ok so today i replace the brake shoes on both sides on the front of my 2004 recon, when i removed the old shoes i noticed there was almost no where on them, i replaced them anyway as there had been no braking power, i adjust them, and when i put it all together the brake lever was still really easy to pull back and the front brakes dont stop the quad, or even slow it down.
next, i added dot 3 brake fluid, bled the brakes and added more fluid. still there is no stopping power and the right had brake lever pulls so easy its like a clutch.
does anyone know how i can pix this problem? thanks.

 

the only other thing is ur cylinders might be shot. take the drum off. and pull the lever. does the shoes move? and when its all together pump the brake a few times. does it start to build up pressure and the brakes start to work? if yes then they still need adjusted.
Melvin

 

i pumped the braks over and over and there has been no buildup in pressure. is there a way to fix the mast. cylinder or just replace it?

 

i think it can be rebuilt. but if it doesnt build any pressure there must still be air in the lines. how did u bleed the brakes? the best way is to use a water bottle, fill it about half full of brake fluid. take a small hose and connect it to the end of the bleeding screw and put the other end in the bottle, unscrew it and pull the lever till no more air comes out of the hose. then retighten, refill the resevior and do the same to the other side.

 

i just tried that agian, and still no pressure and no stopping power, the brake lever still pulls in with no effort.

 

Brakes can be a pain to bleed. They make a tool called EZE Bleeder. It forces fluid up from the wheel cylinder into the reservoir. You can also make one from a plastic brake fluid bottle. Put a airtight fitting in the screw on lid and clamp on a hose that will attach to the bleeder on the cylinder or caliper. Remove some fluid from the reservoir first. Attach the hose to the bleeder screw. Loosen the screw and squeeze the bottle. When fluid with no bubbles enters the reservoir close the bleeder screw. Put rags around the reservoir because fluid will be forced out. Good luck. Hope this helps.

 

Did you adjust the brakes until you could feel them drag on the drums...

 

master cylinder rebuild kits go for around 30.00 I think denniskirk has them..
lots of good brake adjusting bleeding advice here that may come in handy....if you would rather juist bolt one on try ebay they have them all the time anywhere from 20.00 to 50.00 (used mastercylinders)

 

i did adjust the brakes so they are just touching the drums, with the atv off the ground, and the front wheels spinning when you pull the brakes nothing happens, until the lever is all the way in, then you get braking that is soo miniscule it barely slows down the freely spinning wheels.

 

Try to bleed the master cylinder by cracking the line loose at the cylinder, pull the lever and dighten by releasing. Try this until no air and only fluid comes out of the line bolt where you are bleeding the master cylinder. There may be air trapped inside the master cylinder

----- Gimpster -----