my son has an '04 Z400. He loves this quad and has a blast with it. UNFORTUNATELY, we live in a utility quad type of area, with lots of rocky, hilly, muddy riding conditions. And he just loves spinning out in the mud and getting caked in the goop. I'm quickly discovering how hard mud is on these quads. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img]

Basically, I JUST replaced the rear rotor and pads about 1 month ago. I put on the sintered metallic Tusk brand pads from rockymountain atv. Man, these things wore out in NO TIME, with RARE USE!!. My son rarely uses the brakes, as he just gears down. I'm sure they've been caked in mud tho. Anyways, the FIRST time I did this job, the OUTER pad was completely worn and the rotor was warped. I replaced the rotor and installed Tusk pads. Now this set has worn, with the outer more worn than the inner, but both are down to metal. My rotor is scored too, but not warped.

The caliper piston squeezes in easily with a medium size c-clamp. I also lube the 2 slider pins with never-seize.

1)IS this just a by-product of riding in mud, and having it caked on there? Should I disassemble & clean after EVERY mud ride? (I took apart the fronts, and they probably have half the material left, and have lasted 2 full sets of rears).
2)WHAT PADS last longest/perform best on the rear?
3)SInce rotor is scored, do I need to replace, or can I get it turned? I bought a high quality rotor that was supposedly slighty thicker. It didn't seem to warp this time.
4)I was looking at Babbit's and they have several rotors. Moose makes a SOLID rotor that they claim is best for mud. Others have slots, etc.., that they call self cleaning. I wonder IF the slots hold mud and cause faster wear? Anyone have any experience with the rotor holding mud and causing pre-mature pad wear??

5)Can anyone recommend other web-sites for the Z400? It seems like a popular sport quad, so I'm guessing there must be a couple of sites dedicated to this quad.

THANKS for the help.

 

You have a pm Sir....

 

I did a search using z400 brakes, and NOBODY seems to have discussed what pads work for them. I've heard discussion about
a)Factory pads
b)SBS
c)EBC severe duty (apparently EBC is not all that long lasting)

So what is the real world experience? WHat lasts the longest, riding mud ????