Hi everyone.  My ex USA  1973 DT3  has appaling brakes. I have checked the drums for ovality and tried new shoes from two differemt manufactures. If I apply an emergancy stop at 30 mph I came to a halt in the next county.   I can live with a poor rear brake but I wish to have a decent front stopper. I am prepared to buy another wheel but I am asking the forum for the next best step.even if I have have to forget about originality.. 
Aubs from Wales.

Hi Aubs. First up good luck for your guys in todays 6 nations rugby grand slam. 
I understand your concerns re: braking performance and offer the following thoughts/ideas in no particular order for you to consider:
1) Are the new shoes good quality items (e.g. EBC). These are for your safety so don't buy cheap stuff.
2) Remember brake shoes need to 'bed in' and lose their surface coating and should improve after a while from new.  (I've even heard of people very lightly roughing up the surfaces prior to installation)
2) What condition are the metal 'flat cams' that rotate to force the shoes out. Make sure they are not too worn.
3) ALWAYS try to position the brake actuator arm on to the splined brake shaft so that the brake cable (rod for rear) operates at 90 degrees to the actuator arm. You get more force applied this way.
4) Use a good quality brake cable so it doesn't stretch and allow the brake lever to contact the handlebar.
5) Typically manuals say 2-3mm 'play' on the front brake lever. What you actually want is the absolute min play (1mm?) BUT not at the expense of 'rubbing' because that would lead to undesirable heat. 
6) Contamination of drum surfaces. I use brake cleaner initially and then finish off wiping with a surface contact cleaning cloth.

Finally we've all been spoilt by and got used to modern day brake performance via disc and servo assisted combinations etc.  We have to be realistic regarding ageing technology especially when it's being used on MX motorcycles with such small braking surfaces.  Remember the very old road racing m/cycles and cars too that had huge brake drums to give more brake pad area, not to mention air scoops to try and dissipate heat. Have I started ramblin....Zzz

When I first got my DT1 going , I was similarly horrified at the lack
of a front brake . I had a few hairy moments along the way .
After a while , as they bedded in , things improved markedly .
I was using Premier brand shoes , which I was told , were a
subsidery of EBC .
Many of the guys here use genuine Yamaha shoes .
The part numbers have been superceded , so unfortunately I
can't give you the current OEM number , but i'm sure someone
else will be able to help with that , if needed .

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