I just had the Vulcan 800 Classic in the shop and had the rear shoes changed and the front brake reservoir flushed and filled. The rear brakes seem a little spongy to me. Is this the nature of the Vulcan 800 brakes? The rear brake on my Suzuki Boulevard seems a lot stiffer. The front brake on the Vulcan is very firm.
Is there any mod that can be done to make the rear brake better or less spongy?
Sometimes shoe type brakes take a little while to seat completely to the drum, whereas disc brake pads seat very quickly to a clean and true rotor. Ride your scoot for a while and see if the spongy feeling pedal goes away. Further investigation will be required if spongy pedal situation persists.
Happy trails, CDD
I'm wondering if it's just me going from a large brake pedal on the Suzuki to the small brake pedal on the Vulcan and the positioning of the brake pedals.
Maybe you have a bit too much free play in the pedal? Both bikes are mechanical drums so they should feel somwhat similar if set up and wear is similar.
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My '05, 800B, the rear brake is not a confidence builder. The front is great, but the rear is less that what I like. I can't lock the rear, Dealer adjusted, cleaned, adjusted by me, new shoes, Dealer adjusted - no help. Just soft no matter what.
Check your owners manual pg. 86.
Center brake panel assembly in the brake drum. This is done by tightening the axle lightly, spinning the wheel and forcefully depressing the brake pedal. The partially tightened axle allows the the brake panel to center itself in the drum. This procedure can prevent a soft or spongy brake pedal.
Tighten the axle to specified torque afterwards.
Check your owners manual pg. 86.
Center brake panel assembly in the brake drum. This is done by tightening the axle lightly, spinning the wheel and forcefully depressing the brake pedal. The partially tightened axle allows the the brake panel to center itself in the drum. This procedure can prevent a soft or spongy brake pedal.
Tighten the axle to specified torque afterwards.
Watched the Dealer Mechanic do that. Didn't help mine any. Dealer says it's just the nature of drum brakes. I'm open to "options". Thanks for the feedback/suggestion. Maybe it will help the OP though.
Watched the Dealer Mechanic do that. Didn't help mine any. Dealer says it's just the nature of drum brakes. I'm open to "options". Thanks for the feedback/suggestion. Maybe it will help the OP though.
Thats odd. I actually adjusted a little extra free play because the rear locks fairly easily.
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Well, it's on the lift and the rear is off the deck so I can "try" doing it myself. Will have to wait until spring to try it out though. Already been winterized. Thanks!
Vulcan 800 brakes
2000 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic
Linear Mode
