Taking rear caliper off 1978 Kawasaki 1000 LTD

Interesting.Partzilla shows the single piston model for both '77 and '78. I'd be inclined to believe Kawsaki on this one. Also interesting is that Kawasaki evidently went back to a similar, but not identical twin-piston setup for '79-'80.

I hope the OP cleaned up the slider bolts (14) and put some clean, high-temp brake grease on them before reinstalling.

If you mean if I did answer is yes. Don't quite understand the 1978 Kawasaki 1000 LTD "B"model having the closed caliper. Sure would be easier to have the caliper with the cover - easy access to the pads....

TexasKZ wrote: I hope the OP cleaned up the slider bolts (14) and put some clean, high-temp brake grease on them before reinstalling.

missionkz wrote: I bought my 1977 KZ1000A in late 1976, before Xmas of 1976 and picked it up from the dealership in late winter of 1977. I have been the sole owner of it... always. 
It was made in Japan in October if 1976.
The serial number is .... 6828. 
It has always had the rear caliper/carrier assembly with the top cover for easily replaceable rear brake pucks. 
I have assumed from that point on, they all did. 
No idea where that other info about the 1979 on, rear cover caliper/carrier came from, but I can assure you it is untrue in my case and the same with my B model KZ1000 LTD. 

It certainly looks like the '78 rear caliper was unique, and not in a good way.

As I stated above, the parts diagrams at Kawasaki.com show a twin-piston caliper for 1977 and 1979-1980. The single-piston is shown for 1978 only.

My 78 with a 18" spoke rim has the 2 piston caliper and it is no problem to change pads
I think that they went with the smaller profile caliper because of the 16" mags.
Here is my 77 LTD parts bike.


My  78 standard







 

Dr Gammas 79 Super Bike with 18" mags

I stand corrected. I looked around at a bunch of old photos and it looks like the rear mag wheel’d LTD bikes, and even mine, did use a closed carrier/caliper!
My memory failed me. 
But my 1977 KZ1000A has always had the open top caliper rear wheel assembly,  as previously discussed in this thread.