At-wheel components, Chapter 6 - hydraulic brakes – Cub Cadet 4 x 4 Volunteer User Manual
Page 182

Chapter 6 - Hydraulic Brakes
178
Brake drag / pulling (if at front caliper)
•
Caliper frozen on slide pins: After a long 
period of dis-use or extremely gentle use, the 
calipers may have become stuck on the slide 
pins by corrosion or debris. 
When pressure is applied to the piston in the cal-
iper, the inside pad contacts the rotor, and the 
body of the caliper normally slides in the oppo-
site direction, pulling the second brake pad 
against the outside of the brake rotor. 
If the caliper is frozen on the pins, the inboard 
brake pad will drag on the inner surface of the 
brake rotor. Accelerated wear of the inboard 
pads and rotor surface of any caliper are a tell-
tale sign of this condition.
•
Caliper piston stuck in bore. This is an 
unusual problem, but it can happen on any disc-
brake design. Accelerated wear of both pads on 
any single rotor is the primary indicator. If the 
vehicle is operated for any length of time, the 
rotor surfaces will be blued from over-heating. 
•
Damaged brake line. After many years of use, it 
is possible for the interior lining of some flexible 
hoses to disintegrate or “implode”. This will 
cause sluggish action in both directions. The 
caliper(s) on the effected wheel(s) will apply 
slowly and release slowly. Typical customer 
complaint if a front brake line is effected will be 
that the steering wheel pulls in one direction 
while the operator applies the brakes, but pulls 
in the opposite direction when they accelerate 
away from a dead stop. 
•
Master cylinder / brake pedal not returning. 
This would most likely result in brake drag accel-
erated wear and blued rotors at all four wheels. 
Check for bound pedal linkage. Do not over-
look the possibility that the operator may be rest-
ing their left foot on the pedal. 
AT-WHEEL COMPONENTS
The brake calipers (single-piston, floating) are identi-
cal front to rear, and the pad replacement method is 
identical as well. See Figure 6.11.
Each brake pad has an anti-squeal plate bonded to the 
back side of the pad. Original thickness of the friction 
material is roughly .156” (4mm).  
See Figure 6.12.
•
The anti-squeal plate is attached by adhesive 
and clips.
•
The clips extend roughly .020” (.50mm) over the 
friction surface side of the pad, and act as an 
audible wear sensor when the friction material is 
worn to less than .020”
•
Replace the pads when the friction material 
thickness is less than .040” (1mm).
Figure 6.11
Front brake caliper
Brake pads
Brake rotor
Figure 6.12
Brake pad
Anti-squeal plate
