5 Brake Tips

Cassandra

• April 25 2009
• 837 views
• 7 comments

Having good brakes is important, and trust us, you don’t want to learn that lesson the hard way. Here are five quick and easy tips to keep your brakes unstoppably stoppable. (Say that five times fast.)

1. Bleed Those Brakes

If you haven’t changed the brake fluid in your quad for a while (or ever), do it! Disc brake fluid collects moisture over time and should be flushed at least once a year. Most manufacturers suggest a minimum of DOT 4 fluid, and we suggest the high-temperature variety. Be sure to flush all of the old brake fluid out with new, clean stuff for maximum effectiveness. To really finish off a good disc brake bleeding session, top off the master cylinder with fluid and open the bleeder once you are confident that the bleeding is done. Then pry the brake pads back (open the caliper up) and pump the brake lever one more time, being sure to hold the lever in. Now close the bleeder and pump the lever until it has a good, strong feel. This technique will pop out any bubbles that have lodged themselves behind the caliper pistons during the bleeding process.

2. Proper Pads

There are a ton of brake-pad compounds and a thousand different types of terrain to ride an ATV on, so what is the method behind all of the madness? All you need to know is that sintered metal pads, which usually come stock on a quad, are great for mud riding or any other condition that sees a lot of grit coming into contact with the brake system. For more aggressive, racing-type applications, look for a composite compound; these are generally softer and provide stronger braking feel, but the trade off is a shortened pad life. Remember to check your pads so you always know when your brakes are on their last leg. Squealing brakes, weak stopping, and a taco-ed rotor are no fun! When you change your rear brake pads, also check the caliper pins for grooves. If they have grooves, chances are that the brake pads will not properly float on the pins and will need to be replaced.

3. Cable Care

Every time you ride, your quad’s brake cables are collecting dust and grime, causing them to become difficult to pull. Spray WD-40 or another kind of lubricant down the brake lines. This should make them pull with ease. While you’re in the handlebar area, check that the brake lever is snug on the handlebars. Don’t over tighten them, though. You should be able to pound the brake lever with your fist and have it rotate–it’ll be less likely to break in a crash if there’s a little give.

4. To Lube, and Not To Lube

Putting a dab of grease on the front brake lever push pin where it contacts the master cylinder piston improves brake feel. You can use anti-seize compound on all brake caliper mounting bolts, axle nuts, hub nuts, and anything that requires a torque wrench for assembly to help make the torque readings accurate. And then, after you’re done pressure washing your quad, bust out the WD-40 and apply it liberally to the brake lever and brake pivots, but steer clear of the rotors!

5. Do a Quick Check

Put your quad up on a stand and have someone depress your quad’s rear brake pedal as you stand behind the machine. Watch to make sure the caliper pivots float properly! If your quad has drum brakes, check and adjust them regularly–you know that they are properly adjusted when you spin the wheel and the pads just barely rub.