Brake shoe replacement

invalidsession

Hi all, I am about to replace my badly worn brakes (1997 Club Car) and could use a little advice as to the best way to tackle this task. I tried the search and found some references but confusingly, one poster referred to a diagram but provided no link !! Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thank you.
Chris.

BGW

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hokihigh

Hey, I just did that today. The best way I've found is of course loosen the lugnuts on both rear tires, jack up the cart place the axle on jack stands. Remember to release the parking brake, then remove the the brake drums from both sides. Now with a pair of needle nose pliers release the spring clips holding the brake shoes in place. Then remove the upper brake spring and the shoes should come off in your hand. Now the long shoe in your package of new ones is the front shoe (its square on the top and tapered on the bottom) and the more squared off one on both ends will the rear shoe. If you get confused just look at the other side that is still together.

Now clean the area really well with brake cleaner remembering to reset the brake adjuster by running the screw back in, lube the adjuster. then place the front shoe in the housing, putting the tapered end into the flat tip end on the adjuster, then put the spring clip on to hold it in place, then do the same with the rear shoe. Now comes the fun part the springs, I've found a needle nose vise grip to work really well here, I would put the top spring on first, then the bottom.

Now test fit the brake drum, to ensure there is proper resistence shoe to drum. if its not lightly scrubing it is to loose, then just spin the star nut on the adjuster. Then put everything back on and go for a test drive.

I hope this helps,

Hoki

invalidsession

Thanks Hoki. I've done dozens of brake jobs on cars, just wanted to make sure that there were no sneaky little differences apart from the lack of space behind the hubs. I will write up a little report when I get done. Just a quick question, should the springs attach from behind the shoes or in front ? Mine were at the back which seem illogical and I have read of owners who have had both methods.
Thanks again,

Chris.

hokihigh

Hey Chris,

I put my springs on from the front, its the easiest way and it works. Good luck.

Hoki

invalidsession

Brake shoe replacement update and the method I used.

I got to the brakes yesterday and here is the method I used.
All parts removed and the drum, backing plate and adjusters were thoroughly cleaned.

1, Attach rear facing shoe using spring clip, lower return spring fitted and hanging down.

2, Attach lower spring to front facing shoe, fit adjuster (fully wound in) to backing plate and pull the lower part of the shoe to fit over it.

3, Attach upper spring to the rear facing shoe and then with the front shoe off of its upper pivot and pushed to the rear attach the upper spring to it.

4, Pry the front facing shoe back out to the upper pivot and fit the spring clip.

5, Center the shoes and fit the drum, turn the adjuster until the shoes just make contact, press brake pedal to ensure the shoes are fully centred then back off the adjuster two teeth.

And that was it. Part five took a little while since I had to constantly remove the drum to get to the adjuster due to the self adjust levers having been mysteriously removed by the PO but other than a quick adjustment to the parking brake cable the little bugger now stops nicely and the whole job took under an hour.

Hope this helps someone out and thanks to Hoki for his tips.

Chris.

scottyb

Nice Job ! Keep an eye on the adjustment. The self adjusters tend to over do their job....

invalidsession

Thanks Scotty. The lever arms for the adjusters were missing from the brake assembly so these will have to be adjusted manually from time to time. Perhaps your comment about "over doing their job" was the reason for the removal ? Easy enogh to adjust them by hand but it's a PITA. Quite why they couldn't provide an access hole in the drum is a strange quirk.

Chris.

scottyb

I guess some engineer figured out you wouldn't be needing it I have seen these carts with the brakes adjusted to on all the time as the adjuster seems to rachet down each time you step on the brakes hard?

Wildlifer

mark thanks guys