Maybe Braking, Maybe Not...

Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) is a motor vehicle classification that was created in 1998 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which allowed for the use of (as the name implies) vehicles that have their speed restricted much lower than normal automobiles on roads with posted speed limits of 35mph or less. These LSVs have more safety features, are larger than golf carts, are typically electric, and usually are required to be registered with the county, just like a normal automobile. Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) is one manufacturer who has been building these types of vehicles since the late 1990s and they have a fairly diverse line of these electric vehicles.

When I visit a client’s home, they usually have a list of tasks for me to perform, ranging from hanging curtains to installing cabinet hardware to swapping out plumber and electrical fixtures. Sometimes I receive a request that is outside of the norm and that’s where the GEM comes in. This homeowner asked me if I would feel comfortable at least looking at why the brakes on their GEM were not functioning properly. I have performed a number of different brake jobs over the years, so I agreed. I also was interested in performing the task because my parents have a home on an island outside of Charleston, South Carolina where these vehicles are quite popular. In the interest of learning more about them, incase we want to buy one, I dug into the problem.

It didn’t take long to diagnose the issue. I started with the front brake assembly of the driver’s side and was shocked when I pulled the drum off of the brake assembly. The wheel/slave cylinder had developed a leak and the brake fluid disintegrated the brake lining. As I dug deeper, I noticed that there was no brake fluid in the reservoir. Upon further investigation, I noticed a build-up/residue on the backside of the backing plate and rim. I went around to all of the other wheels and three out of four showed the same residue.

When the rest of the brake assemblies were taken apart, my suspicions were confirmed. Three out of four of the wheel brake cylinders had developed a leak. The front driver’s side was the worse, but the two others that failed were really no better. Though this particular GEM was 24-years old, I was quite surprised that there was such a failure of the brake system. It didn’t even cross my mind that an electric vehicle would have such a failure. Now I know if we go shopping for a used LSV, take a close look at the braking system along with all of the other components.

https://www.gemcar.com