Drum Brakes vs Disc Brakes: Which One is Better for Your Vehicle?

Brakes are an important safety feature that allows you to slow down or stop the vehicle. But you may not be familiar with two types of braking systems. These braking systems are drum brakes and disc brakes.

They are used to stop your vehicle and are still different from each other. Their design and effectiveness are different.

In this blog, you will learn about drum brakes and disc brakes, their differences, their advantages, and more to help you understand which is more suitable for your vehicle.

What is Drum Brakes and Disc Brakes?

Drum brakes utilize friction to stop or slow down the vehicle. They were dominant for many years because of their effective stopping power and simplicity.

Eventually, disc brakes started to gain popularity because they provided an advantage in certain areas.

How does it work?

The drum works by pushing the brake shoes outward against the rotating drum attached to the wheel.

After pressing the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure is created. This forces the brake shoes into the drum while creating friction. This friction slows down and stops the vehicle.

Disc Brakes

On the other hand, disc brakes also use friction but have superior stopping power, heat dissipation, and fade resistance.

They are best for high-performance vehicles or those where the brakes are frequently needed.

How does it work?

When you press the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure is created but instead of the wheel cylinder outward, it pushes the piston within the caliper inwards.

The brake pads are squeezed after the hydraulic fluid pushes the caliper. Then the friction is created and the vehicle is decelerated.

Advantages of Drum Brakes

Drum brakes are still widely used today as they have several advantages to offer. Let’s see what advantages are provided by these brakes.

1) Cost-Effectiveness

Drum brakes are a great and cost-effective option for those manufacturers and consumers who are budget-conscious. That is because their maintenance and manufacturing costs are less.

2) Durability and Longevity

The drum brakes have an enclosed design that protects them and their internal components from dirt and debris, increasing their durability.

Superior durability is offered in certain applications such as rear brakes of older vehicles and heavy-duty applications including trucks and buses.

3) Self-Adjustment

Drum brakes have a self-adjustment mechanism that maintains consistent brake performance and proper clearance. This eliminates the need for you to adjust it frequently.

4) Effectiveness in Wet Condition

The drum brakes allow you to drive your vehicle in wet or muddy conditions as they are less prone to water and debris entry. When your vehicle is parked outside in heavy rain, drum brakes can shield it from the water.

5) Parking Brake Integration

The drum brakes are commonly used in parking brakes. This is because the mechanical lever system is incorporated into the drums easily. This offers secure parking engagement and simplifies the overall braking system.

6) Less Sensitive to Heat

The vehicle with a drum braking system has increased braking performance during more heat as they have a higher thermal capacity.

7) Low Noise

Low noise is produced by drum brakes which allows you to have a comfortable driving experience without any disturbance created by the brakes.

Disadvantages of Drum Brakes

The drum brakes have various disadvantages, especially when compared to disc brakes.

1) Heat Dissipation

The heat gets trapped in the brakes when friction is generated. This makes drum brakes less effective in dissipating heat, especially during heavy braking. This can even lead to brake fade and reduced braking efficiency during overheating.

2) Heavier and Bulkier

The drum brakes are heavier and bulkier because of their design and components such as brake shoes, springs, and adjusters.

The additional weight affects the handling and fuel efficiency due to the higher unsprung mass.

3) Limited Cooling Ability

Due to the enclosed design of the drum brakes, the airflow and cooling ability becomes less limited than the open design of the disc brakes.

4) Uneven Braking

The drum brakes' braking mechanism makes them more prone to uneven wear. This makes the stopping power across the wheel slightly imbalanced.

Advantages of Disc Brakes

Disc brakes are used for many modern vehicles as they offer several advantages.

1) Superior Stopping Power

The disc brakes have superior stopping power than disc brakes. During emergency braking situations, they offer more effectiveness. This allows the driver to control and apply the braking force more precisely.

2) Better Heat Dissipation

The disc brakes reduce the risk of brake fade as they dissipate heat more efficiently. This helps you during intense or heavy braking. Their open design cools the brakes quickly because of the better airflow.

3) Lighter Weight

The disc brakes are lighter as compared to drum brakes. The overall vehicle weight is reduced while fuel efficiency, handling, and suspension dynamics are improved.

4) Easier Maintenance

The maintenance process, inspection, and service of disc brakes is easier. The disassembling doesn’t occur because of the easy replacement of the brake pads. It can even be accessed easily.

The routine maintenance of disc brakes and other components can be done simply without frequent adjustments.

5) Compatibility with ABS

The anti-lock braking system (ABS) can be integrated well with the disc braking system. This allows faster response time and precise control, increasing vehicle safety and stability.

Disadvantages of Disc Brakes

While the disc brakes have various advantages, they still have some disadvantages.

1) Cost

The manufacturing and replacement cost of disc brakes and their components are more expensive than drum brakes. The vehicle's initial cost and maintenance and replacement cost are also impacted.

2) Corrosion

Disc brake rotors are more prone to corrosion because of their exposed nature. It can happen during harsh weather conditions. This affects the braking performance and leads to frequent replacement of rotors.

3) Complexity

Drum brakes have various components such as rotors, calipers, and pads including the sensors and electronic components used for advanced braking systems. This makes it more complex and even increases difficulty.

4) Pad Wear and Replacement

The pads of the disc brake may wear out quickly. This can cause problems during aggressive driving conditions or under heavy use.

This will also lead to frequent replacement of brake pads. But this depends on your driving habits and the quality of the brake components.

5) Limited Parking Brake Functionality

Disc brakes are less suitable for parking brakes because nowadays separate parking brakes are used for modern vehicles.

Maintenance of Drum Brakes and Disc Brakes

Drum Brakes

Brake shoes and drums of drum brakes will stay in good condition if they are inspected and maintained regularly. Thoroughly check for signs of wear and tear or any adjustment of brakes is needed.

Disc Brakes

Disc brakes require periodic replacements of brake pads. Regular maintenance is required for the proper functioning of calipers and hydraulic systems. Also, inspect the rotors for wear.

The drum brakes and disc brakes should go through regular maintenance to reduce the problem of brake failure. The maintenance will help identify and resolve any issues before they become serious.

Which One is Better for Your Vehicle?

The drum brakes and disc brakes are two types of braking systems that you can choose according to your preferences and which suits you best.

Many vehicles including modern passenger cars, sports cars, etc have disc brakes. If performance and safety are important to you, disc brakes are the better option.

They have superior braking performance, reliability, and safety features. This makes them best for everyday driving or emergency braking situations. '

On the other hand, the drum brakes still hold their place in the market, especially in certain applications such as rear brake systems. You can choose them if you are looking for cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and durability.

But the choice depends on your specific requirements, preferences, and the vehicle's intended use. Both braking systems are efficient and have effective stopping power.

Conclusion

Drum brakes and disc brakes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Drum brakes are best for certain applications while disc brakes help in demanding situations.

Drum brakes are cost-effective and durable. Disc brakes are more expensive and have lighter weight.

They both require regular maintenance to ensure their components' proper functioning and smooth working.

So, the choice is yours to make which one you prefer as the drum brake and disc brakes both ensure safety and provide great stopping power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1 Which type of brake is better, drum or disc?

Ans Both drum brakes and disc brakes are better but the choice depends on your vehicle type, performance requirements, budget considerations, and specific application needs.

Q2 Are disc brakes more expensive than drum brakes?

Ans Yes, disc brakes are more expensive than drum brakes due to the cost of components such as rotors, calipers, and pads.

Q3 Do drum brakes or disc brakes last longer?

Ans Disc brakes last longer than drum brakes as they have longer-lasting components, such as rotors and pads.

Q4 Can drum brakes be converted to disc brakes?

Ans Yes, there is a possibility to convert drum brakes to disc brakes on some vehicles but some modifications will be done to ensure compatibility, performance, and safety.