SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a look

Rear wheel removal procedures differ from bike to bike.

Shaft or chain, you basically disconnect the brake rod and torsion arm, and pull the rear axle.

Without knowing what bike you have I can't be more specific.

(I was looking for an excuse to "bump" the thread. Thanks)

 

pull the rear wheel off. the brake drum comes out with. just seperate the brakes from the rim

they are mounted as one assembly.

 

Why is this post not sticky'ed?

I've been here weeks and this is the first time I've found it (via another post).

 

Agreed. Can we get Robert to sticky this?

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

Cool, everything possible has been done to warn people, now just have to hope everyone with drums has the sense to check 8) Thanks

 

Im paying $200 for the rear brake and a new tire when the season starts

 

If you are not going to do the new rear brake-job yourself, ... which would be considerably less than 2-bills ... have the shop:

• Remove the Rust Ridge on the Drum.
• De-glaze the Drum.
• Remove Spreading Cam.
• Clean and Dress Cam Shaft & Bore.
• Lube Bore and Shaft with synthetic waterproof grease.
• Chamfer the edges of your new Brake Shoes.
• De-glaze the surfaces of the New Shoes.
• Apply an O-ring (that you supply) over the outside of the Shaft against the housing to aid keeping the Bore uncontaminated.

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

Agreed, a lot of people get put off doing the brake themselves because it's the brakes and they don't feel confident, but in reality the rear drum brake is probably one of the easiest job's you'll do on your XJ AND you get the peace of mind & satisfaction of knowing that everything Rick listed has really been done & not just a set of Chinese shoes thrown on by the shop.

Any sticking points you find, you'll be able to get fixed/work through with help from the guys here, really can't say enough good things about the members here, been here just over a week & IMO it's the most welcoming, tolerant and helpful community on the net!

Then you can have the shop throw that tire on for peanuts & spend what you save on more XJ bits

 

I remember changing the rear shoe on my XS650 was the very first job I did on it, very easy compared to whatever is under the fuel tank!

 

100% agreed again, it really is a good "baptism" into the world of spannering for people to build confidence on (after all, if they haven't done much before then realising you can easily fix the brakes on this seemingly impossibly complex maze of bearings, looms, yics tools and starter jets in front of you is a real enthusiasm booster) & it's so important that the peace of mind from KNOWING it's done right is a nice warm fluffy feeling 8)

 

Mine were the originals and still had around %50 left with no deterioration. However better safe than sorry. I spent the $40.00 and replaced it it with an EBC.

 

Replacing Rear Brake Shoes is one of the least complicated maintenance jobs to do.
You should give it a shot, ... because it requires removing the Rear Wheel.

Knowing how to take the Rear Wheel off from the Bike will be a big plus for you in the event you should ever get a flat tire.
Being able to just bring the Wheel to the nearest Bike Shop will bail you out of a tight situation, in the future.

On the list of things to do when doing the Rear Brakes R&R is:

• Sand the Rear Axle clean, removing the Rust and applying a bright new finish on the Axle.
• Smear a coating of Anti-Seize Compound all-over the surface to make future removal done with ease.

 

Rickomatic wrote:

Knowing how to take the Rear Wheel off from the Bike will be a big plus for you in the event you should ever get a flat tire.
Being able to just bring the Wheel to the nearest Bike Shop will bail you out of a tight situation, in the future.[/quote]

Agreed. So if you find something like this (deep puncture/gash) while inspecting your tread wear indicators...

[/img]

you can do this...

[/img]

Gary

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

This is my first post on these forums, I'm a fairly new rider, just bought an '81 XJ750 Seca, and I think due to the safety concern of this issue, that is a very good thing. I have no idea how the rear brake is and getting ready to fix the obvious things like front fork seals and front brakes but at this point rear brakes had not crossed my mind. After reading through this whole thread there is no way I could ride without changing the rear brakes (regardless of how they look). Since I don't know the last owner and even though he seemed good to bikes, I don't want to assume something that could be life or death. After much reading I can tell y'all are quite knowledgeable on bikes (not just XJ's) and especially as a new rider I take your words of caution quite seriously.

I'll not only learn a ton more on my bike but, like RickCo said, I'll know how to remove the rear tire which is a HUGE plus.

I'm very thankful to have found these forums and feel I'm in for a fun time learning about my XJ750.

 

Welcome, and yes you're right it's a good move to replace the shoes regardless since they cost very little & potentially will save your life

You're also correct in that you'll learn an awful lot from this forum, really even as a fairly experienced mechanic on bikes & cars I've learned plenty (XJ specific & also general) from this place & will continue to do so...

 

Good advice. I have a spare 18 inch rear wheel I will look at before I put it on the bike.

 

Rick - Good Idea!

 

Readying my 650 Maxim to sell. Have to get it 100% safety wise & just replaced the rear brakes and chamfered the front pads (new last year) & added an antisqueal plate to both pads. Braking properly is another +1

Gary

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

I'm finally resurrecting my '82 XJ550 Maxim after garaging it for many years. I'm no gearhead, and this forum has been my encyclopedia for all things XJ. So thanks!

I don't know how old my rear brake shoes are, so I ordered new ones, even though the current ones "appear" to be in great shape.

Does my wear indicator suggest my brakes are new - OR that they are VERY used? They still have over 3mm pad thickness.

 

The shoes look relatively new, but if the bike has set for a long time, its a good idea to replace them. You don't know what the old ones will do when they get hot. The intdicator shows no wear, but it could be positioned wrong.,

 

THOSE SHOES ARE STARTING TO PEEL AWAY. You can see it. That is delamination in progress. "Dig" at them with a dull box knife blade and they will pop right off the backing plates, betcha.

REPLACE.

 

Have no fear: I ordered new ones yesterday, and I'll be installing them.

 

Good man.

Take the backing plate apart; and clean the bore for the lever cam and the brake pivot point. Flush the backing plate down with brake cleaner; DO NOT use compressed air on brake dust.

Reassemble carefully and lube the cam/lever shaft and the pivot point with a high-temp brake lube; and if your new shoes don't come with springs, get some new springs. Put a very light (and I do mean very light) smear of the grease on the raised "bumps" in the backing plate where the shoes make contact. VERY LIGHT. (Just a smear.)

Clean up the drum with ScotchBrite (make this your new best buddy and get rid of the steel wool) flush with brake cleaner and carefully inspect for cracks.

At 20K (kliks or miles, doesn't matter) you're probably due for a new chain and sprockets. Also, simply due to age, consider replacing the rear wheel bearings now. The old grease won't hold up in regular service, and once it fails the bearings will start to get sloppy. The parts are cheap; and here is something that you won't find in either book: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=35134.html

Start a new thread for your recommissioning please. We're happy to help. But let's you have your own "byline."

 

Wow! Just bought my 82 XJ750... I am going to need to spend an afternoon looking into this!! THANKS!

 

Where in VA are you?

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

Manassas-you?

 

Harrisonburg

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

Glad I came across this. Ive had my 86xj700 for about 3 weeks. Just checked the brakes and they were all but falling apart.

 

You might want to read this carefully as well: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=41400.html

 

New shoes cost me $40 at the dealer, just could not find a good reason not to simply replace. However, were it not for this forum, mine "looked" great too, I might have kept riding on them.

 

Cool. Thought I was the only one repping VA. Seems like theres a nest of us. Also close to the burg.

 

Re: SAFETY ALERT Drum rear brake bike owners please take a l

being a new (83 maxim) cycle owner, I am really glad I found this forum and more importantly this post. going to buy new shoes pads and front brake hoses now.

CN

 

thank you bigfitz52!

I manage to check my rear brake, everything looking good!

kinen1

 

I just noticed on this pic posted earlier in the thread, the new shoes have a lip cast into the metal just past either end of the lining material. I wonder if this is just coincidence that that's how the'yre made now or if it's actually some kind of a design feature so if the shoe does delaminate it won't (at least if correctly adjusted) be able to spin round & jam up the wheel?



Obviously I'm NOT saying you can leave them if they're this type 8O but just thought it was interesting the new ones have this lip whereas original ones do not...
EDIT-: actually now I think of it, it's more likely to be a design feature to make the shoes get noisy when the lining has worn down to the limit & the lips touch the drum...

 

The replacement shoes, shown installed in the pic, are from EBC.

It doesn't surprise me that they offer improvement over stock.

But you're right, I don't believe the original Yamaha shoes have that lip.

 

My bike came with both rear brake shoes de laminated and shortly after it spat out the friction material from one of the front disk shoes. From now on i shall always replace these parts whenever in any doubt. Didn't realize it was such a common problem

 

Good job. Now go check the date codes on your front brake lines. They were supposed to last four years. Here's what they look like: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=41400.html

 

Here's one for you..........

I picked up two 750 seca's last week, no titles. But, one is complete minus exhaust. I have a frame slowly working its way across country to me, so I'll reframe that one.

The OTHER.........is the funny one: Before I get to the rear brakes, I gotta tell you about this one (THIS is the one that a PO supposedly had running and was trying to get it titled to put it on the road-----------yeah, riiiiiiiiiigghtt..

1. the forks were swapped out with a set from an xs400rj
2. the mastercyl was from the 400rj
3. the 400rj has only one disc, on the right.
4. the controls were from the 400rj, SO.......the BIG lump in the wiring harness under the triple clamp was due to no less than 15 splices (that's where I lost count)
5. the rest of the harness was butchered under the tank and the seat. the fuse box was bypassed and all wires connected straight-through.....no fuses anywhere.
6. I counted at least 10 other splices, and at least a dozen bare sections of wire.
7. the tci was full of water, I could hear it gurgle when I'd shake it...drips would come out
8. the rear lights were all wired to one common ground wire.
9. the brake pedal pad was barely hanging on to the weld
10. HERE's where it gets REALLY good!!!! The rear brake rod had broken at some time, and the fix was to overlap the two broken ends by about an inch and use a cable clamp to anchor them together (glad I'm not the one relying on THAT to stop me!)
11. The rear axle slid right out.......after attacking it with a sledgehammer and long drift---with a piece of wood between the brake cover and the swingarm.
12. there was no brake indicator on the lever....hmmm.....

13. once I got the cover off, the rim looked good. One brake shoe looked about half good. the other------WELL.......there was no lining. NONE. Not delaminated and jammed somewhere. GONE. MISSING. There wasn't even any glue on the shoe!!!!! HO-BOY!!!!!!! Wow.

I think I rescued not only the bike, and all the decent parts I got off of it.........I think I rescued someone's life and he doesn't even havea clue.

Oh, by the way............

14. The right side swing arm pivot was so frozen in the frame, that it's still there. I was able to work the swing arm out anyway...

LOL

dave fox

 

I just a few minutes reading the posts about the old 30 year brake hoses. I have an 83 XJ650L with original lines. Where might a good place be that I can get front Lines? Rubber or Stainless is fine.
Thanks
Tom

 

Chacal (Len at XJ4Ever, forum's supporting vendor & the best thing to happen to a group of XJ owners since Yamaha deciding to make a bike called an XJ )

 

I'll be ordering new shoes for mine come spring... I don't like the [lack of] function back there...

 

I love my job.

You guys rock; makes it all worth while. Seeing 10 pages of responses gives the old Fitz a warm fuzzy.

Carry on.

 

I put new shoes on my 82 xj750 and also took 80 grit sandpaper to the drum. The stopping power of these rear brakes after the new shoes are only somewhat better than the old shoes. I could probably stand on my rear brake lever and not skid the tire. Is this normal? Is there something I'm missing?They look like u-powered brakes(as in you have to power the brakes with foot force).

 

the new shoes don't match the drum yet.
if you were to pull them off again you'll see that the whole shoe isn't touching yet. they'll ware in and get better but it takes a while

 

Im scared now.

 

I ordered new front brake pads when I took off the old ones because I had never seen brake pads shaped like that. |\ \|
I was going to rebuild the caliper too, until the new pads came in and they were already shaped like that. Weird!

 

You still need to rebuild the caliper, the seals are 30 years old and were only supposed to last 4 years. Master cylinder as well; and replace the brake lines. http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=41400.html

The pads are shaped that way because the caliper rotates as the pads wear down rather than sliding side-to-side the way most calipers do.

This article is a warning in regard to dangerous delamination of the rear brake shoes. Have you pulled yours and visually inspected them?

 

Thanks for the notice, excellent advice.

 

Here's a link for explanation and find out the age, especially since there might be a few old bike's around with some old tires on it
which have a slight different production time explanation.
To be safe, replace any tire over 10 years old, even when it does not have visible cracks, tire shops though can't legally install or
balance your wheels when tires are over 7 years old, well this is for canada, i don't know the rules for other countries.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

As for original forum post, regarding brake lining coming apart, i've seen it lots, my opinion it's mainly age related with moisture
shortening the timeframe.
Be safe and check them ! it's a 10 minute easy job.