Floating Brake Mount for any front end with a Rocker.
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 5:49 pm
This is a write up I allowed to do under The Chopper Builders Handbook banner on the Facebook page.
I took it as a Great Honor.
I was able to make my floating brake assemblies. These will work with any front end that has a rocker and needs the brake to float
Springer or Spirder. This is being built for a Spirder front end.
First thing to do is put a straight edge across the outside farthest point of your rotor to know how much distance you have. This distance will needed added to so there is enough room for your brake mounting plate and rocker.
Once you know this make a stainless so not to worry about it inner bearing guide spacer for each brake unit you are making the mounts for. There needs to be a step on the inside of the bearing guide spacer so it does not come in contact with the bearing and rides only in the center race when tightened.
Then either buy or turn out of a bearing material like oil impregnated bronze for the bushing and also cold rolled steel outer sleeve. There will need to be a thrust bearing on each side and a center sleeve bearing. There should be .005 of play for each bearing surface so, .005 for the sleeve and .010 in the other direction total play for thrust. This allows the spacer to hold wheel firm and not have pressure on the brake mount.
Now make mounts out of cold rolled steel for the brake mounts on caliper. I used the dimensions of the stock forks to know the length and width of these. This allows me to reuse the stock hardware bolts here.
Now you will need your rockers made and also the front axle threaded to length.
Tighten the assembly together and space the the caliper up away from rotor so not to ride on it at the 12 O clock position. Then use some paper and get the shape you want the brake mount to look like connecting each mounting point.
Tack weld two pieces of at least 1/4 inch plate steel together and transfer the shape to that from paper with a outline.
Now drill holes for the round parts of the mounting plate.
Cut the plates out and then shape with a grinder.
Now transfer the folds made on the paper if there is any to the steel and and make these bends. I did it by relieving cuts and folding the plate steel over and welding.
Hold the mount plate up to the three points and tack weld it firm making sure caliper is square with the rotor and positioned up so not to rub on the top of it.
Now remove the floating mount from the wheel and weld it.
You can now take this a step father but, I will not and use this for measurements to make a billet aluminum one from it.
You now have the brake floating mounts made and just need to connect them to your legs with a mount and adjustable rod ends. I have not got my forks done yet but will show the mounting of that when completed.
I took it as a Great Honor.
I was able to make my floating brake assemblies. These will work with any front end that has a rocker and needs the brake to float
Springer or Spirder. This is being built for a Spirder front end.
First thing to do is put a straight edge across the outside farthest point of your rotor to know how much distance you have. This distance will needed added to so there is enough room for your brake mounting plate and rocker.
Once you know this make a stainless so not to worry about it inner bearing guide spacer for each brake unit you are making the mounts for. There needs to be a step on the inside of the bearing guide spacer so it does not come in contact with the bearing and rides only in the center race when tightened.
Then either buy or turn out of a bearing material like oil impregnated bronze for the bushing and also cold rolled steel outer sleeve. There will need to be a thrust bearing on each side and a center sleeve bearing. There should be .005 of play for each bearing surface so, .005 for the sleeve and .010 in the other direction total play for thrust. This allows the spacer to hold wheel firm and not have pressure on the brake mount.
Now make mounts out of cold rolled steel for the brake mounts on caliper. I used the dimensions of the stock forks to know the length and width of these. This allows me to reuse the stock hardware bolts here.
Now you will need your rockers made and also the front axle threaded to length.
Tighten the assembly together and space the the caliper up away from rotor so not to ride on it at the 12 O clock position. Then use some paper and get the shape you want the brake mount to look like connecting each mounting point.
Tack weld two pieces of at least 1/4 inch plate steel together and transfer the shape to that from paper with a outline.
Now drill holes for the round parts of the mounting plate.
Cut the plates out and then shape with a grinder.
Now transfer the folds made on the paper if there is any to the steel and and make these bends. I did it by relieving cuts and folding the plate steel over and welding.
Hold the mount plate up to the three points and tack weld it firm making sure caliper is square with the rotor and positioned up so not to rub on the top of it.
Now remove the floating mount from the wheel and weld it.
You can now take this a step father but, I will not and use this for measurements to make a billet aluminum one from it.
You now have the brake floating mounts made and just need to connect them to your legs with a mount and adjustable rod ends. I have not got my forks done yet but will show the mounting of that when completed.