Sportster Drum Brake Shoe Replacement
Article by Mark Trotta
Early Sportster brakes were a carryover from the short-lived K-Model. The front drum was operated by a cable through a steel tube, and rear was activated by a metal rod via crossover tube on the bottom of the frame.
All 1957-1963 models left the factory with a "half" front drum on the right side, and it's the same size as the rear, so front and rear brake shoes are the same.
Full-Size Front Drum
A full front brake drum was a welcome upgrade for 1964, and fitted to all XL models up until and including 1972. Back in the day, swapping wheels to get the larger drum was not uncommon.
The 1964-1972 drum is often referred to as the 'hamburger' drum brake.
Rear drum brakes remained the same 1957 through 1978.
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Sportster Replacement Shoes 1964-1972
Buying the correct shoes online can be a little tricky. I typed in '1970 Sportster front brake shoes' on the internet search bar, and the rear shoes (44401-49B) came up first.
Then I typed in 'Harley 41849-64 front shoes' and found the correct shoes. Trouble was, they were priced around $200.
Scrolling down a little further I saw them advertised for $85. I emailed the company and asked if they were in stock and ready to ship.
The response was, "Sorry, it is on backorder. No stock date".
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Here's an alternative, buying a set of brake shoe linings with rivets and installing them yourself.
To do this, you'll need a $60 brake line rivet tool.
The tool is fairly easy to use. You'll use one punch to remove the old rivets, and another punch to install the new ones.
NOTE: Rivets should be set from one side to another to ensure a smooth, tight fit. And if they aren't already, bevel the ends of each lining.
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Rear Brake Shoes
Sportster Rear Brake Shoes are much more common and less expensive.
Harley Drum Brake Shoes OE 44401-49B have many applications, including:
1957-63 Sportsters (front and rear)
1964-1978 Sportsters (rear only)
1954-56 K-Models (front and rear)
1949-1965 Big-Twins (front only)
They also fit the front of my 1961 Servi-Car.
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Inspection and Replacement
Once you have the wheel off the bike, the brakes come out of the drum as one unit; brake plate, shoes, springs, operating shaft, washer and pivot stud.
Check for excessive wear, glazing, and embedded particles. If they're oil soaked, hard, or cracked or glazed, linings need to be replaced.
Slightly worn linings can often be 'dressed' with medium grade Emory cloth. If you do this, wear a mask, because there might be asbestos in there.
The shoe linings pictured have 3/16" of material. They'll be cleaned and Ok for reuse.
Installation Tips
Check the fit of the shoes in the drum - if the edges are too high, or the center of the shoe isn't contacting the drum, file the lining until the center is making solid contact.
When removing/installing springs, a pair of Vice-grips work well.
Lightly lubricate pivot stud with a dot of chassis grease.
Drum Brake Hardware
Sportster drum brake return springs are the same front and rear for 1954-1972 (OE 41835-69).
Front brake control cable is OE 45060-54.
Front brake cable steel tube is OE 45203-56.
When installing the cable at the lever, try to avoid sharp bends and odd angles. And lube the cable (WD-40 is Ok).
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Upgrade To Disc Brakes?
The only downside to drum brakes is brake fade after repeated aggressive use. So, if you're road racing your vintage Sportster, you may consider a front disc conversion. Keep in mind that due to the caliper mounting, swapping from drum to disc requires using later-model front forks.
Conclusion
When in good condition and in proper working order, Sportster drum brakes work fine for average street riding. And they look right on your classic Harley motorcycle.
From March 1969 to April 1970, 26 episodes of the American TV show "Then Came Bronson" aired on NBC. The show starred Michael Parks and a 1969 Harley Sportster.
Read: Sportster History
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Related Articles:
Hydra Glide Brake Drum and Shoes Installation
Front Caliper Rebuild 1973 through 1977
Harley Dual Disc Caliper Rebuild
Rebuild Harley Master Cylinder
Harley-Davidson XR750
Harley-Davidson Cafe Racer
Ironhead Sportster Project
