Emgo rear brake shoe spring issue

MarcD

MarcD

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Ordered front and rear shoes from Commando Specialties for my ‘73 750 ex-Hi-Rider

Front shoes are Ferodo and installed with no difficulty, but the rear shoes are Emgo brand, and while the linings seem fine and the shoes fit well on the pivots and cam (after deleting the Norton slippers), the return springs are REALLY tight, compared to the way that fit on the original shoes.

My bike has Dunstall tank, seat and rear-sets, so the brake pedal has much less leverage than the original Norton pedal, and it’s a noticeable difference in pedal effort to get any braking effect.

Any similar experiences out there?

Cheers,
Marc
 
My '74 850, also started out as HiRider, did not not have issues with rear brake springs on Emgo shoes. Stock foot brake lever and I find it feels vague and has too much travel for my foot motion. Seems to have more to do with cable stretch and levering angles than the springs IMHO.

Are you sure the springs are correct for the bike and are located correctly?
 
I didn’t know the Hi-Rider continued as an 850; is yours stock with the seat and tank?

Re the springs: they’re the springs original to the bike. The Emgo shoes didn’t come with springs, and I don’t see Commando Specialties listing new springs separately.

Just dawned on me that I could contact them to ask if they’ve had similar reports
 
Yes my bike was an original HiRider 850 as far as I know (I'm not original owner). Seat, bars, tank, 5-3/4" headlight, switch gear cable/brake hose/throttle/choke cable lengths all Hirider spec.

There should be a few places to source correct springs for rear brake in USA. The Bonneville Shop, Classic Brit Supply, CNW etc.
Even our own Greg Marsh here on these forums might have them.
 
MarcD said:
Ordered front and rear shoes from Commando Specialties for my ‘73 750 ex-Hi-Rider

Front shoes are Ferodo and installed with no difficulty, but the rear shoes are Emgo brand, and while the linings seem fine and the shoes fit well on the pivots and cam (after deleting the Norton slippers), the return springs are REALLY tight, compared to the way that fit on the original shoes.

My bike has Dunstall tank, seat and rear-sets, so the brake pedal has much less leverage than the original Norton pedal, and it’s a noticeable difference in pedal effort to get any braking effect.

Any similar experiences out there?

Cheers,
Marc
Click to expand...
Try some rear brake shoes from Triton motorcycles (Don Pender) not sure of the type of compound or brand he uses but certainly softer and has a little more bite especially with reduced leverage from a short rearset lever as I have experienced
He also does a full rear brake plate kit for commando
 
Appreciate the input and suggestions for various shoe brands; definitely will consider if I can’t make the Emgo shoes work.

To restate the problem, the space between the cast nibs that locate the spring ends on the Emgo units are farther apart than on the original shoes. Stretching the springs to locate them on the nibs is considerably harder than the already difficult stretch on the stick shoes, and noticeably increases the pedal effort at the already shorter Dunstall foot pedal. I’m thinking this can’t be good for cable or brake cam wear.

I was hoping to find if anyone had encountered this problem and found a source for either lighter-tension or longer springs.

Thanks again, all
 
I spoke with the technician at Commando Specialties this morning. He said they’ve sold many of the Emgo shoes with no problems or comments about spring tension.

I’ll have to live with it, I guess.

Thanks again, all.
 
MarcD said:
I spoke with the technician at Commando Specialties this morning. He said they’ve sold many of the Emgo shoes with no problems or comments about spring tension.

I’ll have to live with it, I guess.

Thanks again, all.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't live with them. Send them back, as they are an obvious manufacturing defect. Commando Specialties can either send another "correct" set or refund your money. Without the steel "shoes", the aluminum casting of the shoes will quickly wear down where they contact the cam.
 
Replace the Emgo brake shoes with a better spec set whose spring bosses are correct. This will bother you on every ride and is a classic " while you have it in front of you" moment.
 
Never been a fan
 

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MarcD said:
Jdub, what brand/supplier would you use?
Click to expand...
I went as I typically do with Andover Norton's offering. They went in nicely with the original springs. Bike is still on the stand being built up.

EDIT: It's the rearsets as well - ankle fatigue is a pain.
 
Last edited:
KiwiShane said:
Never been a fan
Click to expand...
I agree. I always (40+ years?) regarded them as low grade crap for cheapo prices.
My, how times change.
The horrid trash I see marketed today (with no markings whatsoever on the part or package) take the junk parts biz to a different level. Kinda like the devil you know.
 

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