ATE calipers with EME seals

[rkjjeep]

I have had this 82 R65 Non LS for a couple months.  It has DUAL ATE calipers probably retrofitted by a previous owner, and a 15mm master also likely retrofitted.  The master cylinder felt OK but the lever went about halfway to the grip before any brakes.  I rebuillt the calipers (the pistons and housing and grooves are very nice) and the lever felt the same.  So I rebuilt the master.  Same.  I looked closely at the new pads in the calipers and noticed they were all retracting about 1/16" when lever was released..  Half the lever travel was being used up just getting the pads TO the rotor.

Rebuilt the calipers again.  Same.

I noticed when rebuilding the calipers for the 2nd time that the pistons were VERY difficult to get back into the housing lubed with just break fluid.

Pull them off again.  I didn't have any red rubber grease handy so to test a theory I smeared a light film of Raybestos rubber friendly silicone brake grease on the seals and piston.  The pistons went in easily with thumb pressure.

And yes - now I have a good firm lever and very good brakes.  There is something going on with my old (but near perfect) pistons and the new EME seals.  The pistons weren't traveling thru the seal - they were grabbing the seal and then retracting too far.  Now it all works right and the front wheel spins freely with the lever released.

I can't help myself so I will try this again in a few months after I get some red rubber grease. 

[Bob_Roller]

Early 1982 production LS's came from the factory with ATE calipers, I have an'82 LS and it has the ATE calipers .
BMW used the last of the ATE calipers until they ran out, then used Brembo calipers .
Thanks for the info on EME caliper kit, I'm going to replace the seals on the '82 LS when I'm on vacation in 5 weeks .
I've got a set of Brembos from a parts bike, I purchased a set of EBC FA18HH pads .
I'm not sure how I' going to go about this .
The FA18HH pads are for Brembo calipers, but you can alter the steel plate on the pads to work om ATE calipers .
Had to do this om my '81 R65, ordered from the Brembo catalog and they list the FA18 pads are good for all R65'S and that is not the case .
ATE calipers use FA57 pads .
I went with the HH alloy pads instead of the standard, I have an'02 R1150R and replaced the OEM pads with the HH alloy .
What a difference in braking performance .
Hopefully I'll see the same increase in braking on the R65 .
That is the only area that is lacking on the R65 for me, not great braking, and with OEM pads, wet conditions are scary, up until I went with EBC brake pads, i would not ride if wet road conditions were forecast .

[georgesgiralt]

Hi !
I own an April 1982 R65 bought new. It came with a set of ATE calipers AND a 15 mm master cylinder.
Like you I was not pleased with the master cylinder feel. So I went for the 16 mm master when mine acted up. (at that time I did not knew one can change the innards of MC...)
The feeling got marginally better.
When the bike reached it's 30 th birthday, I changed the hoses for aviation style.
That did the trick ! Now I've a very very hard feeling on the front brake. So now, when my MC will go south, I'll install a smaller one, maybe 14 or 13 mm diameter....
Hope this helps....

[rkjjeep]

I found EBC FA57 pads on eBay for a very low price. 

[georgesgiralt]

Hummm....
If you have the OEM brake rotor, I bet you will be disappointed by brake pads other than the OEM.
I've' tried several since 1984 without too much success.
But YMMV ...

[Bob_Roller]

I replaced the OEM rotors and installed EBC pads at the same time when I some major work on my '81 R65 about 17 years ago .
Dry braking was marginally increased, but wet braking was vastly improved .
If you decide to use EBC rotors, at least this was the case when I replaced mine, there are two different rotors for a twin shock R65's .
Snowflake and composite wheels use different rotors the wheels are different at the hub .
From what I can remember, the snowflake wheels are thinner and have a deeper dish look to the rotors as compared to the composite wheel rotors .
The EBC catalog wasn't very clear about this when I ordered replacement rotors .