2003 Ozark rear brake return spring will not return. I depress the foot brake lever and the spring tenses but will not return to it's original "free" position without manually pulling it back by hand. Obviously this causes some major rear brake lever play but worse, I'm riding with the brake always engaged once I've depressed it. Suggestions?

 

i would lube the cables and outback where it goes into the drum i would look there to see if there is mud or something else stopping it from going back

 

Yep, it is indeed the pin going into the drum (outback?). I had the cable mechanism and return spring off and the pin is bound up on something. I suppose I need to take the drum housing off to get in there and clean/lube that up? I ride in a lot of water/mud over the axle so I'm pretty sure this is the cause. Happen to know what size the castlenut might be to get the hub off? It's a big'n and I need to pick up a socket for it.

Thanks.

 

i couldn't tell ya...just use a big pipe wrench...that'll get the job done

 

Got everything apart. 27mm socket for the castlenut. Bought a piece of 1" x 18" pipe to slip over my socket wrench. Cheaper than a $24 breaker bar. Popped the quad in reverse and it spun right off. Looks pretty grimey in there. I've got the pin out and am going to clean everything up and relube. Hopefully, it will do the trick. Are there any new seals that I should replace? I just saw a couple of inner/outer metal washers. Obviously something gave way because there was some water and particulate in there.

 

What kind of grease should I use to button the rear brake back together? White lithium???

 

yeah...that should work...either that or the grease for brakes...basically same as lithium

 

Works great! Cleaned everything up with brake cleaner, knocked some of the rust off of the cam pin and it works like a charm. Advanced the cam pin a little bit to get a better feel in the handlebar lever.