Front brake splitter alternative?

[alexis291]

Hello Folks,

this relates to my 1995 K1100RS, which has ABS2.

Has anyone found an alternative for the splitter used on the front braking system? This is the aluminium manifold which sits above the front wheel, that the brake caliper hoses connect to. Mine is very badly corroded on the faces that the banjo bolts seal on and it has developed a bad leak here.

I've cleaned all the joint faces up as best as I can but they are so corroded the splitter needs replacing. However, I believe that new ones are no longer available. I've spent a while searching online for an equivalent part, or one from another vehicle that would fit, but not found one.

Has anyone else found another part that works with the standard hose layout? I'm trying to avoid replacing the three front hoses, having bought new, braided ones recently.

Thanks.


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[Martin]

Post pictures so we can see what might be possible.
Regards Martin.

[Inge K.]

https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=5&NU=10&M=40&Ct=JA&SbCt=BA_10_40_JA_20

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Have you searched eBay?  Contacted any of the bike breakers who sell there?

Have you tried cleaning up the surfaces on wet or dry on a flat surface?  Even if the part was available I would go those routes before going OEM. 

You might also want to look into the seals that have an o-ring supported in a steel washer.  They have the ability to seal on less than perfect surfaces and still not be extruded from the joint.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Drag-Specialties-DS-097014-3-8in-Banjo-Bolt-Sealing-Washers-/192013571849?hash=item2cb4e69709:g:OQsAAOSwMVdYFY9H&vxp=mtr

[alexis291]

Thanks Inge. I will be ringing Motorworks as soon as they open tomorrow!


I've attached a screenshot of the parts fiche - it's number 16, BMW part number 34322310500. I can't take a photo at the moment because mine is fitted to the bike after I spent an entire day trying to restore the joint surfaces (much wet & dry etc) , only to find that it still leaked when I re-fitted it. At that point I closed the garage door and walked away. But I'm feeling a bit better now.


Good idea about the washers Gryphon, I hadn't thought of those. New copper washers and aluminium ones didn't work, but they might.


If all else fails I will get a friend to make a new part for me.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Are the sealing surfaces so bad that they can't be cleaned up with a careful sanding on 220 wet or dry?  I would do that first, followed by the o-ring seals. 

From the parts fiche it looks like the Motoworks part is different from what you need.  The Motorworks part goes through the steering head while your part is attached to the fork brace between the fork tubes

[alexis291]

I spent several hours sanding but the pitting is so bad that I even had to shorten one of the banjo bolts after removing so much material the bolt bottomed out. Even that wasn't enough though. And the danger of doing it by hand is that the joint face may end up not square to the bolt bore. If I had a milling machine I'd have used that.


Motorworks[/size] do advertise one that is correct for my bike:


https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=6&Q=BRK10500


but I'm not confident that (a) they will have one, and (b) it will be any better than mine.

[Inge K.]

From the parts fiche it looks like the Motoworks part is different from what you need.  The Motorworks part goes through the steering head while your part is attached to the fork brace between the fork tubes

Look a bit further down the page.

[alexis291]

D'you mean the BRK14898? That might work - if they have one. The listing looks a bit like they only have 2nd hand parts occasionally.

[Inge K.]

My reply was meant for m.gryph......but the LT have a different rear half fender, brace and cover...
but the splitter might fit, ask at motorworks when calling.

[alexis291]

Well hopefully I have now fixed this problem using the original part and Dowty washers (thanks M Gryphon for the suggestion). I bought a used splitter which turned out to be in worse condition than mine when it arrived so I had to have another go at rubbing mine down. The brass LT splitter won't fit, I discovered.
The photos show what mine looks like now.
A long-term solution (when I have time) will be to use a simple block with three ports machined into it and threaded to take banjo fittings. This can sit above the fork brace where it will not be shot blasted with grit off the front wheel. My advice to anyone else with a K1100RS is to make sure you get your hosepipe under the front mudguard when you wash the bike.

[John Lang]

Spiegler SS hoses (for the K100LT anyway) dispense with the downpipe/splitter. Might work for you? $149 for the set.


https://spieglerusa.com/brakes/brake-lines-accessories-tools/cycle-brake-line-kits/make/bmw/model/k-1100-lt/year/1995/position/front.html

[alexis291]

Thanks John. I would have changed the hoses - if I hadn't just spent good money on a Goodridge set. Joining the hoses together with a simple t-piece is all it needs but I was keen to get the bike back on the road so fettled what I already had.


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[richarddacat]

bit late but on my FJR I bought two long SS lines and a longer banjo bolt, ran two lines down to each caliper.