Is there an advantage to disk brakes as opposed to drum, and vice versa?

Answer 1

Disc brakes are far more resistant to heat fades, as the larger surface area of the disc allows for better heat dissipation, and tricks like slotted and drilled rotors induce additional cooling, and is also more aerodynamic and gets more cooling effect when brake ducts are added to the body work. Disc brakes also works better after exposure to rain and puddles, as the vertical disc is almost "self-dripping". :)

The disadvantage of disc brakes is it requires large rotors to be effective. You keep hearing about how big the rotors are, not how small. This limits the size of the wheel that can be used, and the size of the tire, and a lot of other wheel-related items such as suspension geometry. In general you need at least 14 inch wheels to get disc brakes.

Drum brakes are much more compact, and works great on stationery cars as well as on moving cars, whereas disc brakes works best on moving cars. Thus, drum brakes are great for parking brakes, and often a car that has 4-wheel disc brakes STILL has a drum brake at rear wheels for parking brakes.

However, drums expand when it absorbs the heat from friction stops, and this causes subsequent brake effects LESS effective since the same amount of brake effort does not produce the same results. The other problem is known as the "self-servo effect". Basically the drums and the stop pads have one portion that provides more friction due to the rotation effect, and this causes unproportional brake effort to brake effect. Disc brakes has no such problems.

Answer 2

The first answerer is incorrect about stopping ability.Disk brakes stay cooler when braking, this is an advantage because heat build up can cause brake fade and over time can lead to a breakdown in the pads themselves. Disk brakes also have better stopping ability because the brake pads are touching both sides of the disk, whereas with drum brakes they only touch one surface.

Answer 3

Advantages Of Disc Brakes

Answer 4

well generally speaking drums are stonger brakes,, more stopping power but that isnt really true of some of the new disks. the issue is drums are a pain in the *** to sevice and disks are easy as pie. most cars have rear drum and front disks but some new cars are coming out with 4 disks cause they have made them strong enough to do the same job

Answer 5

Disck brakes are more powerful, have fewer parts to service, and don't require adjustment. In my opinion these are all advantages.