A Guide to Tuning Your ATV’s Drum Brakes

When it comes to brakes on a modern ATV, there are typically two options: Hydraulic disc or manual drum.  While disc setups have become commonplace on sport/ performance models and upper-echelon utility steeds, drums are still incredibly popular on entry-level and mini ATVs.

Drums are often selected by the manufacturers due to their cost-effectiveness over their user-friendliness (which is unfortunate since beginners are often forced into maintaining them). 

The good news is that keeping new drum brakes in tune is actually a fairly simple process.  The following tips should help mechanics of all skill levels keep their stoppers in tiptop shape:

Brake Engagement Point

The key to keeping drum brakes operating effectively is to make frequent checks of the brake engagement point.  To do this, simply place your quad up on a stand and rotate the tires by hand.  While the tires are spinning, slowly engage the brake lever until the wheels lock up.

Follow this procedure while paying attention as to whether one wheel stopped sooner than the other.

Unlike disc brakes, which are self-adjusting, drums have to be tuned individually. 
If indeed one wheel stops before the other, adjust the brakes individually until they stop evenly (there will be a wingnut adjuster on each drum).  The reason drums commonly fall out of syncronization is due to the fact that they are cable-actuated and it is extremely uncommon for a cable to wear evenly.

Ignoring unsychronized drum brakes is dangerous for two reasons:  The first is that ATV handling  could be compromised should you find yourself locking up the wheels.  Additionally, even if the handling of the quad appears unaffected, the brake that acuates first receives the majority of the stress associated with slowing the vehicle down. It is this brake that will wear much more quickly than if the load was evenly distributed by both drums.