Parking brake needed adjusting

[exavid]

The other day I just happened to push back my scooter with the kickstand down and noticed the parking brake was slipping. It took a few turns on the adjuster to get it back to normal. Since the pads on the parking brake don't wear and the rear disk still measures it's original thickness I can only assume the cable stretched a bit with use or the adjuster nut worked off a bit. To prevent the latter I put a jam nut on the adjuster so it can't turn out. I still think it's a bit of cable stretch which wouldn't be unusual. Anybody else have a parking brake slipping?

 

[davidh]

The other day I just happened to push back my scooter with the kickstand down and noticed the parking brake was slipping. It took a few turns on the adjuster to get it back to normal. Since the pads on the parking brake don't wear and the rear disk still measures it's original thickness I can only assume the cable stretched a bit with use or the adjuster nut worked off a bit. To prevent the latter I put a jam nut on the adjuster so it can't turn out. I still think it's a bit of cable stretch which wouldn't be unusual. Anybody else have a parking brake slipping?

Yep and that's basically what I've been doing as well.

 

[bicyclenut]

Had the same issue, only 1500 miles on mine and parking brake not holding. 2-3 turns of the adjusting nut and all has been good so far. Still a good amount of adjustment available if it's the cable stretching so I'm just checking the parking brake now and then.

The other day I just happened to push back my scooter with the kickstand down and noticed the parking brake was slipping. It took a few turns on the adjuster to get it back to normal. Since the pads on the parking brake don't wear and the rear disk still measures it's original thickness I can only assume the cable stretched a bit with use or the adjuster nut worked off a bit. To prevent the latter I put a jam nut on the adjuster so it can't turn out. I still think it's a bit of cable stretch which wouldn't be unusual. Anybody else have a parking brake slipping?

 

[Snowdog]

These parking brake pads do wear, although slowly. The geometry of it is that a small amount of wear shows up as a large movement of the actuating lever due to mechanical advantage.They will wear out eventually.

If you adjust your cable 1/4", that is way more than a two foot long cable would stretch.

OH, and if your caliper sticks a little the pads will definitely wear.

 

[exavid]

I can't see how the pads could wear. They don't engage or disengage unless the bike isn't moving so there's no friction wear on them. I do think that a bit of cable stretch and wear on the brake disk will necessitate adjustments from time to time. One thing I did notice is that the adjuster turns pretty easily since there's little tension on the cable when not in use. It's possible the adjuster could back off a bit due to vibration since all road vibration is present on that unsprung part.

 

[justscootin]

The following are 3 pictures I took, the first is my scooter brakes and the following 2 are taken of the shop manual about brake adjusting. There is more but this is the important stuff. I have adjusted my brakes 1 time. It sounds as though most of you are using the cable adjuster and not the actual brake pads adjuster

 

[Snowdog]

I can't see how the pads could wear. They don't engage or disengage unless the bike isn't moving so there's no friction wear on them. I do think that a bit of cable stretch and wear on the brake disk will necessitate adjustments from time to time. One thing I did notice is that the adjuster turns pretty easily since there's little tension on the cable when not in use. It's possible the adjuster could back off a bit due to vibration since all road vibration is present on that unsprung part.

You may think that the pads don't touch the rotor, when the brake is not actuated, but, the caliper does not move that uniformly for both sides to retract from touching everytime or evenly. Plus the actuating mechanisim will stick if not periodically cleaned and lubricated. If you don't think they wear, take them out and measure them with a micrometer. You will see.