need advice

I have a 1978 KZ650 B2 and am wondering if its worth it getting one of those kits to rebuild the front caliper? Has anyone done it successfully? Is this my only option?

if the bore or piston arent scored then i'd say yes if they are toss them and get different brakes.

If you want to go cheap you could just take it apart and clean it up. Change the fluid, use a dremmel with a wire wheel for the seal groove and clean up the seal with a rag and brake fluid.

Depends entirely on whether or not you are having brake problems - I rebuilt my own, that said i had a pitted piston and the dust seal was in pieces so had to do it - i have often pulled brakes apart, cleaned and rebuilt many times without replacing any parts.

Hey thanks for the info guys. I am not 100% sure if the parts are bad. I will try to take apart and clean and reinstall everything in the caliper. I know the master cylinder has a slight leak and all the original paint has peeled off. I have to find where that leak is coming from. I believe its the reservoir. The caliper is just not biting. Probably all gunked up. I put pads on the bike last summer and the fluid was unbelievabley dirty so I flushed the reservoir I believe the caliper is gunked up too. I bought the bike last summer and am trying to somewhat restore it as much as I can. Bike is in great shape. Just issues with rust in the tank which I recenty sealed with the KBS coatings kit. Hopefully it will work. I am in the middle of the "96 hour" curing process. THe other issue is the front brakes.

Front brakes are of course critical safety components, and should imo be kept in perfect condition. In case of any doubt whatever, both caliper and master cylinder should be rebuilt. The kits are available at Z1E, as are pads, brake lines, and other related parts.

An FSM would be most helpful toward fully understanding the braking system.

Good Luck!

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Z1E Master Cylinder Kit

Master cylinder Rebuild Kit - single disk version (1/2")
KL32-8048

OEM: 43073-001 - --


Contains all the parts to rebuild one (1) 1/2" master cylinder. The 1/2" master cylinder is typically only used for single front disk setups.

Fits S2 S3 KH400 KZ400-A1 KZ400-A2 KZ400 KZ400D KZ400-D3 KZ400-D4 KH500 H1-B H1-D H1-E H1-E KZ650-B1 H2 Z1 KZ900 KZ1000-A1

$32.24

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Z1E Brake Caliper Kit

Front/rear caliper Rebuild Kit - Kawasaki KZ440 KZ550 KZ650 KZ750 KZ900 KZ1000 KZ1300
KL32-1289

43052-005 (4) 43053-006 (4) 43054-003 43049-002 (43049-1098) 43057-003 -


Contains the seals / O rings to rebuild one caliper with 42mm piston. Fits Front Kawasaki KZ440-A1 KZ440-A2 KZ440-A3 KZ550-A1 KZ650B KZ650D KZ650E KZ750B KZ750G KZ900 KZ1000A KZ1000-B3 KZ1000-B4 KZ1000-C2 KZ1000-C3 KZ1000-C4 KZ1000-D3 KZ1000E KZ1000G KZ1300

Rear KZ750B KZ900-B1 KZ1000-B1 KZ1000-B2

Contact us if your caliper uses a 38mm piston.

$29.77

Great thread guys.

I will try the cleaning thing before I spring for the kit...