CA brakes and CB brakes

[Geoff Hastings]

Ok guys, a question for you. Are the twin leading shoe CB77 front brakes interchangeable with the CA77 brakes. By which I mean swapping the back plates and not the entire front wheel. The lack of bite can be quite alarming in London traffic.

[DJM]

Geoff, in a word no as they are different diameters and also, I think that the CA shoes are wider than the CB version.

Your best bet is to get the CA shoes relined with a better grade material and oversize (thicker) linings. Then you need to get the brake plate assembly with the assembled shoes machined to match the diameter of the drum exactly. There are specialist firms that offer this service.

Still not as good as a good CB77 brake but that way it will be as good as you can get it.

My early CL77 uses a similar sized front brake and isn't brilliant either but I do find it works better at higher speeds, not much consolation though in London traffic

[Geoff Hastings]

Cheers Dennis, I thought it would be too easy to just swop them over. Crazy thing is, my modern Yamaha is now excluded from the ultra low emission zone but the ancient Honda can still go into London to sit along side all those polluting black cabs and buses.