The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Julio A. on February 06, 2011, 07:36:13 AM
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Compared to the ATE calipers, is the Italian brand better?
I found an R65 compatible Brembo Caliper, although it is still a left side one, I'm planning to replace my current ATE ones so I could use my dad's hoarded supply of Brembo Brake pads for his past K100. The Caliper I got looks like it's going to need an overhaul; Pistons might be seized and lying on the cabinet for some decades did not really do it a favor, I already took it to a brake specialization center for overhaul.
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I don't know what a Brembo caliper from K100 looks like, so I can't say, for sure.
But the ATE, and the Brembo caliper that replaced it on the R65 series through 1984 are virtually identical.
Whether the pads from the K bike will work, you will just need to measure them, and see if they fit.
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The Calipers from a Early K100 bike is identical to the Brembo made ones for the R65; With the exception of the threaded mounting hole. The pads are the same; they are identical.
I'm just curious on whether there is an improvement over the ATE made system.
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yes becareful...not all brembos are the same. I have moded the Brembo pads to fit in the ATE calipers. You just need to cut a square notch in the top of the backing plate so that the spring has a place to rest -- The width of the ATE spring at about 4-5mm deep. About 30 minutes with a dremel tool I think.
The paded surface will be about 0.5 mm higher than the ATE pad but this is still on the R65 rotor. I changed them so I could get Kevlar pads on my ATE calipers.
Of course now I have a entire 1988 K100 front end on my R65 making it the best handling R65 in the world! I'm not kidding.
Good luck.
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Of course now I have a entire 1988 K100 front end on my R65 making it the best handling R65 in the world! I'm not kidding.
What about that other guy that put a K100 fork on his R65?
(I am kidding! :) )
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I believe the ATE , Brembo look-alikes had chrome plated pistons, and associated risk of this chrome flaking off.
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Of course now I have a entire 1988 K100 front end on my R65 making it the best handling R65 in the world! I'm not kidding.
What about that other guy that put a K100 fork on his R65?
(I am kidding! :) )
I missed it. Who was it? I thought I was the only one! You wouldn't believe how much better it handles...
Really! 8-)
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Now Bill - I said I was kidding. (I said so, even put up a smiley face.)
Not that it has not been done to another R65, but yours is the only one I have heard of.
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No worries. If there is anybody else that has done the Best Farkel Of All Time I would love to know. [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]8-)
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Brembos look better, both work very well. Sent Brembo calipers from 1983 R65 to a renowned automotive brake restorer, received telephone call from restorer, delighted - Brembos are equal to automotive six pots in quality, have one third the pistons. ATE's on 300D never a problem.
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And looks are totally subjective.
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If you think so.
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moo...
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How does the K100 front end improve handling?
BTW, the Brembo calipers needed new piston seals. Took some time to find those in the bottomless parts cabinet. Never knew I even had those. ::)
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ATE stainless replacement pistons are (or were) available from Motobins. Everything I saw indicated that the difference between Brembos and ATEs was related to the outer piston seal. The ATE's have more overlap so that a large steel circlip can secure the outer seal but the bores appear to be the same.
SS pistons weren't cheap but when it comes to the baby ... I mean, come on!!! Whats $45 or so apiece. But, alas, it appears they are no more on the motobins website. You might query them for availability.
Teo
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You are correct, Teo, that Motobins no longer has them in their catalog. It's been that way for at least a year or two. I bought mine 5 years ago. The best $90 I can remember spending.
Justin has his own lathe and talent to go with it, and made his own.
It has been mentioned here, that most likely, a decent machine shop could turn out a pair or two - just take them one of your old ones for measuring.
Here is a picture of the worst of mine:
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F94388794%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=2e3494d8dda1aa3aa0987300e918cbf99c2d2843)
Change your fluid annually! :o
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Ftomfarr%2Fimage%2F75975722%2Fmedium.jpg&hash=59ee6bea3d8234792428b1ab11d8a7e386a78988)
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Rob's pictures were a great incentive for me to overhaul my calipers even though they were working OK. Corrosion was just caught in time before new pistons were needed. If you have only small areas of corrosion and pitting on the piston it's ok to polish them out provided they are close to the top edge which does not contact the caliper seal. Certainly the left most area in Rob's pic would clean up fine and possibly the right. Perhaps not the two lower bits though.
I polished up both my pistons and re-used them although they only had one small area close to the edge.
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The piston seals from the Brembo caliper is shot. But the spare ones I have are from ATE calipers. Are they interchangeable?
Having good progress on disassembling the thing. I recently discovered that the rusted-on brake pads that was included with the calipers are aftermarket EBC pads. Someone took care of this brake - or the bike that it was attached to sometime ago. ;D
Surprisingly, the pistons are also still in good condition. Only superficial rust on the side where it contacts the brake pads.
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The piston seals from the Brembo caliper is shot. But the spare ones I have are from ATE calipers. Are they interchangeable?
Are you talking about the square-section o-ring?
As long as it is tough to get in, and leaves a little bit sticking out (which makes fitting the piston back into the caliper tough, as well),
it should be OK.
IIRC, there was a little play on the up & down. i.e. - the slot in the caliper is slightly "taller" (top to bottom) than the "height" of the ring.
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The Caliper Transplant was a success.
Braking power Improved marginally. What really got me was
the new "feel" of the lever; Takes less pressure to get more brake.
The best of all - no more squeals!!! :D
I was lucky that the pistons, seals and the caliper itself was in very goon condition. Rust and corrosion was only superficial. The thing that stuck me the most was how the pistons were in perfect condition. The pistons has an unusual grey finish. It does not seem to be paint but it is the color of the metal itself.
I did also find out that the Bolts that held the two halves together was already stainless steel. Someone really did took care of his R100RT back then....
..... Until it was written offed and junked.
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi107.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm292%2Fblaze_sniper%2FPhoto0126.jpg&hash=a5f30845617a314d68a4ec5f5c0d6a2aff95f518)
I also discovered that the between the ATE and Brembo calipers,
The only thing interchangeable are the o-rings and bolts.
I owe everyone a big thanks here, without your help, I would not even dared open this caliper. :)
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(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi107.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm292%2Fblaze_sniper%2FIMG_6708.jpg&hash=6b32cd7a852ff77a8d2050b371a339fab6c8e556)
(https://bmwr65.org/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi107.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm292%2Fblaze_sniper%2FIMG_6711.jpg&hash=428ce628da6465808d4a0544669c22f93880d6c9) ;D
Passed it's first ride with flying colors.