Electric Scooter Brake FAQ
August 18, 2025
Introduction:
If your electric scooter’s brakes are having issues, or you want to learn about brake maintenance and care, this article will help.
Which offers better braking performance: disc brakes or drum brakes?
Most high-end electric scooters use disc brakes. Compared with drum brakes, disc brakes provide better performance and are easier to clean and replace. More importantly, at high speeds, disc brakes offer better heat dissipation and superior high-frequency braking capability—this is why Hiley chooses disc brakes. Drum brakes, on the other hand, have a simpler structure and lower cost, and may be more suitable for short-distance commuting scooters.
How to properly maintain an electric scooter’s brake system to extend its service life?
Regular cleaning
Use a clean soft brush or compressed air weekly to remove dust and grit from the rotor and brake pads.
Lubrication & adjustment
For drum brake structures, you may apply high-temperature, wear-resistant grease appropriately, but never on the braking surface.
Tightening fasteners
Monthly, check whether the caliper, cable, and mounting bolts are loose; if needed, use a torque wrench to tighten according to the manual’s specified torque.
Cable calibration
If a disc brake cable is too loose, braking force will be insufficient. Follow the manual or consult customer support to adjust cable preload, ensuring a clear “bite point” when squeezing the lever.
How to tell if the scooter’s brake pads need replacement?
When brake pads are worn for too long, replacement may be needed. Visually check pad thickness—if it is worn to less than 2 mm, it’s time for a new set. In addition, if you feel the braking distance has significantly increased, the brakes are weak, or you hear metallic grinding during braking, the pads should be retired—thanks for their service!
How to adjust the rear drum brake cable tension? How to tune mechanical brakes?
First, loosen the lock nut at the drum brake cable end. Rotate the adjuster so that the brake shoes maintain about 0.2–0.3 mm clearance from the drum wall, then tighten the lock nut. After adjustment, repeatedly test the lever feel to ensure the cable is neither too tight (binding) nor too loose (reduced braking force).
Other common brake questions
1) What should I do about brake noise?
Answer: Clean, align, replace.
Common causes of brake noise include: dust on surfaces; pads not parallel to the rotor; or pad material that is relatively hard. Solutions:
Cleaning: Wipe the rotor and pads with alcohol or a brake cleaner.
Alignment: Loosen the caliper, hold the brake lever to center it on the rotor, then retighten the bolts.
Replacement: If noise persists after cleaning and alignment, replace with new pads.
2) How to brake safely in rainy conditions?
Rain makes the road slippery; avoid hard braking. You can:
Ride slowly and decelerate early; use pulsed braking with light, repeated lever pulls.
Before riding, wipe the rotor with a dry cloth to keep the system clean.
Leave more following distance while riding to allow extra reaction time.
3) What should I check before daily rides?
Pre-ride checks are a good habit. You can:
While stationary, squeeze the brake lever a few times to check for broken cables or damaged housings, and ensure the lever isn’t damaged or sticking.
Kneel to inspect the brake rotor: look for foreign objects, sticking pistons, or rotor deformation.
Additionally, it is recommended to periodically have a professional service point perform hydraulic oil replacement.
4) About the cost of replacing brake components
If you need parts while riding Hiley, contact official after-sales support at support@hileymobility.com.
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