Forum

[Jamesy]

I have done a good bit of work on my B350 2003 and it's running as sweet as a nut.However after replacing the front brake shoes and a running in period the front brake is pathetically poor.Its the only part I haven't purchased of the hosts(sorry hosts budget restrictions)On removal of the new shoes I was surprised to see them both badly glazed.I am wondering if these shoes are poorer quality and should I purchase from the hosts catalogue.

[Felix]

I imagine adjustment is the most critical issue with these brakes. There are numerous posts here on the subject, including the controversial "drilled trunion" method. I went so far as replacing my entire brake assembly with new parts plus Mr. H's shoes. What worked for me was to arc the shoes on abrasive paper glued into the drums, then carefully adjust them per Mr.H's instructions. The new brake assembly made NO difference, but the new shoes did seat after 300 miles. Braking improved greatly. After that, more improvement came with a Mr.H HD brake cable.

In your case, arcing the shoes to de-glaze and improve bedding-in, then careful adjustment would be my first approach.

[Jamesy]

When you say arcing the brakes with glued abrasive paper is that as in taking the bike for a run and braking or static by manually spinning the front wheel?.

[Felix]

In my case, I hand-held the shoes and rotated them inside the drum.

[Leon Novello]

I would suggest that riding with abrasive paper glued to the drum will result in it bunching-up and locking the wheel. As the saying goes: Do not try this at home.

[Aethelric]

I bought new shoes from our hosts. After fitting braking was almost non-existant. Upon inspection only a bit in the centre of the shoes had been making contact. I tried the arcing method using sandpaper glued to the drum. After an hour's hard work turning the wheel by hand, while holding the brake on, the contact area had only increased marginally.

As my time was limited I decided my old shoes weren't too bad and put them back and added a new cable. Carefully set up and the brake is now fine.

I'll save the arcing procedure for the winter - it will keep me warm.

[stinkwheel]

You can also arc your shoes buy drawing a grid pattern of chalk on them then trying them in. Where the chalk wears off is a high spot which you can sand down using a proper sanding block with the shoe in a vice. Then re-draw the grid and have another go. Rinse and repeat until all the chalk wears off. This may prove a little quicker than putting the paper in the drum.



One thing I found helpful was to avoid fully tightening the domed brake plate nut on the left hand side of the hub. If you bolt this down tight, it can lock the brake plate at an odd angle to the drum. Leave it a little loose, use the brake a couple of times to centre it then stop in the garage holding the brake lever in and tie the lever down with a bungee/cable tie. THEN nip the nut up with it all in-situ. I still leave mine a little on the loose side anyway. It can't come off, I just have it tight enough to remove any side-play on the wheel bearings.



The thing that made the biggest difference to my brakes was fitting a flipped-over japanese span-adjustable clutch lever in place of the standard brake lever. Mine is off a GPZ500s, I use the clutch idiot switch as a brake switch. Not the neatest looking solution in the world but very effective. The pivot point is a lot further out from the bars giving a lot more leverage (and incidentally, kawasaki use the same size barrel nipple ad enfield).

[Beezabryan]

Hi Aethelric, Had the same problem with rear shoes relined by a well known Yorkshire firm. Pure shyte. Your experience makes me wonder if Hitchcock are using the same supllier.

[Jamesy]

Thanks for the advice guys.I have done the chalk/drilled trunion/thing and am happy both shoes are hitting the drum at the same time.I have thought off sawing a tread pattern on the shoes but fear them disintegrating at speed.The diabolical thing is I just need to touch the rear brake pedal and it just about throws me of the bike.They are that severe.

[Jamesy]

I am going to cut a tread pattern in the original shoes and see how it goes.Yes I will proceed with caution.