left side rear brakes

I need to install rear brakes on a Softail conversion. Can I use right
side brakes and just turn them around? I can't find HD brakes for a
reasonable price and this is a low budget project.. Any help or advice
or better still offers of old brake calipers.. I can make the brackets
etc.

 

Yes

 

But results may depend on the caliper in question.

Some 4 pot calipers use a larger piston at the trailing
edge to even out pad wear. Reverse it so that the larger
piston is on the leading edge and it will work fine but
can produce very asymetric pad wear.

 

I'm actually running an ass backwards 4 pot myself.
The setup is a fairly common one, (BMW oilhead 4 pot
run backwards on an airhead fork). No complaints or
problems other than some very asymetric pad wear.

I'm happy with the result but I always have to remember
to check the leading rather than trailing edge for wear.

 

Yes, that's true. I was assuming a very basic caliper, mind (I've
actually done this myself with no ill effects), and on the back wheel
it isn't going to be doing as much work as a front caliper.

<Thinks>

Mind you, on a Harley....