Are disk brakes better than drum brakes?

Question

On a car I mean. And also, why don't cars have drum brakes on the front tires? Usually there is disk brakes on the front two tires and drum brakes on the back or disk on all four but why aren't there drum brakes on the front tires?

Answer 1

Disc brakes are more efficient than disc brakes. Over 40 years ago all vehicles had drum brakes because the technology was not available. Drums are a cheaper system so only high performance cars have discs all round. When you brake the weight transfer is towards the front of the car that why most cars have discs on the front which are more efficient

Answer 2

Discs are superior on the front as its where 80 percent of your stopping needs come from (think of the car's hood diving when braking hard) and the rears only offer 20 perecent of the braking power. Disc brakes do offer alot more performance and reliability over drums but some car manufacters still use drum brakes for couple reasons, its very cheap to produce and very simple, and drums when adjusted properly don't produce any drags while disc brakes do produce drag. So thats why alot of car manufacters still use front discs and rear drums to keep costs down.

Answer 3

i own a repair shop and disc brakes are much better and safer to have than drum brakes are,the old drum brakes system had a tendency to grab,and cause the driver to loose control,and the disc brakes almost done away with that problem all together they also last a lot longer,and are easier to service than drum brakes are,most of the vehicles now are coming equipped with 4 wheel disc brakes on them,the days of the old drum brakes are almost gone,soon all the newer cars will have 4 wheel disc on them,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 4

Because some Nerds somewhere found out that disc brakes are smaller and prettier than something with a good coefficient of friction like drum brakes. Old vehicles had drum brakes all the way around, like the 61 Corvette for example...

Answer 5

Drum brakes tend to lock up easier during emergency stops than disk brakes. You have no control of your vehicle if the wheels are locked. Some vehicles still keep drums in the rear as rear wheels locking up is not as dangerous as front wheels locking, and drums are cheaper to produce. Cars produced before about 1965 had drums on all four corners.

Answer 6

they used to have drum brakes on the front of cars before the late 60's but disc brakes are far superior to drum brakes as far as stopping power and they are a lot easier to work on and replace pads.

Answer 7

the fronts do most of the braking , discs are way more efficient , i had a '68 Acadian ( Cdn. Nova ) with drums and this thing was downright scary when wet, seems the drums would let a bit of water in there and until it was all gone , no brakes !!!!

Answer 8

Discs are definetly better, that is why they are being used now, on all cars. Think of brake drums as being pushed against, from the inside. And discs, are being squeezed by two pads. If you pushed on one side with your hand, against a flat disc that was turning, you would have trouble stopping it, but if you squeezed it between your finger and thumb, it would stop faster. Don't try it, just an example of how it works.

Answer 9

yes they are better hold,no brake fade,older cars had drum brakes on the front but discs replaced them as they are much more efficiant

Answer 10

disk is way better makes you stop faster they cool faster and if you go far enugh back car had drum on all four coners disk makes for better brakeing and safer brakeing