Must be a Canadian model. Whatever it is the worst that could happen is the pads could get stuck open and you have no front brake. The least that happen is that it gets stuck closed and you have permanent front braking.

[BentRod]

It seems to be established (kinda) that my bike in an import from europe. same brake parts (I think) as a gs450. if you are looking on Bike Bandit, in the front calli schematic, it's part number 7

the bike has sat as is an a damp barn for 12 years.

The brake pad baking is an old trick I picked up from my dad, and I figure its worth a shot before dropping even more coin to fix this bike.

[Commodus]

Hum, I've heard of baking the pads if they are contaminated, for example by fork oil, is that what you mean by soft?

Personally, I'd still replace them...

It's OK if your bike can't be found on a fiche, Suzuki only used a few different calipers in these years. Post a picture of the caliper, and you can be directed to a correct fiche.

I'm not sure what you mean by pad guide, but the pad shim can probably be omitted - though I wouldn't.

The idea of omitting brake parts kinda scares me, really. That piston boot comment, well, I don't care where you are you definitely need that.

[Dink]

If the pad has "gone soft" it is beyond salvage. Replace them. For a brake pad to go soft it isthoroughly contaminated, do you really want to place your life in the hands of something that most likely will fall apart when you need it most??
I put more time and effort into my brakes than any other part of the bike, cause almost anything can be made to go fast, stopping it again is a whole other thing.

Dink

[BentRod]

hmmm... as much as I would love to just buy a new after market brake set, or buy all new parts, money is a serious pinch for me.

That is not to say I intend to make this a half-assed job. I have access to more than enough equipment to make or service at least some parts (Ie metal lathe, milling machine, bar benders and so forth)

I bought this bike to be a work in progress, and to be a challenge for me to find creative solutions on budget.

Please do not worry about mechanical recklessness on my part. It simply isn't in my nature.

Thank you all for the help. I only ask because of my lack of specific backgroud on marginal decisions.

It will be a while before i have a chance to bake the pads. I will let you know how that goes. I have a temperature worked out, and after that I'll conduct some form of friction test, as well as durability tests before even putting them back on the bike.

[Commodus]

hmmm... as much as I would love to just buy a new after market brake set, or buy all new parts, money is a serious pinch for me.

That is not to say I intend to make this a half-assed job. I have access to more than enough equipment to make or service at least some parts (Ie metal lathe, milling machine, bar benders and so forth)

I bought this bike to be a work in progress, and to be a challenge for me to find creative solutions on budget.

Please do not worry about mechanical recklessness on my part. It simply isn't in my nature.

Thank you all for the help. I only ask because of my lack of specific backgroud on marginal decisions.

It will be a while before i have a chance to bake the pads. I will let you know how that goes. I have a temperature worked out, and after that I'll conduct some form of friction test, as well as durability tests before even putting them back on the bike.

OK, fair enough. Post a pic of the caliper, or just go to a site with an online fiche, like www.crotchrocket.com and you should be able to identify it. You may not be able to find your model, but just find a caliper that looks like yours. From this picture, hopefully it will become obvious whether or not the pad guide is necessary, if not, simply post a link to the fiche and some of the smarty-pants on this forum can weigh in on the issue. :-D

[BentRod]

Brake pics

I have left the brake on the motorcycle. still needs the boot, pads, and shim.

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p41/BentRod_photo/brakes/?action=view&current=IMG00234.jpg

http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p41/BentRod_photo/brakes/?action=view&current=IMG00235.jpg

[gerkin]

Brakes Are Your Life ,,dont Bodge Them ,unless You Like Hospital Food And Broken Bones

[gerkin]

IN europe the 8 vavle gs's were called gsx's

[gerkin]

try this link

http://www.suzukiownersclub.co.uk/models/PhotoAlbum.asp?Page=2&ShowSub=1981-1990