How much preemptive brake work

I’m trying to decided how much brake work I should do on my late grandfather’s 83 kz440 ltd 8500 miles that hasn’t been register in 15 years.  I have it running and the brakes worked fine when I got it up to 20mph on grass,  I know I at least need to flush the brake fluid, but I’m deciding if I should preemptively do more than that, like rebuilding the caliper, replacing the pads, and maybe replacing the brake lines.

Pads probably aren’t anywhere near worn out, but I imagine the pad material has gotten better enough to be worth putting some new ones on.  For everything’s else my concern is just rubber age.

Old bike barn is where I was looking at for the pads and caliper rebuild kit.

Any advice welcome, thanks

I would do a full system tear down and clean out.  There is a very high likelihood of cruddy brown brake fluid chunks in the system.  You can reassemble using the old seals, but replacing them with OEM parts is highly recommended.  Aftermarket brake parts are risky, particularly K&L.  Then, use new brake lines.  For pads, you can reuse them if they are working well.  Or replace them.  Disc pads are only about $20 a set anyway.  

Replace the rear brake shoes.  if not and the rear wheel locks, you have been warned. For the front and rear be sure to use a brake grease, applied sparingly at the appropriate lube points. don't get any on the braking surfaces.

edit. get new, not nos. nos is new but old, and old is the problem.

On old rear wheel drum break shoes the brake pads can come off !!!
The glue is getting old and brittle, so be carefull and inspect them !!!

There's nothing to inspect !!! replace 'em !!! 

Nessism wrote:

I would do a full system tear down and clean out.  There is a very high likelihood of cruddy brown brake fluid chunks in the system.  You can reassemble using the old seals, but replacing them with OEM parts is highly recommended.  Aftermarket brake parts are risky, particularly K&L.  Then, use new brake lines.  For pads, you can reuse them if they are working well.  Or replace them.  Disc pads are only about $20 a set anyway.  

Are there new OEM parts? I haven't come across anything that says it's OEM, just nondescript caliper rebuild kits and unbranded pads mainly.  I've linked below the old bike barn rebuild kit I was looking at.

oldbikebarn.com/collections/kz440/produc...-caliper-rebuild-kit

H1Vindicator wrote:

Replace the rear brake shoes.  if not and the rear wheel locks, you have been warned. For the front and rear be sure to use a brake grease, applied sparingly at the appropriate lube points. don't get any on the braking surfaces.

edit. get new, not nos. nos is new but old, and old is the problem.

Good to know, I had not considered how much worse pad failure would be with a drum brake.

We get most of our brake parts from brakecrafters.com including stainless steel caliper pistons.

kylemontmont wrote:

Nessism wrote:

I would do a full system tear down and clean out.  There is a very high likelihood of cruddy brown brake fluid chunks in the system.  You can reassemble using the old seals, but replacing them with OEM parts is highly recommended.  Aftermarket brake parts are risky, particularly K&L.  Then, use new brake lines.  For pads, you can reuse them if they are working well.  Or replace them.  Disc pads are only about $20 a set anyway.  

Are there new OEM parts? I haven't come across anything that says it's OEM, just nondescript caliper rebuild kits and unbranded pads mainly.  I've linked below the old bike barn rebuild kit I was looking at.

oldbikebarn.com/collections/kz440/produc...-caliper-rebuild-kit

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