A brake on speed?

MDLNB

'97 CCDS 48 volt in less than optimal condition. Apparently, this home was rented out and the cart was not very well maintained. I was told it was totaled at one time and the owner refused to part with it. Had it rebuilt instead. By the paint chipping, I can tell it was once a green body, OR the original body was replaced.

At any rate, I have been complaining that the cart was slow. I replaced the 225 amp controller with a 400 amp controller. I have been able to get it up to 19mph on flat pavement. I noticed one rear tire was more worn than the other. If I hit the brake too hard, the cart would skid a bit. SO, yesterday I decided to pull the brake drums to check out the pads. The left one came off easily. There was still adequate padding but one shoe had a shiny slick spot on it. The springs looked brand new and everything looked pretty clean. I gave it a once over with brake cleaner, wiped it down and used some sand paper to rough out the slick spot. The drum went back on and I notice just a very slight friction when the wheel was turned. Ok? So, then the next wheel. I hate to admit it, but this one took about two hours to get off. It felt like it was welded on. I was worried about hosing up the lugs but they were fine. The drum finally worked free. The drum was smooth, where the other one had grooves worn in it. This one was mirror smooth and the shoes were also fine, even though they had been tight against the drum. Apparently, the auto adjuster was spun way out pushing the shoes tight against the drum. Everything was new looking and the shoes still had plenty of pad still on them. I adjusted the shoes back in and after cleaning the whole assembly and roughing the pads a bit, replaced the drum. I am a bit concerned that I did not get both wheels adjusted equally, but I did do a test run and the brakes DO work. I feel that I may have to push the brake pedal down a bit harder to stop, but it seems that the cart rolls much more freely now.

Note: These brakes do NOT have the top adjustment for the shoes. When you look at the back of the brake assembly, there is no place to adjust the top of the brakes.

I have a feeling that I need to adjust the brake shoes a bit closer to the drum to attain better braking. Since I have never done this before, I am not quite sure exactly how they should feel. I will have a professional check them for me when I get the steering worked on. I can admit my limitations.

BGW

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scottyb

The cart has auto adjusters. If the shoes move past point X to contact the drum, they turn the adjuster screw out one 'click'. When properly working, you can adjust the brakes by simply applying them again and again. Often you can hear the clicking. In some cases the auto adjuster doesn't work or is over active and needs to be replaced.

MDLNB

Thanks ScottyB. That makes sense to me. All the springs were shiny like new and all the parts looked fairly recent. I wonder if the one adjusted all the way was actually the one working and the one that came off easily is the one that might be acting up. Maybe that one has not been adjusting automatically?

scottyb

if you have a lot of play in the brake peddle tighten the cables under the cart where the 2 cables come into the one brake actuated rod.

Check those brakes again in a week and if that one side has tightened up so the drum is hard to remove again then replace the adjuster ( there are right and left side adjusters) Also replace that drum with the grooves and replace or sand the shoes flat.

MDLNB

Thanks. I appreciate your time and advice. I'll give it about a week and check it again.