have a 2002 prairie 300 4x4, it has 488 miles. I was riding up in the mountains the other day and noticed my brake fluid started getting low. The caliper was leaking on the front right wheel. After investigating I noticed the brake piston had gone completely through the inside brake pad and had wore the piston down almost all the way. Brakes were all the way down to metal on outside but inside had disentegrated. Checked left wheel and had broken through brake pad but had not dug into rotor yet. Has anyone else had this problem or am I just super hard on brakes? How often is most people changing front pads? I have only had this machine a year and a half.

 

I am not an expert at this, but I would guess either you're extremly hard on brakes or it is a factory defective caliper. With only 488 miles your brakes should be like new yet. I would take it to the dealer and see if they will cover it. Hopefully you have the extended warranty. Good luck

 

Depends on where you ride and the conditions. When I go to Wayne NF I usually put on 150 to 175 miles. I put new pads on before I go and need new when I get back. It is muddy and the mud has a lot of sand in it. A friend rode a brand new Sportsman 700 there and did what you did in less 150 miles. They are not like car brakes and make more noise when they are metal to metal so you need to keep an eye on things and learn how and where your brakes wear quicker. HTH

 

What you said about the sand wearing the pads out is exactly why I not completely sold on disc brakes over drums. I know drums in perfect conditions don't perform as well as discs do, but they last longer with simple maintenace.

 

Good Idea easteregg, I guess I should have changed mine it would have saved me $35(brake piston). It is very steep and mountainous. It is very rocky with lots of coal in the dirt. My owners manual says check front brakes every 90 days. I guess I will at least look at mine after every other ride or something. Thanks for the info.

 

I kinda of agree with you Rbig 18. I have not even had to adjust my rear brakes yet much less by anything for them.

 

drum brakes are great....... unitl you need to stop really fast and they are full of water and mud......