Brakes for go kart ish project

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TJ8

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I'm making a custom go kart with scraps from other tools and vehicles. I'm almost done now but I don't know the best and cheapest brake solution. The front tires are off of a snow blower, they are solid rubber with spokes. They look like this http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/155125_lg.gif
The back tires are from a moped like thing, I don't actually know where they came from, but they are similar to this.
http://palmerind.com/frontmoped.jpg
What is the best and cheapest braking solution for my go kart?
Thanks!
 
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B.M.800 said:
Scrub brake would be simple and cheap. Just a piece of metal up against the tire. I wouldnt recommend for a fast kart.

Drum brake would work too I rekon, here is one for about $40 shipped.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_23065_23065
Click to expand...

Can you explain the drum and how I would attach it? Sorry! All I know are disc brakes. I also don't want the scrub because I am hoping for it to go fast; and aren't they horrible on your tires?
Thanks
 
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Kudos to that kid but that was kinda painful to watch.
Thanks for that though; I hadn't yet thought of that style of brake, looks cheap and efficient.

I am a motorcyclist and have to believe that it would be pretty easy to rig up a motorcycle hydraulic brake. Anyone done so? Getting the bike rotor attached to the axle would be the most difficult as they are open-centered, you would need to adapt the carrier to something that would mount on the axle.
But if you could do that, or use a similar thin rotor that attached more easily to the axle, all you would then need is an appropriately located bracket to mount the bike caliper to.
Last hurdle would be to convert the hand-lever master cylinder over to a footbrake. Since your foot is much stronger you may want to reduce the leverage on the master cylinder.

Since a pair will stop a 500 lb bike well, they should have plenty of stopping power.

Finding some bike brake parts on ebay or junkyard would be a cheap way to go hydraulic.
 
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heatmizr said:
Kudos to that kid but that was kinda painful to watch.
Thanks for that though; I hadn't yet thought of that style of brake, looks cheap and efficient.

I am a motorcyclist and have to believe that it would be pretty easy to rig up a motorcycle hydraulic brake. Anyone done so? Getting the bike rotor attached to the axle would be the most difficult as they are open-centered, you would need to adapt the carrier to something that would mount on the axle.
But if you could do that, or use a similar thin rotor that attached more easily to the axle, all you would then need is an appropriately located bracket to mount the bike caliper to.
Last hurdle would be to convert the hand-lever master cylinder over to a footbrake. Since your foot is much stronger you may want to reduce the leverage on the master cylinder.

Since a pair will stop a 500 lb bike well, they should have plenty of stopping power.

Finding some bike brake parts on ebay or junkyard would be a cheap way to go hydraulic.
Click to expand...

I use bike brakes. Here's an example- http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12904

I did it on this one, too- but I suspect I didn't detail the brakes. http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17596

Ask any questions you may have!

EDIT- Pics of the Green Machine's brakes.
 

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heatmizr

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Yes I understood, but I don't think those bicycle style clampers would be sufficient.
I was offering the idea of motorcycle brakes as a much better and still affordable alternative, if somewhat more complex (due to mounting and hydraulics).

Nice job on the Green Machine too!
 
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Y'know... Now that I have taken a better look at things- braking is only one issue you face. I wouldn't want to go any faster than 5MPH with those front wheels. They're just not designed for those sort of side loads.

As for the rears/braking- the moped stuff might tolerate what you're doing with them. Use the factory moped brake, it's really your only option there.
 
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toystory_4wd said:
Y'know... Now that I have taken a better look at things- braking is only one issue you face. I wouldn't want to go any faster than 5MPH with those front wheels. They're just not designed for those sort of side loads.

As for the rears/braking- the moped stuff might tolerate what you're doing with them. Use the factory moped brake, it's really your only option there.
Click to expand...

I just have the wheels, not the brakes. How much are hydraulic brakes?
 
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You probably will not be able to just retrofit anything you find. The moped probably used in-wheel internal expanding drum brakes.
Let me ask you this- will your rear wheels spin freely on fixed axle spindles, or were you planning a live axle? With a live axle, you have a lot more options.
 
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I think a live axle. That's where it is one wheel drive and the others spin freely right? If that will work that's what I will do.
 
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No- With a live axle, the entire axle shaft- and everything mounted to it- spins. In that case, you can use just about any braking system that you can mount to that shaft.

Braking a dead axle system (1wd) becomes a lot more complex as you have to figure out how to mount the brakes either directly to the wheel, or to a common hub. In that case, you are best to source the factory scooter or moped brakes.
 
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