Riding the back country ATV trails fast and hard is fun, being able to stop your ATV is necessary when those back country obstacles jump out in front of you. Having a properly functioning ATV brake system is important if you are going to ride fast and hard safely. Therefore periodic inspection and maintenance of the ATV Brake System is crucial for ATV riding.
Most new utility 4×4 ATVs and UTVs have disk brakes for optimum performance and these brakes should be inspected before each ride. For proper ATV maintenance a good understanding of the ATV brake system is necessary.
The ATV Brake System (disk brakes) Consists of Five Major Components:
- Brake Master Cylinder – A reservoir that holds the brake fluid. When you use your brake lever or brake foot pedal you are operating a piston in the master cylinder that sends pressurized brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake caliper to make it operate.
- Brake Lines – The lines or tubing that carry the brake fluid from the master cylinder to the brake caliper.
- Brake Caliper - Houses a piston(s). When the brake fluid is pressurized the piston moves against the brake pads, which in turn forces the brake pads to squeeze the brake rotor.
- Brake Rotor – This disk is connected to your front hub or rear axle assembly (rear Brake Hub) and is what the brake pads contact when pressure is applied to the system via the brake lever(s)
- Brake pads – These two pads are made of either sintered metal or organic compounds and are held in place by two sliders in the brake caliper housing. When the brake system is pressurized these two pads squeeze against the brake rotor, thus stopping your ATV.
The master cylinder typically has a window for viewing the brake fluid level in the reservoir. Always check the level for the manufacturers recommended fluid level. The brake lines should have no signs of fluid leakage, repair or replace if necessary.
The brake caliper also should have no signs of fluid leakage. The brake rotor and pads are the wear components. The thickness of the rotor and pads should be within the manufacturers recommended limits, replace if necessary. Inspect the rotor closely for signs of damage or being bent, replace if necessary.
If the rotor, pads or fluid have been changed the ATV brake system will have to have any air removed from it. This is called bleeding the air from the system and has always been a pain for me until I saw the following video that explains how to reverse bleed the brake system. It is shown using a motorcycle but it also applies to ATVs and UTVs as well.
Properly maintaining your ATV brake system can help prevent an accident due to brake system failure and the inability to stop. Protect yourself and those around you by periodic inspection and maintenance of your ATV brake system. Practice responsible ATV riding and always wear a helmet.
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