less than a month of me having my fiddy my rear brakes were down to almost no stopping power. took everything off and checked out the brakes thinking there were really glazed. so i sanded off the pads a bit to clear the glaze and did the same with the drum/hub and put it all back together. worked a little better but nothing like when i got it..
i bought the thing from a family where there was a little kid riding it, i dunno if he was on the rear all the time or what...so i really don't know what a brand new brake setup feels like but i can't bring 12's back anymore and barely can get it to skid when i put my full weight on it.
you guys run into this? what did you do.. i have plenty of shoe surface left so i can't see where new pads would help.

 

It could be 1 of 2 things. 1- Readjust the rear brake pedal and setup how sensitive it is by adjusting how much play is in it. It would be hard to imagine, but if the kid rode the rear unrelentlessly and the previous family had already put new pads on it once or twice, then the drum could possibly be worn past the service limit.
That's about all I can think of. Let us know what you wind up doing.

 

It could be 1 of 2 things. 1- Readjust the rear brake pedal and setup how sensitive it is by adjusting how much play is in it. It would be hard to imagine, but if the kid rode the rear unrelentlessly and the previous family had already put new pads on it once or twice, then the drum could possibly be worn past the service limit.
That's about all I can think of. Let us know what you wind up doing.

 

i bet its number one. Or maybe dad over did the rear brakes? But i have a 97 z50 and i use to never use the front brake, i would skid left and right and it works fine still.

 

well i have made the thing tighter and tighter and it either engages way to soon for my taste or doesn't do anything, got another friend with the same problem as me just not as bad yet. didn't exactly messure the drum or check what the thinest it could be before machining again but its got alot left.

 

same thing happen to my 50 i sanded the pads and cleaned them with brake cleaner they work better but not the best

 

i've had my fiddy for a month or two and all i've noticed is that repeated use of either the front or rear brake will shine the shoes a little, when that happens it sweaks and screeches, but if you're easy on it for a while it'll go away. imprezawd said my brakes were way better than his and i told him to scuff the shoes w/ sandpaper - i guess we'll see if that works.
B

 

I am having the same problem after owning a brand new 50 from the store....

o well....

maybe this is common?

 

That **** wears out quick...I've been through the same thing...sanding the pads and drums. I finally broke down and bought some new pads....**** still doesn't work like it did new. I guess it's time for a new drums

 

the secret is to get wheelies down without having to use the back brake

 

Well that is cool and all, but it is impossible to 12 without rear brake...


As far as the other stuff goes, I have the same prob with my Z and XR... I have sanded grinded, you freakin name it, I have done it... I am lost as well.... I have found a couple of things that helped... I took the shoes right off, and lubed the cam that actuates them, and where the shoes run on the hub.... I want to resurface the drum, but I am not sure how I am gona set it up on the brake lathe.. LOL...

Next I am gonna get a drum sander on the drill press, and try that. There is no way that the drum can be too large, that is impossible... There is a ton of adjustment.... that is my 2 cents... glad but not really glad to see that I am not the only one with the prob

 

Y would u sand it down, that would make it smoother and make it less powerful? Try power washing it.

 

HUH???.. No that would not.. if ya look at it now, it is shiny and glazed.. hence when ya sand it with ROUGH sandpaper, like 80 grit... or 120 or so,, it would not be smooth... I was not referring to sanding it to a POLISH..,.

 

Yea i know there shiny.I dont know how pressure washin it would do anything but i just said it. ITs glazd and really smooth. OWuld it make sense to be sticky kinda? Like the sticky glue or somtin? Stupid 80s technology.

 

my brakes howl like a wolf ..... i am not runnin fronts right now could i swap my pads to the back?????????? i am askin if they will fit?

 

as far as I know they will.... Swap

Sticky???


Hmmmm..... Yeah, that is what would happen if they were rough

 

The front and rear pads are identical

 

well yea looks like a crap load of people have the same problem and done all the same things i have except turned the drum... serious thought about do that a few months ago but didn't for fear of either being laughed out of the machine shop or getting some over confident guys saying he could and messing it up..
anyway seems like the consensus is that they never really go back to normal...
guess i need to start rocking the halfie helmet cause like i said the 12's are dangerous.

 

anybody make any performance pads for the 50? like ebc hh's or something??? i've tried the sanding thing, but nothing seems to work...my wheelies aren't dangerous yet, but you can definitely notice fade

 

sand the pads sand the drum and clean with brake cleaner, repeat and put back together