I have rebuilt the rear caliper, replaced the rear brake line and installed new pads and I still cannot keep the rear brakes from 'dragging' on the new pads. The damned things are adjusted all the way out so I am about to give up and live with ****ty brakes and reinstall the old worn pads. Please help if you have experience with this problem. I am so mad at Polaris brakes I cannot even see strait because I have been fooling around with this problem for over a month and it is costing me precious riding time..

Has anyone ever had their rear brakes drag after a brake job?

Is it a break-in thing for the new pads?

The front breaks work perfectly and I installed front pads the same time I did the rear.

 

You said they were adjusted all the way out so I assume you have the mechanical rear brake. Check the linkage to the caliper. On my old ride, the linkage was binding up from the rear brake pedal. Try grabbing the little arm on the caliper with pliers and moving it the opposite way the brake pulls it. Move it so that the cam is in the center of the little ramps and see if it drags now. Mine didn't return all the way for some reason, even after a dousing with wd-40. I finally went to a hardware store and rigged up a spring to fully retract the mechanical brake. Just hook it up to the arm and anywhere on the frame you can. I believe I had to use some wire on the other spring to get it to work. I think the problem is the wear that goet in the linkage.

 

On my 97 Sport 400, the rear brake rotor "floats" on a spline ( non concenric model ). When I replaced the rear pads, I found that they draged and did alot of squeeking ! Under closer inspection I found the rotor had silicone retaining it. ( I was told this was from factory ? ) I removed the silicone and alowed the rotor to
find it's own center. It worked for me, Give it a go and at worst, you will have to put a bit of silicone back on !

Hope I helped
Andrew - Sport 400
Australia

 

Thnks guys

I will remove the silicone and check the linkage. I am getting alot of squeeling so the silicon may be the problem. You said the silicone is on the shaft behind the rotor?

 

Did you have to remove the caliper to move the rotor into proper position?

 

It worked! Removing the silicone from behind the caliper seemed to stop the dragging and the squeeling. I only rode for a little while so I will not know for sure until a long ride. Thanks Polarisperth and all the folks that sent in tips..

 

No problem mate !
On my Sport the silicone was on the front side of the rotor. It stoped the rotor aligning itself between the brake pads. Stainless braided brake lines also helped on mine - took away a bit of the squishy feeling in the lever.

Andrew
97 Sport 400
Australia