Lets talk brakes on a Honda Big Red 250ES

[KillerBox]

I have a Honda 1985 Big Red. When I bought the 3 wheeler it had front and rear brakes. My son took it mud ridding and it has no brakes now. I tighten the brake adjusting nuts and got a little brakes back. So I assume I need new brake shoes.

How hard is it to change to new brake shoes? Anything to watch out for? Any brand shoes better than the other ones?

Also, my rear brake pedal hang a little low from the foot peg. Is there anyway to bring it up?

[J.D.]

Rear is very easy. Take off rt wheel, two screws out of drum, pull drum off and theres the shoes. Ft's a little harder ,got to pull the front wheel off and change it from there.

[ScottZJ]

Well there are some brake pads that fair alot better than the cheap ones. I think the versas ones that are black with the groves last tons longer than those flat ones. All you need to do is back the adjustment all the way back (like you taking it off), then remove the right rear tire. There are 2 screws that you can remove off and just pull the drum off (easiest way). Take a rubber mallet and tap the sides of the drum all the way around to get it off. Make sure you wash and scrub out the drum and backing plate to ensure you dont trash new pads with stuff already in there. Do not scrub the drum too much as you dont want to wear out the surface. The less surface, the worse the brakes will be after only a couple rides.

[walleyedude]

Are you guys saying you don't need to take off that big nut on the axle to get the hub off?

[KillerBox]

Do not take the big nut off the axle to get the hub off.

I sprayed PB Blaster on the 2 small screws and waited about 1 hour. Hit the drum with a Rubber Hammer a few times. The screws still would not come out.

I don't think my 3 had ever had the brakes changed out before. I ended up getting a knock screw driver to get the 2 small screws to come loose.

After that no problems at all. Very easy and I am definetely no mechanic.

[hublake]

Biggest problem I had changing the brakes was getting those two screws out. They were buggers. Rest is a piece of cake.