Not really a bodge more a half done fix?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I believe the standard front brake hoses are NLA so a PO has fitted some new white sleeved hoses.
Are these what are known as braided inside? 
They are quite rigid/stiff with a small diameter compared to standard hoses, there are no cable guides fitted even though the front aftermarket fender has spare holes on either side that might accomodate a guide bracket.

The hoses swoop awkwardly between the top fitting & the caliper that looks as though it has a cast slot to hold the end fittings.
Not sure if the pipes would be too short if I fitted the end into the slot so they swoop rearwards rather than forwards.

Note the front spindle has no split pin fitted either

.hose swoop by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

Superdream caliper by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Bryanj]

Yes Ted they are, i have the stainless flexible and ends to make up plus you can get different coloured outer sleeves if you want

[Rozabikes Tim]

Ted

When i first saw your bike I thought the direction those brake lines were leaving the caliper was wrong. Googling it, on all images I see, they come up if you like parallel with the forks (ish) and at the bottom of the caliper. Are the calipers on the incorrect sides???

[K2-K6]

I think Tim's correct, in that the calipers look to be mounted on the wrong side.

The fork brackets MAY be correct though.

Ordinarily you'd have bleed outlet at highest point to evacuate the air at that point, with the fluid in at the bottom.

The "capture " channel in the caliper casting is because they are surface sealing banjo joints (rather than conventional flare type pipe end) and so seal on the face of the joint with a malleable washer to hold pressure competently.  The restriction channel stops the pipe rotating as you tighten the bolt sufficiently to seal it.

They may have been banjo ends with a 30 degree kick out just after the capture channel installed from new.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Until I strip down the front end I dont know if the calipers could be fitted to the wrong side.

The calipers are in very good condition cosmetically, this made me think they are either new ones for a later version or more likely from another Honda model as the angle of the union is almost 90 degrees out.

As Nigel has said the caliper casting is to hold the bottom fitting in the correct place.

Looking at the manual the caliper casing is completely different with the bleed nipple at the top not at the bottom.
On my caliper the hose fitting is at the top with the bleed nipple at the bottom. The photo in the manual shows them at 90 degrees from each other.

Update The mounting bridges are clearly marked L & R fitted to the correct sides, I just can't rotate the caliper casting image in my head, I'm not sure if they will fit on the wrong side but it is a possibilty
 

[K2-K6]

Just undo that caliper in picture Ted, using the two slide pin bolts (not the fork leg bracket bolts) then take it over the mudguard to then hold it above the other one in a inverted orientation.

That'll at least let you see and normalise it with a good visual appreciation of what it entails.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

At the moment I still need the brakes to work until the engine is out. Once I have turned my bike around on the ramp I will take the calipers off and see if they will fit the other way around.

I'm going to print a picture of the left caliper side view then see how that looks on the other side - it might then be obvious.
It's certainly looking as if they have been mixed up by a PO.

[Johnwebley]

The bleed nipple should always be at the top



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[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I agree John,it's almost certainly had the calipers put on the wrong sides.
It's impossible to tell until I take them off if the brake pipes will then be long enough to reach the fitting point.
Depends if they were made to measure by a PO or off the shelf for a 400NA Superdream.
Not a biggie on the grand scale of things.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Could not wait so this afternoon I removed the calipers, now the left side brake hose runs correctly with the nipple at the top.
One piston was nice & free as it was easy to push the piston back when the bolts were out by rocking the caliper body.

The n/s caliper  that was fitted to the o/s has a seized piston/ or stuck sliders with some surface rusting so that will need attention.
The right hand hose has some adverse memory from the wrong routing so does not want to line up with the bolt, not going to risk a crossed thread trying to make it fit.

The braided pipes seem quite stiff, I am unfamiliar with braided hose so not sure if it's old pipes or if this is how they are.

[K2-K6]

Yes Ted, they're not really good at bending "locally" ie in short radius turns.

Obviously, different materials used to form the tube / carrier of fluid, much more like a miniature version of the mains water blue pipe that's familiar to us.

Thats semi rigid with then some type of rubber protective sleeve to mitigate impact, then the steel knitted outer to contain this combination.

They like to be in gentle radius situation and avoid tight changes in direction.

[Bryanj]

Ted, there are several different types of fittings that can make it easier, talk to me when you get closer to needing them and i will do my best to sort it

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Will do Bryan, I managed to get the right side pipe to fit by removing the top mounting bolt & loosening the bolt at the other end of the long 3 way connector so it could take up the tension. Looks as if its not the piston that is stuck, more likely the little sliders.  It was good to see they have dust seals on the pistons!

I found an odd 13 mm pipe clip to see how the hole in the fender would line up with a  bracket - a bit industrial looking, not sure why there are two rubber sleeves on the pipe?

.Calipers fitted correctly by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Bryanj]

I would have fitted a 27deg angled banjo there, or maybe a straight fitting with 90deg swivel end on the hose

[Johnny4428]

That’s a big difference Ted.