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Technical: Brakes
Dave Hennessey, Stan Diener

K and Sportster Brakes

Harley invented a number of new parts just for the 1952 K-model. Brake shoes, although the same physical size as the Big Twins, were made of aluminum instead of steel. The profile of the “nose” & “heel” of the shoes were different than the Big Twins, and this required different profiles of the pivot stud and operating shaft. The springs, and the attaching points on the shoes, were different from the Big Twins also.

The weight savings of aluminum shoes was minimal, and apparently did not justify the cost of manufacturing and stocking two different shoes and springs. Starting in 1954, the KH used the same brake shoes and springs as did the Big Twins. So a number of parts had to change.

Front - there were three styles of front brakes. The full-width 1964-1969 (and later) front brakes are obvious. But there are internal, and external, differences between the 1952-1953 and the 1954-1963 styles. One obvious external difference - the 1952-1953 side plates had a sand-cast finish. From 1954 to 1963, the side plates were polished.

FRONT 1952-1953 1954-1963 1964-1969
Front Brake Side Plate 44148-52 44148-54 44148-64
Front Brake Pivot Stud 44156-52 44156-54 44156-64
Front Brake Operating Shaft 44264-52 44264-54 44264-64
Front Brake Operating Shaft Washer 6662 6663B 6677B
Set of Brake Shoes and Linings 44402-52 44401-49A 41849-64
Brake Shoe Spring (2) 44485-52 44484-35 [1] 41835-57

Operating Shaft Washers

6662   - 9/16 x 1-1/8 x 3/32
6663B - 9/16 x 1-1/8 x 3/64
6677B - 9/16 x 1-1/8 x 3/32

  Brake Shoe Springs

The 41835-57 spring replaced the 44485-35 spring in later 1957.
The differences are unknown at this time.

Rear - there were two styles of rear brakes. There are internal differences between the 1952-1953 and the 1954-1963 styles.

REAR 1952-1953 1954-1963 1964-1969
Rear Brake Side Plate 41662-52 41662-54
Rear Brake Pivot Stud 41876-52 41876-54
Rear Brake Operating Shaft 44264-52 44624-54
Rear Brake Operating Shaft Washer 6662 6663B 6677B
Set of Brake Shoes and Linings 44402-52 44401-49A
Brake Shoe Spring (2) 44485-52 44484-35 [1] 41835-57

We don't have any “comparative anatomy” photographs at this time. It is believed that the differences between the 1952-1953 and 1954-1969 styles are similar to the front, except that there are no externally visible differences besides sand-cast finish (1952-1953), and polished (1954-1969).