wondering im building a heritage softail i wanna keep front end clean soo looking to use a singe piston front caliper but a dual or 4 piston in the back will that mess anything up?

 

The stock Heritage has a four piston caliper in the front and a two piston caliper in the rear.

Since 60% of the braking on a motorcycle is by the front brake, I would use the stock configuration. I'm not saying you should use the stock calipers, I'm saying you should use a four piston caliper in the front and a two piston caliper in the rear.

 

ohhhhh ok

 

It all depends on what year forks you have as to what will bolt right up for a decent price. Seeing as the heritage has a single front caliper I recommend a better than stock caliper as well. I run a PM 6 piston caliper on my fatboy and feel that it si almost enough braking power for me. I never use my rear brake as stated above most of your braking power is in the front brakes.

If you have 2000 or newer fork lowers you can get as Brembo caliper and 11.8" rotor off of teh newer (08 and up) baggers for a great price but I like my Pm stuff. If you want a super clean and smooth caliper HHI is the option I usually get for my customers.

Pm and HHI calipers will utilize the stock size rotor which is 11.5".

 

i have forks from a 1997 heritage which look to me to be a single piston in front and a single also in the rear? how can i tell?

 

i found that i can get the pm stuff at decent prices but i also dislike the size of the calipers
i was thinking running the single in the front and a pm kit with bracket in the rear but will it screw up the way it stops seeing is i will have a 4 caliper in rear and a single in the front?

 

i guess i should tell you im putting a ss 111' motor behind this thing lol

 

I felel that brakes can be the difference between life and death, working brain or vegetable, broken leg or road rash. If none of that is important to you, get what looks good.

Choosing the right brake pad and rotor can make up for fewer pistons. The total piston area/volume is what matters for stopping force. I think multiple pistons can provide a better feel as do pad compositions.

Ask someone that races what they think. Except for the fact that you don't have to worry as much about heat fade, what they use will be a good place to look for starters.

C#

 

i did today they suggested 4 piston front 4 piston rear

 

All of the bikes that I know use different master cylinders for front and rear brakes, making them separate systems. Due to this different #s of pistons between front and rear won't ruin anything.