All proponents off other brands as well as their makers put down Honda for not having discs. Is this really a big deal? I have ridden Honda's with no notice of poor braking. I am looking to buy my fist quad, I like Honda but was just wondering on this detail.

 

I think they do a pretty good job.

No problems with them yet.

 

Not in my opinion. I have never had a single problem with Honda's drum brakes ever. If you keep them adjusted properly then they are very reliable. I truly believe most people shy away from them as they are a bit more complex when it does come time to replace the shoes. I also believe that they are far superior than disc brakes when it comes to water and mud. Disc brakes will wear much faster than drums. The only thing I like about disc brakes is the safety factor. They will stop the ATV faster than drums. I'm probably in the minority here but I would not let your decision of what ATV to buy be made solely on the disc vs. drum debate.

 

drums are fine, the only time i had a problem is when i was pulling 2 14cu ft tilt trailers tandum full of gravel up to a soft spot on a trail, had a huge hill and it started to get away from me when i was backing down to start dropping the gravel- drums suck in reverse! I shouldnt complain as both trailers weighed a total of 1,500 pounds!!!

 

Disks DO have superior braking power, and far more fade-residtance. However, you may not need those extra performance factors. For example: I often pull a trailer that can weigh up to 1500# with my Xplorer. Brake strength or fade has never been a factor, even on long downhills. If you have ever driven an Xplorer, you will know they have very little in the way of engine braking. For that reason I really like the disks on it. I also have an old 300 Fourtrax with drum brakes that I occasionally pull the same trailer with. Unless I load it heavy, I have never had a problem. On some long downhills, I can tell the brakes are starting to fade (when brakes get hot enough, they lose some braking power - disks stay cooler & cool off faster than drums). However, I never lost them completely, and as long as I keep speeds reasonable, or trailer weight down a bit, I have had no problems.
I would say the drums are more than adequate for up to maybe 750# of trailer pushing from behind as long as you drive with common sense, and for someone just riding the quad, you probably will never really need more braking power.
Disks are MUCH easier when it comes to changing the pads, but on the other hand, drums seem to go farther on the pads, maybe 3 or 4 times as long if you drive in mud occasionally (as long as the drum seals hold).
Drum brakes are not a deal-braker to me, nothing wrong with them. One word of advice, though, if you start to hear a grinding in the brake drum, check it out as soon as you can. The drum seal may have gone bad, letting dirt/mud into the brake mechanism. Usually it isn't too common unless you drive in mud deeper than halfway up the wheels all the time. An occasional stream crossing is no problem.

 

In some cases disc are better than drum, no question. Here are a few reasons I like the drum brakes on our Rubicon and our Rancher;
1. Two levers. If you need to get off you can apply the brakes from either side of the bike. Very important if you get in a bad situation.
2. Brakes are independent of each other, front / rear. If one goes out you still have the other. With Honda's being in 4-wd all the time you will still have 4-wheel braking if the front or rear fails.
3. Foot brake for the rear is controlled separately from the hand brake lever for the rear. Two separate cables.
4. The park brake does not "bleed off." The park brake will hold your ATV indefinitely.
5. They don't go "squeek squeek squeek" all the time.

For reasons 1-4, I feel these are the "safest" brakes out of all the ATVs braking systems.

We don't spend alot of time in the mud pits and water. We have forged streams and creeks over the top of the tires countless times and have had no water get into the brakes, yet. They seem to be wearing quite well, 2800 miles and they are not even close to bing 1/2 worn. I have a tendency to get alot of miles out of the brakes on everything I drive anyway. With the great engine braking you don't use the brakes as much as you would on other ATVs. The brakes have worked flawlessly for us and I would not make a buying decision solely on brakes. The Rubicon is a great ATV. The more we ride it the more we like it.

 

Thanks all for confirming what I suspected. I couldn't imagine someone with Hondas reputation going for inferior products, it is just that there are so many other brand riders knocking them.

If it ani't broke, don't fix it!!!!!!!!!

 

i have never had a problem with drum brakes, and they last for years with only minor maintanence, but, if you do decied they arent strong enough, highlifter atv products does sell a disc brake conversion that bolts right on easily, and is built with much higher components then stock disc brakes. i sue the same brands of components in my pro street car.

 

I've never had any complaints about my drum brakes. On the trails I ride, speed is not really an issue, I can gear down to reduce most of my speed anyway. The seals have held up perfectly, never had a wet brake, and no squeeks.

 

I hardly use mine on the Trx300 4x4 or the Recon unless its an emergency.

No problems here.

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