> Rob Kleinschmidt wrote:
> >>> I need to install rear brakes on a Softail conversion. Can I use right
> >>> side brakes and just turn them around?
> >> Yes
> > But results may depend on the caliper in question.
> > Some 4 pot calipers use a larger piston at the trailing
> > edge to even out pad wear. Reverse it so that the larger
> > piston is on the leading edge and it will work fine but
> > can produce very asymetric pad wear.
> Probably unlikely to find a 4 piston caliper on the rear of a Softail
> but I am not familiar with the Harley parts catalog. Your point is
> well taken about calipers being asymmetrical though, and most of them
> are definitely designed to stop rotation in one direction much better
> than the other, regardless of the number of pistons, and may bind up
> or not work properly when used in reverse, so a word to the wise.
Yes, that's true. I was assuming a very basic caliper, mind (I've
actually done this myself with no ill effects), and on the back wheel
it isn't going to be doing as much work as a front caliper.
<Thinks>
Mind you, on a Harley....
> >>> I need to install rear brakes on a Softail conversion. Can I use right
> >>> side brakes and just turn them around?
> >> Yes
> > But results may depend on the caliper in question.
> > Some 4 pot calipers use a larger piston at the trailing
> > edge to even out pad wear. Reverse it so that the larger
> > piston is on the leading edge and it will work fine but
> > can produce very asymetric pad wear.
> Probably unlikely to find a 4 piston caliper on the rear of a Softail
> but I am not familiar with the Harley parts catalog. Your point is
> well taken about calipers being asymmetrical though, and most of them
> are definitely designed to stop rotation in one direction much better
> than the other, regardless of the number of pistons, and may bind up
> or not work properly when used in reverse, so a word to the wise.