The front brakes need to be pumped two or three times before they will activate and the pedal for the rear brakes seems to travel a long ways before any braking effect is felt. The fellow I bought the ATV from said he put in new shoes in the rear last winter. Please help me out with suggestions on what needs to be done to get the brakes working properly. If I need replacement shoes and have the dealer do the work, what kind of total cost am I looking at for the front and the rear? I don't want to get ripped off. This is a 1986 Bayou 300 2WD. Thanks for your help.

 

As for the rear brakes, have you adjusted the little wing nut in the rear. If you turn it clockwise it will make the brake actuate sooner. Turn it one full turn at a time until your happy with the pedal play.
The front brakes sound either clogged up with grime or the pads are shot. Just buy some new pads and put them on.(similar to replacing disc on a car) In the process clean up the brake assymblies to assure smooth piston operation.

 

You probably have air in the fluid lines of the front brakes. If you're lucky it was the result of a poor brake job. Try bleeding them to see if you can push the air out through the bleeding outlets. If the problem comes back, you have a leak somewhere in the lines or master cylinder on the handlebars.

 

If you replace the front pads be very carefull with the pins that hold the pads in the caliper. It should be allen metric,if there is any hint of rounding out check your socket,dont use a worn out crappy socket!!!!! clean the pin for all mud and stuff, use heat from a small butane torch and heat around the pin this should expand the metal and help solvents work it self in, If in doubt take it to a dealer experience is sometimes the best repair. You dont want to buy calipers because of lack of knowledge. (200.00 plus each?)Hope this helps mike

 

By the way most true dealers are not money grubbing thieves,some people have had bad luck.However if you go in a couple of times so they know you by name or your machine (names can be tough, unless your a know it all but hole,then the dealer will know)Just joking or it could be very true.When they see you are wanting to care for your quad there will become a trust,help will come with that, Explain you are there for service and more knowledge for your quad,be willing to wait or make a appointment to talk with the service manager or owner.Be somewhat brief if he or she is very busy, ask when to stop by for a 10 min conversation this will gain alot of trust and repore between the two of you.Take That info for what it is worth and decide if you want to spend your money with that dealer, if your not happy look else where and decide if you have made your best move . Remember that mechanic does repair for a living,and has a big tool box whith big weekley payments,serval books and the experience to back there work. Yes I own a ATV dealership. hope this helps any who read this post. mike

 

Thanks to all who e-mailed and/or posted information to my question on brakes. I was able to adjust the rear brakes and I am taking the ATV in to the dealer on Tuesday to have him work on the front brakes. Thanks again!