Views: 222 Author: Leah Publish Time: 2026-02-06 Origin: Site
Content Menu
● What You Need Before You Start
● Understanding Club Car Golf Cart Brakes
● Step‑by‑Step: Changing Rear Brakes on a Club Car Golf Cart
>> Step 1: Park and Secure the Golf Car
>> Step 2: Lift the Rear of the Golf Car
>> Step 3: Remove the Brake Drums
>> Step 4: Inspect the Brake Assembly
>> Step 5: Remove Springs and Old Brake Shoes
>> Step 6: Clean and Lubricate Contact Points
>> Step 7: Install New Brake Shoes on the Golf Car
>> Step 8: Reconnect and Set the Adjuster
>> Step 9: Reinstall the Brake Drum and Wheel
>> Step 10: Lower the Golf Car and Final Adjustment
● Safety Checks After Changing Golf Car Brakes
● Ongoing Maintenance for Club Car Golf Cart Brakes
● FAQ: Club Car Golf Cart Brake Questions
>> 1. How often should I replace brakes on my Club Car golf cart?
>> 2. How do I know if my Club Car golf cart brakes are worn out?
>> 3. Can I upgrade my Club Car golf cart from drum brakes to disc brakes?
>> 4. Do I need special tools to change Club Car golf cart brakes?
>> 5. Is it safe to drive my Club Car golf cart with squeaky brakes?
Working brakes are critical for keeping your Club Car golf cart safe on the course, in a resort, or on your property. In this guide, you'll learn step by step how to change the brakes on a Club Car golf cart, plus how to test and maintain them for smooth, reliable stopping power.
Before you touch your Club Car golf cart, gather the right tools, parts, and safety gear.
- Floor jack rated for your golf car
- Jack stands or sturdy blocks for support
- Wheel chocks for the front wheels
- Lug wrench or impact wrench
- Socket set and ratchet
- Flathead screwdriver and pliers
- New rear brake shoes (matched to your Club Car golf cart model)
- Brake spring tool (strongly recommended)
- Wire brush and brake cleaner for dust removal
- High‑temperature brake grease for contact points (not on friction surface)
- Shop rags and gloves
- Eye protection and a dust mask
You can also prepare visual references such as manuals and online demonstrations to follow along more easily while working on your golf car.
Most Club Car golf carts use mechanical drum brakes mounted on the rear wheels, controlled by cables from the pedal. When you press the brake pedal in the golf car, cables pull an internal lever that spreads the brake shoes against the inside of the drum, creating friction to slow the golf car.
Key rear brake parts on a typical Club Car golf cart include:
- Brake drum (hub)
- Two brake shoes (leading and trailing, often stamped with markings like “L” and “T”)
- Return springs and small retaining clips
- Self‑adjuster or manual adjuster mechanism
- Brake lever arm and cable connection
Knowing how these components interact makes it much easier to reinstall everything correctly on your golf car and avoid dragging or weak brakes.
The following procedure describes the common process for replacing self‑tensioning or cable‑actuated rear drum brakes on many Club Car golf carts. Always adapt to your specific model.
1. Park the Club Car golf cart on a flat, solid surface.
2. Move the direction selector to neutral and turn the key off.
3. Release the parking brake so it doesn't clamp the rear drums while you work.
4. Chock the front wheels firmly so the golf car cannot roll.
Stable support is critical; never rely solely on a jack under a golf car while you are working underneath or around the wheels.
1. Slightly loosen the rear wheel lug nuts while the Club Car golf cart is still on the ground.
2. Place the jack under the approved rear frame lift point and raise the back of the golf car.
3. Support the frame with jack stands, then lower the jack so the golf car rests securely on the stands.
4. Finish removing the lug nuts and pull off the rear wheels.
If your Club Car golf car manual specifies a lug nut torque value, note it now so you can tighten them correctly after the brake change.
1. With the wheel off, you will see the drum or hub assembly on the axle of the golf car.
2. Some drums pull straight off; others may need gentle tapping with a rubber mallet if corrosion is present.
3. If the drum will not move, the self‑adjusting mechanism on your Club Car golf cart may be extended too far; lightly back off the adjuster if accessible through the backing plate slot.
When the drum comes off, you'll expose the brake shoes, springs, adjuster, and lever mechanism your golf car uses to stop.
Before tearing everything apart, study how the current brake shoes and springs are arranged on your Club Car golf cart. Taking a clear photo can provide a reference when you install new golf car brake shoes.
Check the following:
- Lining thickness on each brake shoe
- Uneven wear patterns (one shoe worn more than the other)
- Rust, frozen hardware, or seized sliding points on the backing plate
- Frayed or stretched brake cables on the golf car
- Contamination from oil or grease inside the drum
If hardware is heavily corroded or the adjuster is seized, consider a complete hardware kit so your golf car braking system returns to like‑new condition.
1. Use a brake spring tool or pliers to unhook the large return springs connecting the two shoes on the golf car brake assembly.
2. Remove the small retaining clips or pins that hold each shoe to the backing plate.
3. Carefully slide the shoes away from the adjuster and bottom anchor; remember which shoe sits in the leading vs. trailing position on the golf car.
4. Detach the golf car brake cable from the lever arm if necessary.
Keep the old parts laid out on a clean surface in the same orientation they came off; this visual pattern helps when you install the new shoes on your Club Car golf cart.
Short training videos are especially useful at this stage because they show how to safely stretch and release the tough return springs on a Club Car golf car without losing control or damaging hardware.
With the shoes removed, focus on the backing plate of your Club Car golf cart:
- Use a wire brush to remove rust and brake dust from the sliding surfaces and contact pads where the shoes rest.
- Spray carefully with brake cleaner and let everything dry.
- Lightly apply high‑temperature brake grease to the shoe contact pads and the ends of each shoe where they seat in the adjuster and anchor (never on friction surfaces).
A clean and lubricated backing plate helps the new golf car brake shoes move freely and self‑center in the drum, improving stopping power and reducing noise.
1. Compare the new shoes with the old ones to verify they match in size and shape for your Club Car golf cart.
2. Identify the leading and trailing shoes (often stamped with letters or different friction material lengths) as specified for your golf car.
3. Position both shoes on the backing plate, seating the ends in the proper top and bottom contact points and into the adjuster slot if present.
4. Reinstall the hold‑down clips or pins to secure each shoe to the backing plate.
5. Hook the large return spring between the shoes, replicating the original orientation on your Club Car golf cart.
Make sure nothing binds and that the shoes can move slightly when you push on them; they should not be cocked or twisted inside the golf car brake housing.
If your Club Car golf cart uses a self‑tensioning mechanism, ensure the adjuster screw is fully backed into the ratchet gear but still loose enough to operate. The slot on the adjuster must be oriented to accept the shoe correctly.
For manual adjusters on some golf car models:
- Turn the star wheel or screw until the shoes lightly expand.
- You want a slight drag when the drum is installed, not a locked golf car wheel.
Reconnect the brake cable to the lever arm and install the retaining pin and cotter pin as originally configured on your Club Car golf cart.
1. Slide the drum back over the studs and onto the axle of the golf car, making sure it seats fully against the hub.
2. Check that the drum spins with just a light amount of resistance from the new shoes.
3. Reinstall the wheel on your Club Car golf cart and thread the lug nuts by hand.
4. Repeat the entire brake replacement process on the other rear side of the golf car.
It's important to change both sides so the Club Car golf cart brakes apply evenly and the golf car does not pull to one side under braking.
1. Remove any tools or blocks under the golf car.
2. Raise the Club Car golf cart slightly with the jack, remove the jack stands, and lower the golf car to the ground.
3. Tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque value recommended for your Club Car golf cart.
To set self‑adjusting brakes on a Club Car golf cart:
- Press and release the brake pedal firmly 4–5 times.
- You should hear a faint ratcheting as the mechanism automatically tightens.
- Verify that, with no pedal applied, the golf car wheels spin freely, and with the pedal pressed, the wheels become hard or impossible to spin by hand.
If pedal travel feels excessive, you may also adjust the brake cables on your Club Car golf cart following factory procedures, then retest the brakes at low speed.
Short on‑cart test‑drive videos frequently show a Club Car golf car gently stopping on level ground first, then gradually moving to steeper slopes to confirm consistent braking without dragging or noises.
After the new brake shoes are installed on your Club Car golf cart, perform these checks:
- Confirm the brake pedal moves smoothly and returns fully.
- Ensure the parking brake holds the golf car securely on a moderate slope.
- Listen for scraping, grinding, or squealing sounds when moving the golf car.
- Check for uneven braking or pulling to one side during stops.
If you notice any abnormal behavior, re‑inspect the backing plates, springs, and adjusters on both sides of the golf car to catch misaligned or missing parts.
Regular maintenance helps your Club Car golf cart brakes last longer and feel consistent. As a rule of thumb, inspect the braking system at least once a year, or more often if your golf car operates in hilly areas or carries heavy loads.
Good habits for a golf car braking system include:
- Periodic inspection of shoe thickness and drum condition
- Cleaning dust and rust from the backing plate and adjuster
- Lubricating shoe contact points and sliders without contaminating friction surfaces
- Checking cable tension and parking brake operation
- Avoiding riding the brakes or overloading the golf car beyond rated capacity
By combining careful installation with regular inspection, you keep your Club Car golf cart responsive, safe, and enjoyable to drive in golf, resort, and utility environments.
Changing brakes on a Club Car golf cart is a realistic do‑it‑yourself task if you work carefully, follow the correct sequence, and use high‑quality parts matched to your golf car model. By supporting the golf car securely, cleaning and lubricating the backing plate, correctly positioning the leading and trailing shoes, and properly setting the adjuster, you can restore strong, even braking that keeps your golf car safe and predictable in everyday use.
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Most Club Car golf cart brake shoes are inspected annually and replaced when the lining wears close to the manufacturer's minimum thickness or if performance noticeably declines. Heavy use, steep terrain, or frequent towing with the golf car will shorten the replacement interval, so monitor stopping distance and pedal feel regularly.
Common signs include longer stopping distances, a low or spongy pedal, scraping or grinding noises from the rear of the golf car, or a parking brake that no longer holds well. If you see uneven shoe wear or a heat‑discolored drum when you inspect the golf car, it is usually time to replace shoes and service the hardware.
Yes, many aftermarket kits allow you to replace rear drum brakes on a golf car with hydraulic or mechanical disc systems for stronger stopping and better fade resistance. These upgrades are especially popular on lifted Club Car golf carts with larger tires or on high‑speed golf car builds used off‑road or on hilly property.
While you can technically use basic hand tools, a proper brake spring tool and high‑quality jack stands make the job safer and easier on any golf car. A torque wrench is also recommended to tighten lug nuts and any critical fasteners to the specifications for your Club Car golf cart.
Occasional light squeaks can come from dust, but persistent noises, scraping sounds, or a burning smell on a golf car often indicate serious brake wear or contamination. Continuing to drive a Club Car golf cart with these symptoms risks reduced stopping power and possible damage to drums or other components, so inspection and repair should not be delayed.
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