Drum brake on front?

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chopped850

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Did early year norty's leave the factory with a front drum brake? If so what year should I look for?
 
1971 and before. I believe the front disc brake was introduced for the 1972 models.
I could be wrong, I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken. :lol:
 
Disc brake was not common on the Commando until 1972.

Except for some special models ( Dunstall, which had twin brakes, and Proddy Racer) drum brakes were pretty much on everything before '72
 
In 72 the disk was Combat only. Afterwards it was standard on everything, I think.
 
Great thanks gents. I'm thinking about trading my juice front end for a dry front end.
 
swooshdave said:
In 72 the disk was Combat only.
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The standard Norton-Lockheed disc front brake was introduced on the Combat models in 1972, but was probably available as an option on other '72 non-Combat models?



swooshdave said:
Afterwards it was standard on everything,
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The drum brake is listed in the '73 parts book, so no doubt it was still available at that time, and I think the factory continued to fit front drums to some of the '73 Hi-Rider models?
 
When ordering my Roadster at Comerfords in 1972 (no longer there) I tried to get the disc brake with standard engine but was told it wasn't available. Had to get the Combat to get the disc brake. But now I'm glad I did!
 
L.A.B. said:
swooshdave said:
Afterwards it was standard on everything,
Click to expand...

The drum brake is listed in the '73 parts book, so no doubt it was still available at that time, and I think the factory continued to fit front drums to some of the '73 Hi-Rider models?
Click to expand...

I was secretly hoping they dropped the Hi-Rider by 73, but knew that was the one exception.
 
Great... I'm thinking about trading my juice front end for a dry front end.
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Why would you ever want to do that?? The disc brake is no where near modern disc brakes, but it is a step above the old twin leading shoe drum. Even with the "stiffening kit" added.
 
Ron L said:
Great... I'm thinking about trading my juice front end for a dry front end.
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Why would you ever want to do that?? The disc brake is no where near modern disc brakes, but it is a step above the old twin leading shoe drum. Even with the "stiffening kit" added.
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Cause I was looking for a way to get my custom norty back on the road faster. I have a DNA -2 springer and will have to fab a bracket to hold the juicy. But now that I think about it it's not gonna work as the axle on the springer is 3/4".
 
Twin leader brake plate for Nortons are getting expensive now. Specials builders like them.
You can also get a disc to perform much better than the drum.
 
Honest question (so don't consider it flame bait):

My `71 with new and/or decent drums/Ferodo shoes will still lock up both front & rear wheels with predictable/minimal effort. (In fact that grizzled old Norton stopped shorter than any of the other bikes when I had to take the mandatory MSF course/test to get it onto Ft Belvoir a couple months back.)

Since I can't get much greater stopping effort after locking up the wheels (and I don't want to do even that unless I've thrown my fate to the winds anyway), what are the remaining reasons I should put a disk kit onto it? :shock:
 
Mehavey

I also have a 71 roadster & need to look at the front brake. The shoes are of an unknown make that I fitted in '78, when I bought the bike, so just their age will not be helping braking effort.

What shoes do you use & have you got the stiffening kit fitted?

Regards

Bob.
 
Your problem is probably as much 'glazing' of the old shoes by this point, Bob, as it might be ordinary wear. Their surfaces are probably slicker'n glass.

The Ferodo replacment shoes I got from Old Britts were a super drop-in for brake overhaul. They gave me a signifcant uptick in both brakes (even without stiffening), and the improvement in rear brake performance was dramatically noticeable.
 
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