Hitchcocks Forum

Hi again everybody,,,so I have noticed that my front brakes on my 2001 bullet 500 are close to shot,, also noticed that when I engage my front brake it’s creaking and the brake plate lifts off about 1/32 also front tire rolls forward ever so slightly,,,so I ordered part 144705 ( improved front brake plate) comes with shoes,cams,pivot pins etc, says it’s improved design
think this will solve the problem?
Does it sound like something else is happening? Or is the brake plate movement and tire rolling forward a very very small amount is normal and it’s just that my brakes are toast.
Ps my front brake cable is new.

The caming of the wheel forward slightly when the brake is applied is due to different shoe contact. The shoe are not acting as a a pair or are not centralised in the drum


One shoe is leading the other, with SLS brakes this would effect servo action.

Thanks Tim nz,,, makes sense, what’s servo acton? Any thoughts on the brake plait hub movement ,,sounds like the shoe contact issue could be causing that also

Hi Izzy--------- take a look at this}---- http://www.engineeringinspiration.co.uk/drumbrakes.html ------

Hi, Izzy - Have you received the new brake plate assembly, and did you notice any difference(s) to the existing plate ? Have you fitted it, and is there any improvement in performance ?

Izzy - My thoughts about movement of the wheel, etc. :- As the brake cable outer is anchored at the adjuster on the fork leg/slider, and the inner cable acts on the lever on the brake plate, every application of the front brake is (notionally, at least) trying to rotate the brake plate about the wheel spindle, within the limits of the brake anchor slot/lug on the fork slider, and the tightness of the brake plate nut on the wheel spindle. With a 2002 Bullet ES that I once owned, this effect was noticeable with the machine at rest, and furthermore there was flexure of the brake plate - the cause of the creaking, I believe. Watch your front brake plate from above while applying the brake (stationary, for safety....) and you may see what I mean. (Everyone seems to be aware of similar flexing of the 4-spd. gearbox outer cover, but I have never seen a mention of brake plate woes before your post).

'Flexing' of the brake plate stems from the heel of the brake shoe not being square in relation to the pivot point (I often find it with crapulent quality aftermarket brake shoes)and/or the bike having been used too long with the taper faced axle nut being too loose.

My Bullet, as purchased already had the front brake linkage set up as per our host's advice. Very soon after, the upper cam began to stick - independently of the lower cam, which was still returning freely. This was reason enough for me to reutrn the set-up to standard, in line with TimNZ's earlier recommendation. Having then taken some time to service and set up the brake correctly (including fully tightening the spindle nut) I found the brake both powerful and progressive - with standard Indian shoes and Indian cable, I may add.