Replacing Rotor on the HUB of a 1980 GS850G?

[Guest]

I was looking at the stock rear brake rotor that I have off my bike currently, and was wondering why one couldn't mill out the factory rivets and use the center hub to adapt any number of aftermarket rotors, or perhaps drill it up for the factory GL rotor? It looks like the rotors are the same diameter, etc. Only think I can find different is the vent pattern and the mounting pattern.

Anyhow every done something like this?

[Steve]

What "factory rivets"?

All the rotors I have seen were all bolted on.

And there is nothing special about a GL rotor, it's the same thing.

The part number that is on the '81 850GL also fits:

• 1981 SUZUKI GS1000GLX - REAR WHEEL (MODEL X)
• 1981 SUZUKI GS650GLX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS650GX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS850GLX - REAR WHEEL (MODEL X)
• 1982 GS1100G - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS1100GKZ (Touring) - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS1100GLZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS650GLZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS650GZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS850GLZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS850GZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS1100GD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS1100GKD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS1100GLD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS650GD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS650GLD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS850GD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS850GLD - REAR WHEEL
• 1984 SUZUKI GS1100GKE Touring - REAR WHEEL

The part number that is on the '80 850GL fits;

• 1980 GS850GL - REAR WHEEL (MODEL T)
• 1980 SUZUKI GS1000ET - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS1000GLT - REAR WHEEL (MODEL T)
• 1980 SUZUKI GS1000GT - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS1000ST - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS1100ET - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS1100LT - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS750ET - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS750LT - REAR WHEEL
• 1980 SUZUKI GS850GT - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS1000GX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS1100EX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS650EX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS750EX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS750LX - REAR WHEEL
• 1981 SUZUKI GS850GX - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 GS1100E,ES - REAR WHEEL (MODEL Z)
• 1982 SUZUKI GS1000SZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS1100EZ & GS1100ESZ - REAR WHEEL (MODEL Z)
• 1982 SUZUKI GS650EZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1982 SUZUKI GS750EZ - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 GS1100E & ES - REAR WHEEL (MODEL D)
• 1983 SUZUKI GS1100ED & GS1100ESD - REAR WHEEL (MODEL D)
• 1983 SUZUKI GS1100SD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI GS750SD - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI XN85 (Turbo) - REAR WHEEL
• 1983 SUZUKI XN85 (Turbo) - REAR WHEEL

.

[Darin Jordan]

Well... I'm not sure how to explain it other than with a picture. My 1980 GS850G rotor is on the right, and the GL rotor that I mistakenly purchased is on the left.

As you can see, the GL rotor bolts to some kind of hub, but the G rotor is riveted to the hub assembly on my bike, and with more fastening locations that the G rotor....

[hampshirehog]

The disc you bought is not from a shaftie.

[Steve]

I have never removed the disk from the carrier.

Any other disk you get will likely have the carrier attached and you will remove the 6 bolts that hold it to the hub.

.

[Darin Jordan]

I have never removed the disk from the carrier.

Any other disk you get will likely have the carrier attached and you will remove the 6 bolts that hold it to the hub.

.

I just purchased another 1980 GS850G rotor, and it's NOT bolted to the rotor hub... it's riveted and looks exactly like the one on the bike. The rotor hub DOES bolt to the wheel.

The other rotor laying there in the picture looks like a GL rotor, and is similar to those shown in the parts listing links you supplied.

These G rotors are all over ebay, but every one of them is grooved and fairly used up. I'm just trying to figure out how to get a nice, clean, and true rotor setup so I can finish this brake restoration on my bike. SUMMER IS HERE, and my bike is in pieces...

[Gold01ca]

Not sure why anyone would remove rotor from carrier?
As Steve says, 6 bolts mount the assembly to the hub.

[Darin Jordan]

Not sure why anyone would remove rotor from carrier?
As Steve says, 6 bolts mount the assembly to the hub.

OK... apparently what I'm asking isn't something people are familiar with, so I'll figure it out myself... I'm sorry to have wasted your time here.

It's pretty simple, really... I have a rotor carrier with a crap rotor on it. The replacement rotor assembly I bought also has a fairly crap rotor on it. I want a GOOD rotor. The rotors are riveted onto the rotor carrier on my G. I'd like to remove the rotor from the carrier so I can BOLT on a replacement rotor, perhaps from another model, like the rotor from the GL, which shares the same dimensions, OTHER than the pattern to which it bolts onto whatever carrier it bolts on to. It seems like a reasonable option, since all of the G style rotor assemblies I'm finding seem to have crappy rotors on them (grooved, etc.).

[Steve]

You have not wasted any time here, we appreciate the entertainment and education.

Just can't figure out why anyone would grind or drill multiple rivets when it's a simple matter to undo six bolts.

.

[Darin Jordan]

You have not wasted any time here, we appreciate the entertainment and education.

Just can't figure out why anyone would grind or drill multiple rivets when it's a simple matter to undo six bolts.

.

Steve... You STILL aren't really getting the intent... But that's OK... Maybe you don't have a background in Sportscar racing fabrication or whatever. You are still focused on the hub, when it's the rotor that is attached to the hub that needs to be replaced.

No worries... I cleaned up and bolted on a stock rotor/hub assembly and am moving forward.

[Steve]

Steve... You STILL aren't really getting the intent... But that's OK...

Darin... You STILL aren't really getting the message... But that's OK...

What I am saying is that ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE goes the easy route and replaces the whole assembly.

.

[Darin Jordan]

Darin... You STILL aren't really getting the message... But that's OK...

What I am saying is that ALMOST EVERYBODY ELSE goes the easy route and replaces the whole assembly.

.

NO Steve, I get it, loud and clear. The "easy" route is great, when there is a steady supply of OEM 1980 GS 850G rotors laying around. As I mentioned early on in this now quite degraded thread, that doesn't appear to be the case. You have to buy used $hit, and all of it seems to be questionable condition at best.

I'm just trying to think outside the box a little bit.

You've been quite helpful to me here in the past. I'm not sure why now you are using my question as a means to belittle, but it's really pretty uncool. Guess that's the price we "underlings" pay for taking the chance of asking a "stupid" question.

[Darin Jordan]

Another viable option, for those of us not necessarily looking for completely stock, OEM parts, or wanting to "upgrade" a bit here and there, would be to try one of these.

EBC PRO-LITE REAR BRAKE ROTOR

MD3014RS

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EBC-PRO-LITE-REAR-BRAKE-ROTOR-SUZUKI-GS650-ALL-/190503276782?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AGS850G&hash=item2c5ae150ee&vxp=mtr

You can find them on EBAY for $115.00 to $189.00 which is certainly less expensive than the $279.00 that those new OEM replacements cost.

That would be the "easy way" as well.

Either way, I've got a decent used stock rotor cleaned up and bolted on now. Time to let this tread die.

Thanks for the input.

[Grimly]

When I was looking at picking up a spare rear wheel, I noticed that some of the wheels on offer had a wider disc PCD. I think it was only the GL 16" that had them and they have a beefier/wider hub to suit.