Centauro front brake

[dxhall]

I haven’t been able to get a firm lever on the Centauro front brake and am thinking that a rebuild is in order.  Does anyone know the diameter of the piston in the master cylinder?  I’d rather not take it apart, measure, and then wait a week for the kit to arrive.

[RinkRat II]

 DX, on the top of the casting where the micro switch screws are there should be a number stamped into the flat. The last two numbers signify piston diameter.  My sport is 16 and clutch is 12.  Hope this helps.

        Paul B

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

It's a PS 16 master cylinder, so 16 mm as far as I can tell.

[dxhall]

Thanks.  I’ve rebuilt the calipers with kits from Powerhouse in the U.K., but kits for the master are available on eBay.  I’ll order a 16mm.

[Tusayan]

Every Centauro and '97 1100 Sport I've ridden has the same problem you describe, no less when they were new.  If you pull the lever to brake lightly, then release, then pull lightly and so on, you'll find you can work the lever all the way back to the grip.  The solution is a different master cylinder, back in the day a lot of people used GSXR or Kawasaki-style remote reservoir 5/8 inch Nissins for this reason, and also on Ducatis.  They were about $130 and a vast improvement.

When TPG took over Ducati, one of the first things they did was get (force?) Brembo to redesign the master cylinder, and Ducatis had the new unit starting in '98  The first Guzzi to benefit was the V11 Sport.  Brembo master cylinders of the mid-late 90s are mostly poor in feel and overall quality.

[dxhall]

Thanks for the GSXR info.  I can buy a 5/8 Nissin new on eBay for $130.  No reason to invest in a rebuild kit for the Brembo at that price.

[Tusayan]

You'll also need a new top brake hose - the fitting is not the same.