Sportsman Brake Question??? HELP!

bugmanjr · March 16, 2006, 09:12:11 PM

Yet Another Saga of my on going

with my POS Polaris!!
I have recently went through 2 sets of front brake pads in 4 rides! The back brake is fine and wear is normal... I have blead all three calipers with a hand pump and by original method 3 times and still have this issue.. The handle feels firm and no loss of pressure.. No leaks of any sort that I can see, smell, or hear.. I have cleaned both calipers and inspected seals both inside and out and lubed whole housing with PB Blaster.. No visible kinks in either front lines... and bleeder valve does not leak.. What makes everything so strange is I will work the brake with the bike in the air and the tires off.. After working the brake the rotor seems to spin just fine with not much resistance.. I then go ride, come back and half the pads are gone?? and there is no brake noises during the ride? If anyone has any ideas I would very much so apreciate a post.>
{Public Service Anouncement}Do Not Buy A Polaris!

Thanks In Advance

lswjth2 · March 16, 2006, 09:40:18 PM

Hey bugmanjr. I have an 01 and a 99 sportsman, and thats about what i get out of my pads riding in the mud. I no longer change them anymore, i just drive a little slower and more careful. I have a friend with an 06 450 sportsman and on the 4th ride,lt's time to change the pads. Try using the EBC brand extreme pads and see if they work any better for you. The mud basically becomes sand paper and eats them...By the way, i see you are in SW florida. Are you going to the commissioner meeting on Tuesday 3/28? If not can you please e-mail them...Thxs

yunt2ride · March 16, 2006, 10:32:08 PM

Not had any problems with my new 500HO. Purchased in November and still good to go and I ride a lot of mud and water. I always clean my quad after each use, espacially around the brake area.

bugmanjr · March 17, 2006, 02:05:33 AM

lswjth2

Without a doubt will E-Mail them! its weird because my rear pads are fine and so were the fronts until my second pad change and now they dont last at all! first change they lastes over 4 months and the original stock pads lasted like 7 months! by the way i never barely ever even hit the brakes?

yunt2ride · March 17, 2006, 01:52:58 PM

Have you checked to see if your rotor is scarred

bugmanjr · March 17, 2006, 04:17:42 PM

yunt2ride
Rotor seems to be in ok shape.. any other ideas?

yunt2ride · March 18, 2006, 02:07:55 AM

Not sure if it would affect it but it may be your wheel bearings, or the hub is just not quiet enough. I cannot remember just how everything looks on there without going out and taking my tire off but since you say it works fine in the air, maybe when its sitting on the ground the wheels are turning in at the top and making the pads touch the rotor. It may be that your bearings are bad or the nut that holds the hub on may need tightened just a little. Remember not to overtighten it.

bugmanjr · March 18, 2006, 02:15:27 PM

yunt2ride

I was thinking the same thing yesterday so I went out and checked it.. the bearings are almost new however they were aftermarket so they are not a snug fit.. I can wiggle the hub just a litle on either side.. So that leads me to believe the weight of the bike toes the tire out just a little and intern pushes against the pads..

Thanks for the help.

yunt2ride · March 18, 2006, 03:15:51 PM

Sounds like the nut that holds the hub on could be tightened just a hair. Just remember a little is alot. Not to tight but not to loose either.