brake calipers

i have a 1981 kz750 and i need new front brake calipers. ive only seen rebuild kits for the bike.
Has any one done a caliper rebuild on this model or one similar to it? if so how did it go.
If any one has any information on where i could find new ones that would really be what im looking for
-thank you

I did some of those calipers. Easy enough to rebuild. Pop out the pistons using compressed air and clean out the grunge. Use OEM Kawasaki replacement parts, not aftermarket. The pistons are expensive so hopefully yours are not all pitted up like mine were. You best tear down the master and replace the brake lines at the same time if you haven't already done so.

As Steve said not hard to rebuild. If you want new, then prime and paint your old ones to look new. Typically they don't go bad unless maybe they were under water for a year or so.

As Nessism said, rebuilding calipers is pretty straight forward. There's not much to them besides a piston and seal. However, use caution when pushing the pistons out with compressed air. "Pop" is a good description. Keep your fingers clear. When the piston lets loose, it literally pops out. Depending upon how much PSI you used, there's a good amount of force behind it.
Why do say you need new Calipers...leaking... frozen? Fluid leak could be a simple as a seal. Frozen could be built up crude or corrosion. You won't know until you pull them apart.

MDZ1rider wrote: "Pop" is a good description. Keep your fingers clear. When the piston lets loose, it literally pops out. Depending upon how much PSI you used, there's a good amount of force behind it.

I forgot about this last spring when I was cleaning up a caliper that would not release. The piston shot out about 12-15 feet. Luckily there was nothing in its flight path. I probably got really lucky that day.

Nessism wrote: I did some of those calipers. Easy enough to rebuild. Pop out the pistons using compressed air and clean out the grunge. Use OEM Kawasaki replacement parts, not aftermarket. The pistons are expensive so hopefully yours are not all pitted up like mine were. You best tear down the master and replace the brake lines at the same time if you haven't already done so.

I always wrap them in a rag ,and keep your fingers clear.

thank you for all of your suggestions. i was told by a good friend to just take the calipers apart and clean them, put it back together and see if it helps sure enough, seals wer in good shape there was just some gunk causing an obstruction. they are working better than ever.

thanks for the rag idea before popping the piston, that could have gone wrong in more ways than one!

You really should replace the rubber lines if your bike has the originals. They get a scummy scale on the inside which will contaminate your fresh brake fluid. Plus if you get teflon/stainless lines the brake lever feel will improve noticeably.

I went to stainless steel lines on my XS650. WOW, what a difference! Way better braking control. Firmer.