Have to Push Hard to Stop Cart

[joec@joecarideo.com]

I have a 2003 Club Car DS (electric), 48v, with no lift kit or other body modification other than adding a rear seat.

My problem is when trying to stop the vehicle, I have to push very hard on the brake pedal to get the cart to stop in a reasonable amount of time and distance. I ride and drive similar carts every week on the golf course so I know there's an issue with my brakes, just don't know what it is.

I have taken the drums off, which proved to be very difficult. And yes the parking brake was off. I cleaned the shoes thoroughly, using Windex, until there was no graphite residue. Cleaned the inside of the drum as well. There is a slight lip on the rim of the drums, but I think that's a factory thing.

Any suggestions? I read on here somewhere that all the videos on YouTube regarding adjusting brakes are wrong, but the person never posted the correct way to adjust them.

Joe

[Hunter450]

The brakes are self adjusting. It sounds like the adjusting mechanism is froze and not allowing the shoes to expand far enough to get good pressure against the drum. I would pull the drums off and clean and lube the brake adjuster and the cable slide. While you have the drum off spray will brake cleaner and hit the surface with 80 grit emery cloth. This will remove any glazing on the drum.

BTW: The drums being hard to get off could be a sign that the cable slide is not fully releasing when not braking.

[Rick in Ohio]

The guy down the street from me just had the same problem. He said he just did the brake pedal cable adjustment and it seem to have work for him.

[joec@joecarideo.com]

Thanks Hunter and Rick. I did the brake pedal adjustment and not much different. First available minute, I'm going to try Hunter's solution. Any suggestion as to which lubricant to use?

Joe

[Hunter450]

I did my rear brakes this past weekend. I actually replaced the shoes so after I removed the old shoes, I sprayed everything down inside the drum with brake cleaner. While it was drying, I cleaned and sanded the drum lining. The lube I used was synthetic lithium grease on the slide and adjuster.