Caring For Your Golf Cart’s Brakes

When you think of a golf cart, you probably don’t picture a hotrod speeding around the course. But whether yours is customized for higher speeds or you just have the standard model, the brakes are still a vital component of your golf cart. We here at Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports want to help you stay safe, so we’ve put together some tips for maintaining your golf cart’s brakes. If you have any questions, or you just want to see the golf carts and parts we have for sale, contact our store in Garner, North Carolina, today!

Keep Them Clean

Typically speaking, your golf cart came off the lot with drum brakes. These will do you just fine so long as you’re sticking to speed below 20 miles per hour—but they will need cleaning every so often. 

First, lift the axle the brakes are on using a jack. Take off the wheels and brake drums from the studs. Use an aerosol brake parts cleaner to blow any accumulated dust and loose debris off the shoes. Once that’s done, damped a clean rag with WD-40 and wipe away anything that didn’t blow loose.

Adjusting Them

If you have an older golf cart, you may need to adjust the brakes every so often. They typically have a screw or bolt on the back of the drum for just that. Simply turn it until the shoe is pressed against the drum, spinning the wheel with your free hand as you do so. If you start to feel resistance in the spinning, back off on the adjustment. 

If your cart is newer, it may be self-adjusting, so you won’t need to bother with that. Just keep the adjustment spring clean with a solvent and lubricant. 

The Tires

This may or may not surprise you, but keeping your tires in good shape can actually help keep your brakes in good working order, too—especially when it comes to the air pressure. Making sure your tires remain inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendations in your owner’s manual can make all the difference. You should also lubricate the moving parts of your wheels yearly and always address any squealing or locking issues the moment you discover them.

Replacement

Sometimes, no matter how well you care for your brakes, you’ll just need to replace them. Whether you’re upgrading or getting rid of a faulty system, you’ll need to start by removing the brake drums and the shoes from each wheel hub. Make sure to clean the entire assembly before you put the new brakes in, then simply attach the new shoes to their pistons and replace the drums. 

Of course, if you aren’t 100% sure you can replace the brakes properly, you shouldn’t. Incorrectly installed brakes are worse than no brakes at all. For assistance with the replacement, or if you’re in need of the parts in question, contact us at Revel 42 Golf Carts & Powersports. We proudly serve the people of Raleigh, Clayton, and Cary, North Carolina—let us serve you today!