XBR Brake Caliper

[guest1792]

Afternoon All,

I'm about as good with spanners as I am at brain surgery so am hoping that some of you knowledgable chaps can help. The front brake on my XBR needed a fluid change etc. so decided to fit new pads and give the caliper a bit of an overhaul while I was at it.

As I was undoing the bolts that hold the caliper on a small part fell off and although it is shown on various parts sites I can't work out how it goes back on. On this site (http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-xbr500s-1988-england_model6441/partslist/F__0900.html#results) it's item 12, bracket retainer.

Is anyone able to tell me how and where it fits?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Andy

[tommy]

hi andy that's a sim that's pushes to the top of the caliper bracket 

[deleted to save space]

[timbo]

Nice one Tommy. I was just about to try to explain it, but a picture paints a thousand words. Its a kind of a springy plate that just sits loosely on the caliper, under the pads. Ive never been exactly sure what these do. do they just hold the pads up off the caliper?

[SteveC#222]

The brake caliper is one of the XBR's weak spots and it tends to stick so a good overhaul is needed from time to time - I've just done mine and it's easy enough if rather messy. Pitted pistons can be replaced with stainless ones, I think you can still get stainless brake pad slider pins. Stuck pistons are often caused by salt corrosion in the seal groove pushing the seal tight against the piston. I used a nylon bristle wheel in a dremel to clean the grooves out - gets rid of the crap but doesn't damage the surface of the groove. If you haven't already it's well worth fitting a stainless braided brake hose.

[tommy]

that plate seems to be there so the pads can move and the alloy caliper bracket dose not get groves in it and the pads would not move easy tommy

[guest1792]

Thanks Guys, that's really helpful. Don't think I would ever have worked that out from the exploded parts diagram!
Andy

[timbo]

Was informed by an XBR owning mate this evening, that he hasn't bothered with the springy plate thingy for years. In other words he runs his brake caliper without it, with no detrimental effects.

[guest564]

I think it acts like a thrust washer to prevent wear on the caliper. The calipers are essentially the same design that was fitted to many Hondas of the era but with bigger pistons, I would think that the shim is common to many models.