1984 Club Car DS Brake Question

Paulzy123

Hello

As the title says I have a 1984 Club Car DS with braking issues.

I took the hubs off, and there appears to be plenty of pad, and the drums look good.
When pressing the brake we have to press extremely hard, and the cart will slow, but not quickly.
On loose gravel one tire will lock up if we press hard.
The parking brake hold the cart dead still when engaged.
Lifting the cart I cannot move the wheels when the brake is applied.

It's a bit of an issue, since the park we use the cart in is very hilly, and plenty of kids running around. The cart just doesn't stop quickly.
I have adjusted any slack in the brake cables by tightening the nut on the equalizer rod. But that just makes the pedal apply brakes sooner, however same lame braking power.

What could be the issue?
Old pads don't grab?

Should I replace the pads? Springs, drums, or cables? Even though they all seem to be in good working order?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

thanks
Paul

This cart sat for quite a few years, and now is back up and running, if that helps any.

I assuming that the pads and drums are all original.

BGW

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mrgolf

They are manual brakes, like the old horse drawn wagon brakes. Foot power!

crash test dummy

there is a manual brake adjustment
jack up cart with both wheels off the ground
from the back
at the top of the brakes there is a little rubber boot
take it off (see attachment)
then with a small crescent wrench turn the square head bolt 2 clicks in the inward direction
test wheel movement it should just rub . if it does not rub do 2 more clicks
repeat each side
then test brakes , it should not turn
take for a test drive , if only one wheel grabs adjust other side

Attached Images

brakes.png (88.5 KB, 0 views)

Paulzy123

That's great thanks.
I'll try that suggestion this weekend.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

93yellowclubcar

Paul,

MANY times I have found that older carts, especially ones which have sat for a time, have frozen brake sliders. This is the piece at the bottom that the cable pulls on and it shoves one shoe toward the drum and when that shoe makes contact the slide allows the other one to expand toward the drum also. It is very important for proper brake function and feel that the sliders be able to move forward and backward freely by hand. After you have made this happen, then do Crash's adjustment procedure. Amount of pedal travel before the brakes grab is also adjustable and done from under the pedal group at the rod linking the brake cables to the brake pedal.

Hope this helps!

Paulzy123

Thanks again.

Can I just use penetrating oil to free it, then brake grease to lube?

93yellowclubcar

Yep! I personally like to use brake cleaner and/or compressed air first to flush out all the brake dust and spiders. Just be sure to remove the shoes first to make it easier and so you don't get anything slick on the surface of the shoes.

Oh, and whatever you do, DO NOT take off the nut from the bolt that runs through the slider!!! The end of the bolt is flared and if you take the nut off you'll mess up the threads and never get it back together. Learned this from another forum member's very frustrating experience.

crash test dummy

if you drove it more then you would not get spiders

Paulzy123

It gets driven plenty now. 2 adults, and 3 licensed kids...
I almost need a GPS to find it.
But, that's also why I need the brakes to work properly.

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I look forward to applying them on Saturday.

Paul

93yellowclubcar

No problem, hope the job goes smoothly for you and the brakes work better.

As for the spiders, Crash was just razzing me because I disappear from the cart world from time to time and that could cause spiders to inhabit my cart.