Front drum brake adjustment?

Atv · 06-09-2018, 05:25 PM

Hey guys, I just picked up a Taotao 125cc atv. Assembly was pretty easy and it looks like it was made pretty well. The only issue I have right now is that the front brakes are terrible. Even with a death grip on it, it doesn’t really seem to give me much stopping power. There is only a few mm of slack on the cable before the brakes start to drag, are there any other adjustments besides the single nut on the back of the brake assembly?

Is this a common complain with these atvs? Is there any disk upgrade that isn’t too expensive?

Thanks

**JerryHawk250** · 06-09-2018, 05:40 PM

Use some cable lube in the cables. They will work better.

Atv · 06-09-2018, 06:03 PM

I am sure that will help with the feel but the problem I have is that they dont have much stopping power. 90% of the stopping power comes from the rear disc... is that normal?

**JerryHawk250** · 06-09-2018, 06:54 PM

The rear disc break will have more stopping power than the front drum break. But lubing the cable will improve them.

Computek · 06-10-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerryHawk250

The rear disc break will have more stopping power than the front drum break. But lubing the cable will improve them.

What Jerry said AND. Pull the front wheels off and lube the pivot pin on the arm on the brake drums. That helps quite a bit as well!

Atv · 06-10-2018, 12:13 PM

Ok, I just lubed both the cable and pivot point, and it does feel slightly better, and may have decreased the stopping distance a little, but it is very slight. It feels like the pivot bracket is too short and does kick out the pads enough? Right now, the front brakes feel pretty useless. Maybe this is just how it is??

Mudflap · 06-10-2018, 12:33 PM

Bedding them in should also help. Hold the front brake on as hard as you can and ride around carefully for a while.

FLASHLIGHTBOY · 06-10-2018, 12:58 PM

the front brakes are cable applied.... they are now putting disk brakes on some of the atvs ... it is just the way they work.... you have to apply the front and rear brakes anyways... all you can do is to have the brake cables adjusted so they apply when you have the slack adjusted so you can get a better applied lavage on them... lubing does help.... that is why I have never sold any front brake shoes in 10 years.... they never get enough wear to wear out...

Atv · 06-10-2018, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLASHLIGHTBOY

the front brakes are cable applied.... they are now putting disk brakes on some of the atvs ... it is just the way they work.... you have to apply the front and rear brakes anyways... all you can do is to have the brake cables adjusted so they apply when you have the slack adjusted so you can get a better applied lavage on them... lubing does help.... that is why I have never sold any front brake shoes in 10 years.... they never get enough wear to wear out...

After fiddling with it for a few hours, I think this is about as good as it is going to get right now. I used oiled and greased the moving parts, and lubed the cable as best as I could, adjusted the cable so that there is a slight drag on the wheel, and taken all of the slack out of the brake cables... All in all, maybe a 10-15% improvement over how it was out of the box.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Weldangrind · 06-11-2018, 10:47 AM

How are you lubricating the cables?

Atv · 06-17-2018, 12:39 AM

Drop a few drops of chain lube on to cable and let it flow down the cable housing, work the brakes to help it go down. Is there a better way?

Darth Racer · 06-17-2018, 08:27 AM

You can take the cable completely out of the housing and lube both. I used to do that to my freestyle bike. You can also use a tool that helps force spray lube into the cable like this........

Weldangrind · 06-18-2018, 12:24 AM

Yep, the cable luber is a wonderful invention.

06-09-2018, 05:25 PM	#1
Atv Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 5	Front drum brake adjustment? Hey guys, I just picked up a Taotao 125cc atv. Assembly was pretty easy and it looks like it was made pretty well. The only issue I have right now is that the front brakes are terrible. Even with a death grip on it, it doesn’t really seem to give me much stopping power. There is only a few mm of slack on the cable before the brakes start to drag, are there any other adjustments besides the single nut on the back of the brake assembly? Is this a common complain with these atvs? Is there any disk upgrade that isn’t too expensive? Thanks
	0

06-09-2018, 05:40 PM	#2
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,554	Use some cable lube in the cables. They will work better. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	1

06-09-2018, 06:54 PM	#4
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,554	The rear disc break will have more stopping power than the front drum break. But lubing the cable will improve them. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
	0

06-10-2018, 12:58 PM	#8
FLASHLIGHTBOY Join Date: May 2009 Location: SASKATOON Posts: 1,161	front brakes the front brakes are cable applied.... they are now putting disk brakes on some of the atvs ... it is just the way they work.... you have to apply the front and rear brakes anyways... all you can do is to have the brake cables adjusted so they apply when you have the slack adjusted so you can get a better applied lavage on them... lubing does help.... that is why I have never sold any front brake shoes in 10 years.... they never get enough wear to wear out... __________________ DEALER FOR ZSTAR & GIO PRODUCTS, TAOTAO ABIBABA ATV ETC
	0

06-11-2018, 10:47 AM	#10
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	How are you lubricating the cables? __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0

06-09-2018, 06:03 PM	#3
Atv Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 5	I am sure that will help with the feel but the problem I have is that they dont have much stopping power. 90% of the stopping power comes from the rear disc... is that normal?
	0

06-10-2018, 12:13 PM	#6
Atv Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 5	Ok, I just lubed both the cable and pivot point, and it does feel slightly better, and may have decreased the stopping distance a little, but it is very slight. It feels like the pivot bracket is too short and does kick out the pads enough? Right now, the front brakes feel pretty useless. Maybe this is just how it is??
	0

06-10-2018, 12:33 PM	#7
Mudflap Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 1,870	Bedding them in should also help. Hold the front brake on as hard as you can and ride around carefully for a while.
	0

06-17-2018, 12:39 AM	#11
Atv Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 5	Drop a few drops of chain lube on to cable and let it flow down the cable housing, work the brakes to help it go down. Is there a better way?
	0

06-17-2018, 08:27 AM	#12
Darth Racer Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: MD Posts: 558	You can take the cable completely out of the housing and lube both. I used to do that to my freestyle bike. You can also use a tool that helps force spray lube into the cable like this........ Last edited by Darth Racer; 06-18-2018 at 05:26 AM.
	1

06-18-2018, 12:24 AM	#13
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Yep, the cable luber is a wonderful invention. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
	0