How to get Drum Brakes working better

[Stewy138]

I have been workinig on the 'going' part of my PE175C for a few months now and she goes pretty good.  But the stopping part is woeful.  I have fitted new shoes and have haad a shot at linishing the hubs with 180 grit and then lapped the linings onto the hubs which did improve things. 

The brakes are very spongy and dont come to a hard stop at all on the brake lever.  Not sure what is going on.

Any ideas would be welcome 

[Doc]

Stewy your cable is stuffed fit a new one and it'll be like night and day a common problem is the outa cables loosens and gets rooted over time and they flex like crazy when the lever is pulled. They can get so bad that the brakes can be adjusted to drag and still the lever will come into bars like a sponge. The front brake on a PE175 is a pretty good thing if you want even better but aren't worried about a little more unsprung weight then an RM250/400N/T or PE250/400 full wide hub will bolt srtaight it. It really is an overkill though but then I don't have a lot of weight to pull up either so maybe it could be worthwhile

[TYMTIT]

I agree there with Doc. Had the same problem with my IT250, bought the new shoes, adjusted the twin leading brakes and they still were spongy and not pulling up as well as hoped. The old brake cable looked like new but it was stretched to buggery. Once I changed the cable the difference was like chalk and cheese.

[TonyB]

mmm I allways carry a spare new brake clutch and throttle cable for the 465 so i might swap the new brake cable in and keep the old as a spare ans see if that makes a difference.

[caps 999]

yeh im gunna agree cable by the sound of things

[Stewy138]

Thanks Guys.   

[Oldbiker]

try some grooved brake shoes, EBC I think are the ones I have in my Yamaha TY250. They wear well and are worth it!

[yamaico]

Try centering up the brake drum. Loosen the axle, get the wheel off the ground, give it a good spin and while it's spinning jam the brake on hard. Keep pressure on the brake lever and tighten the axle and pinchbolts, if any. Helps the shoes make better contact within the brake drum.