It started with a simple post about Norton Commando brakes and ended up keeping the message board buzzing for days. NVNL shares what he's learned so far...

First things first, my Mark3 Commando front brake is improved rather than sorted. This is a summary of the show so far.

I have consulted widely and made my choices based partly on my experience with my much loved, long owned T140ES which now has a most acceptable front stopper comprising two standard Meriden discs, two Grimeca single piston calipers, four disc pads of some unknown sort, braided hoses, the original Meriden master cylinder and a dog-leg lever from Harwoods of Richmond (whom God preserve).

Until I bought my wife a Ducati I was content with the single disc factory set up. With the current arrangement I find I can charge up to obstacles much harder and brake much later using two fingers. I cannot remember having locked the front wheel. This may be because it's not my style.

Anyway the Mark3 Commando I got for Christmas came with an RGM 12" drilled floating disc, a Grimeca single piston caliper, a pair of Bonneville disc pads which not only fouled the pins at the rotor's hub but also failed to wipe the outer quarter inch of the braking surface, Goodrich hoses and a factory standard master cylinder and lever.

Sticking with what and who I know and trust I talked to TMS of Nottingham (www.tms-motorcycles.co.uk). TMS explained the piston diameter of the Norton and Triumph master cylinders are identical but the fulcrum arrangements differ.

I fitted a Meriden spec. master cylinder with dog-leg lever from TMS, and changed the brake fluid again (just showing off). After a hundred miles or so the disc has been "skimmed in service" and I'll fit the new NLM DP500 pads at the weekend.

The Editor of the Norton Owners' Club (www.noc.co.uk) magazine rode the bike a few days ago and pronounced favourably, but I'm a lot more picky about front brakes than he is.

I haven't ruled out the twin disc option, but my wallet is reticent. Unless I can train myself to start using the back brake occasionally I'll need to fit a front brake light switch.

Thanks to everyone on the Board who helped out.

Right that's the who, how, why, what and when of the work in progress. I've got 'flu and I'm going back to bed.

Hope this helps.

*****************

And then this arrived, which looks useful if a little scientific:

Looking at the Vintage Brake web page I realised that I was no longer confident about classifying wheel or slave cylinders by the number of pistons they contain so I took some advice from An Expert. It has always seemed to me that slave cylinder pistons (and pads) are provided in pairs that move more-or-less together to "bite" on the moving disc with a view to slowing it down. Not so. Some brakes have pairs of pads only one of which is moved by a single piston, the other coming into play as the caliper moves on its hinge. Frank W tells me this and I know it to be true because I've had bikes with cable operated disc brakes, however I have been quite successful at expunging this from my memory.