Partial brake replacement?

[Drrhein]

I have a neighbor who has a 86 CC and the brakes are awful going down some of the local hills. This lady is retired and on a fixed income so I'm really trying to keep her costs down. When I looked at her brakes I found the forward facing shoes worn to almost nothing but the rear facing shoes are fine. To cut her cost in half, can I replace just the forward facing shoes?

Also do I have to pull the axles (no hubs on this cart) to get at the shoes. The snap-ring looks hard to get at and it sure looks impossible to do brakes without taking the axle out. (No youtube videos for this one)

[scottyb]

I have done those breaks with the axle on and off. If you can remove the axle - do it. I think you will be fine with a half set just notice when ordering - front and rear are different shoes.

[mrgolf]

With some good brake pliers and spring hooks they are not too bad to do with the axle in place.

[Drrhein]

Well, Got it done. Went ahead and replaced all four shoes. It was much easier to do by removing the axle shafts. And HF retaining ring pliers broke, twice. Wound up going to Granger and paying $40 for a good pair.

[scottyb]

The axles are easy to pull and access is suddenly ballroom
HF has it's good and bad stuff,
No substitute for good tools.