2002 Suzuki Eiger Rear Brake Drum Help!!!

[footbal9584]

Ok we have been riding today and noticed the brakes get progressively worse. I tightened up the cable and they were good for a while, but then about an hours or two later there was no rear brake again. So I took the tire and cover off and noticed about a mm of pad left on each shoe and the smell of burnt wires or something like that. I also noticed that it looked like there is supposed to be some kind of oil or something inside the drum, because there is an o-ring around the brake assembly that the drum cover goes onto, and some oil residue or something inside it. Could anyone possibly give me a walkthrough on how to properly replace the shoes and if there is any oil or something that is supposed be in there. Thanks

Mike

[DirtDemon]

You should buy a manual, and or question your dealer or whoever you buy the parts from. Most brake systems use a high temp synthetic or silicone grease to reduce squeaking and vibration. The grease must be high temp rated and only small amounts are used so that the grease stays where it needs to be and doesn't get hot and run off. The smell you noticed was burning brakes, that means something was dragging constantly. That could be caused by a sticky brake actuator, foreign debris lodged between the shoes and drum, or it could just be that you adjusted the brakes too tight. Heat will cause your brakes to fade and wear extremely fast. While you have things apart, make sure to properly clean and lubricate all moving parts. I assume these are mechanical drums since you mentioned that they are cable operated.

[footbal9584]

Hey thanks for the quick reply, ya I probably did adjust them too tight, because I was simply trying to get them to work so we could ride it. And ya they are run on cables (one for hand, one for foot) that are attached to an arm that can be adjusted along this gear like thing that goes inside the drum which has the shoes and that part is sort of like circle with both sides partially cut off so when you pull the cable it turns and the shoes push out against the drum. So where would I apply the grease? would it be the same thing you would use on car brakes? And what is a good rule of thumb for adjusting the intensity of the brake levers. Thanks

[DirtDemon]

The grease should be used any moving parts and places where there is metal on metal contact between parts, just make sure it doesn't get on the contact surface of the drum or on the friction pad of the shoe. I am sure you can use the same stuff you would use on your car, just make sure it is recommended for use on brakes. When adjusting the the brakes, you want to make sure that the cables are tight enough for the brakes to engage fully before the lever bottoms out, but not so tight that the brakes are rubbing constantly. I would guess that you want about 1/2" to 3/4" of free play in the brake pedal or lever before the shoe contacts the drum. Once again, I recommend buying a manual, it will have specific specs and clearances for your machine.

[druzuki]

take out the gear looking lever and clean it and the hole through the backing plate make sure itmoves back and forth freely also make sure cables arent sticking there are marks where the lever goes on the splined shaft(gear looking thing)YOU CAN GET A LITTLE MORE life out of shoes by rotating lever mark 1 tooth behind shaft mark the oring is to keep water out i have an 03 eiger it had the same problem when you adjust it put it in neutral and make sure you can roll quad pushing by hand but cant when brakes are applied this should help you i would buy a shop manual only when you run into more serious problems a suzuki manual for the eiger is about 70 bucks dont waste your money on anything except the factory manual good luck p.s. grease the shaft that has the splines with hi temp grease lightly

Edited September 7, 2009 by druzuki
forgot something

[Ajmboy]

Doesn't that Eiger have hydraulic brakes? I believe there is a fluid reservoir on those. Or is that just for the front brakes?

There's no wheel cylinder in that drum assembly, right?

[footbal9584]

ya the front are hydraulic the rear are just cables, what do you mean by wheel cylinder? In order to remove the cover for the drum brakes I had to remove the large axel nut and the piece that goes on the axel and has the 4 bolts to connect to the tire, then I had to remove about 6 or seven small bolts to remove the drum housing. I am at school right now, but when I get home I'll post some pictures. Thanks for the help so far guys

[DirtDemon]

A wheel cylinder is what actuates the brakes in a hydraulic drum system, you don't have one in a mechanical drum.