Rear brakes lock up on shifter

murf28 · Joined: 14 Dec 2001 Posts: 3

The rear brakes on my shifter lock under modererate to hard braking, but the fronts will not. I have tried adjusting the brake bias screw both directions with no luck. Any suggestions?

John Learmonth · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2001 12:28 am Post subject: Rear brakes lock up on shifter

quote:
Originally posted by murf28:
The rear brakes on my shifter lock under modererate to hard braking, but the fronts will not. I have tried adjusting the brake bias screw both directions with no luck. Any suggestions?

Are the front pads in good condition? In particular are they glazed? If all the braking surfaces are OK and the system is mechanically OK then perhaps you could try a front brake master cylinder that is the next size down in cylinder diameter?? This will increase hydraulic pressure in the front brakes. Alternatively you could try a rear master cylinder that is the next size up????

ron brolley · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2001 7:51 am Post subject: Rear brakes lock up on shifter

First off i would go to your profile and change to your full name its a rule in this forum. But i think it sounds like you have air in your brake lines. First bleed the back brakes and then the front ones. Go to web page they have a rwal nice bleeder system.
Ron

ron brolley · Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2001 7:53 am Post subject: Rear brakes lock up on shifter

Sorry go toTSRacing

Tony Gaylord · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2001 2:59 am Post subject: Rear brakes lock up on shifter

quote:
Originally posted by ron brolley:
Sorry go toTSRacing

TSR Racing - nice 'lil site there

Very cool.....

Now this is what I have to calculate to be smooth?!?! Geeze

Being Smooth - Oh My

james fuchs · Joined: 22 Jul 2001 Posts: 184

make shure you have the pafds as close as you can get them if you have two much clearencein pads on one brake you will not have brakes on that set .jim fuchs

Jimmy Moore · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 664

Why don't you get a mechanic to look at it?

Sean Robbins · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2001 5:50 pm Post subject: Rear brakes lock up on shifter

Have you bled the front brakes?

As others have said, check the gap between the pads and the rotor. For retractable pad brakes, you probably want something comparable to the thickness of a cereal box (pull a flap off to use as an impromptu feeler gauge). The important thing is to have the fronts about the same (else the kart will pull under braking), and roughly the same front-to-back.

Keep in mind that under heavy braking, the weight of the kart is shifted forward. If you are also being thrown forward in the seat, that will further exacerbate the problem.

Bottom line, you should be able to lock up the front brakes, but want the bias set that the rear locks up just before the fronts do.

Sean Robbins www.kartlift.com

Steven Samuels · Joined: 07 Jan 2002 Posts: 5 Location: Florida

I would first check that the brake fluid is not leaking and somehow getting on the pads. you may not notice the leakage. even a small amount could cause your brakes to lockup. Also check that the piston is not binding at the caliper and master cylinder.. also, pump the brake a few times, take your foot off the brake and go to the caliper bleeder screw.. open the bleeder, "cover your eyes" if the brake fluid spurts out your master cylinder is keeping pressure in the line.
Finally, flush out all the brake fluid in a clean glass jar and examine it for metal, dirt and rubber particles..
Make sure you are using the correct brake fluid for your system...
Hope this helps..

Steven Samuels