4 piston brake upgrade for '94+ using Nissin calipers

[mnbikeguy]

There are a few threads on this upgrade already but had to dig to get all the necessary info. For the sake of others who still might want to do this I thought I'd publish my own experience.

My major reasons for upgrading were:

• Better brake lever feel
• Easier pad change
• Mechanically more efficient (pistons are the only things that move and that work load is shared over 4 vs. 2 of oem)
• Better looking

Choice of Nissin over Tokcio Caliper

• Cleaner look (totally subjective)
• Maybe slight price advantage to Nissin

What you need to do this mod:

• Calipers from a Honda CBR 600 F4 - F4i All Model Years, 2000 - 2001 CBR 929, 2002 - 2003 CBR 954, 2003 - 2004 CBR 600RR or Honda RC-52 2001 SP2 and up.
  
• SV650 Adapter Bracket (SV/DL brackets are exactly the same)
• (4) M10x1.5mm x 40mm Stainless Steel Button Head (24ft/lbs)
• (4) M8x1.25mm x 35mm Stainless Steel Socket Head (22ft/lbs)
• (4) M8 Stainless washers
• (4) 5/16" ID x 7/16" OD x 3/8" spacers

Everything bolts up pretty easily and there are no clearance issues. For ease, I would work one side at a time. Start by unbolting the current caliper and support it with a wire until you have the new caliper mounted then switch over the brake line working quickly enough to avoid brake fluid spillage. For the adapter to fork bolts I would locktite them for peace of mind. You could also safety wire them if that's your thing. After both are completed, bleed brakes per usual.

Beyond that I suggest rebuilding both donor calipers and inserting new pads before installing.
It is also worth noting that the FA296 pads used in the Nissin calipers are a tad large for the braking surface. I used a grinding wheel to remove about 1mm of material from the lower edge.

Here's the finished product.

[Pbfoot]

Great job. I did this 2 years ago.  Maybe this can be moved to the tech page.

[jettawreck]

I "upgraded" to four pot Nissin calipers a couple years ago. They came with the ST1300.

Edit: I was wrong. My Nissin calipers are three piston units.

[Cal]

this applies to the 93+ models only I expect?  or will it work back to the 86 version?

thanks

Cal

[mnbikeguy]

this applies to the 93+ models only I expect?  or will it work back to the 86 version?

thanks

Cal

Correct. Earlier versions need a different adapter bracket which I think needs to be fabricated independently.

[Bud]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but 86-93 should be the single piston calipers and 94-06 would be two piston calipers.

[who me?]

There are a few threads on this upgrade already but had to dig to get all the necessary info. For the sake of others who still might want to do this I thought I'd publish my own experience.

My major reasons for upgrading were:

• Better brake lever feel
• Easier pad change
• Mechanically more efficient (pistons are the only things that move and that work load is shared over 4 vs. 2 of oem)
• Better looking

Choice of Nissin over Tokcio Caliper

• Cleaner look (totally subjective)
• Maybe slight price advantage to Nissin

What you need to do this mod:

• Calipers from a Honda CBR 600 F4 - F4i All Model Years, 2000 - 2001 CBR 929, 2002 - 2003 CBR 954, 2003 - 2004 CBR 600RR or Honda RC-52 2001 SP2 and up.
  
• SV650 Adapter Bracket (SV/DL brackets are exactly the same)
• (4) M10x1.5mm x 40mm Stainless Steel Button Head (24ft/lbs)
• (4) M8x1.25mm x 35mm Stainless Steel Socket Head (22ft/lbs)
• (4) M8 Stainless washers
• (4) 5/16" ID x 7/16" OD x 3/8" spacers

Everything bolts up pretty easily and there are no clearance issues. For ease, I would work one side at a time. Start by unbolting the current caliper and support it with a wire until you have the new caliper mounted then switch over the brake line working quickly enough to avoid brake fluid spillage. For the adapter to fork bolts I would locktite them for peace of mind. You could also safety wire them if that's your thing. After both are completed, bleed brakes per usual.

Beyond that I suggest rebuilding both donor calipers and inserting new pads before installing.
It is also worth noting that the FA296 pads used in the Nissin calipers are a tad large for the braking surface. I used a grinding wheel to remove about 1mm of material from the lower edge.

Here's the finished product.

Thanks for doing the leg work 
Now to explain to SWMBO how I managed to find time to buy a bunch of bike parts today
Well Ive got a couple of days before stuff starts showing up

[MAN OF BLUES]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but 86-93 should be the single piston calipers and 94-06 would be two piston calipers.

YOU are correct, and it seams the O/P erred in his choice of saying "93+" models..

to clarify, it should be read as "94 and UP"..

the '86 thru '93 models A1 thru A8 were single pot, the wheels noted are a 6 spoke (3 pairs of 2, straight spokes)
 the '94 and up (A9 model, up) used douple piston fronts, the wheels are seen as having 5 spokes, that are curved.

hope that clarifies it better, and I hope the O/P "modifies" his post title to say "94 and up models"

ride safe,

[mnbikeguy]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but 86-93 should be the single piston calipers and 94-06 would be two piston calipers.

YOU are correct, and it seams the O/P erred in his choice of saying "93+" models..

to clarify, it should be read as "94 and UP"..

the '86 thru '93 models A1 thru A8 were single pot, the wheels noted are a 6 spoke (3 pairs of 2, straight spokes)
 the '94 and up (A9 model, up) used douple piston fronts, the wheels are seen as having 5 spokes, that are curved.

hope that clarifies it better, and I hope the O/P "modifies" his post title to say "94 and up models"

ride safe,

Thanks for the correction. I had just updated based upon what Cal asked but didn't even think to question accuracy. Post updated to reflect correct info.

[MAN OF BLUES]

 
thank you.

[Mcfly]

Great upgrade!!!  Love my Tokico 4 pots...  Really makes confident braking.

Nice write up!!

[CaffeineMan]

Thanks for this info, mnbikeguy.  I'm working on a very similar upgrade to my '01 and appreciate the measurements.

I'm installing:
- Nissin 4-piston calipers (gold) from an 00 CBR 929RR, axial (not radial) mounting
- SV Racing Parts brackets (DL650 model.  Sounds like DL1000, DL650, and SV650 brackets are the same)
- New EBC Pro-Lite rotors (stock size, so the brackets fit)
- New EBC HH sintered pads

Just finished rebuilding the calipers and installing the rotors and now I'm hunting down the hardware.  I bought cheap hardware of the right sizes just to check the fit of things, but I'm going with black button head bolts if I can find them.  The pads are arriving tomorrow.

Obviously I haven't assembled it enough to test ride, but your measurements appear to be spot on.  I'll post pics in a separate thread when it's done.

[Charliedog]

Did the Nissin calipers a few years ago, and I'd say it was the best mod I could have done for me C10.  I'm hard on the front brakes, and the difference in stopping power was very noticeable. 

[esmoojee]

I just bought some Tokcio’s 4 pots with adapter plates on ebay. Can you guys tell me what bikes these come off of so I can figure out what brake pads to buy when I need to replace them?

[Boomer]

I have Nissin 4 pots on my '89. I bought a bracket from an Aussie member but he's not been on here for a while. They work great with the OEM rotor size but have a tendancy to lock the front wheel in emergency braking situations. I think that the Avon Storm front tyre I have fitted isn't sticky enough so will be replacing it with a stickier PR3.

[Mcfly]

I just bought some Tokcio’s 4 pots with adapter plates on ebay. Can you guys tell me what bikes these come off of so I can figure out what brake pads to buy when I need to replace them?

Mine came off a 2003 Suzuki SV1000. SV racing, which sells the bracket says the following caliper sets will fit: "2001 - 2003 GSXR 600, 2000 - 2003 GSXR 750, All Model Years of the SV1000. These are all the same Tokico Calipers"

[esmoojee]

Thanks McFly!!!