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Drum Brakes vs. Disc Brakes: Which Is Best?

Andrew Cilio
By: 

Andrew Cilio

 / Mar 6 2023
Drum Brakes vs. Disc Brakes: Which Is Best?

The truth about the drum brakes vs. disc brakes debate is that there really isn't much of a debate. Disc brakes offer superior performance under virtually all conditions, but they cost more (both upfront and to maintain) than drum brakes. 


You'd be hard-pressed to find a modern vehicle that doesn't come stock with at least one set of disc brakes, but when it comes to upgrading the rear set of your truck's brakes or shopping around for models with a full set of OEM disc brakes, is the debate really settled? We've broken down each type so you can decide for yourself.

Table of Contents
  1. The Difference Between Drum and Disc Brakes
  2. What Are Drum Brakes?
  3. Pros and Cons of Drum Brakes
  4. What Are Disc Brakes?
  5. Pros and Cons of Disk Brakes
  6. Are Disc Brakes Better Than Drum Brakes?
  7. Final Thoughts on Drum Brakes vs. Disc Brakes
  8. FAQs

The Difference Between Drum and Disc Brakes

The main difference between drum brakes and disc brakes is their structure and placement—drum brakes are housed inside a wheel hub and disc brakes are attached to the outside of a wheel rotor. Both types use the same basic principle to slow a vehicle down, generating heat by applying friction to a component that turns with the wheel.

Let's look a little closer at what sets each one apart.

What Are Drum Brakes?

Drum brakes, as the name implies, hold their major components in a metal drum bolted to the wheel hub that turns in tandem with the wheel. When you press the brake pedal, the master cylinder sends pressurized fluid into a wheel cylinder, a hydraulic piston that expands to press two brake shoes outward so that they press against the interior surface of the drum. The force of this contact creates friction, slowing the wheel.

Drum Brake Diagram

Let's take a closer look at a few of those key parts that make up a drum brake.

Illustrated diagram of a drum brake.

Pros and Cons of Drum Brakes

Drum brakes have been almost entirely replaced by disc brakes on the front axles of most vehicles—but they still come stock on many rear axles, even for high-end manufacturers. There's clearly still plenty of use for them, even if they aren't perfect.

Pros

Drum brakes still come stock on many vehicles because they offer a few valuable benefits.

  • Longevity: Drum brakes wear down more slowly than disc brakes.
  • Lower maintenance: You can expect to work on drum brakes less often and with less hassle than you would disc brakes.
  • Lower cost: Even though they have more components than disc brakes, they're still cheaper to manufacture and install.

Cons

So why the shift away from drum brakes? Here are a few important drawbacks.

  • Less stopping power: There's basically no condition in which drum brakes outperform disc brakes in terms of sheer stopping power and responsiveness.
  • Prone to overheating: Drum brakes are more prone to overheating because they trap heat inside their housing.
  • Prone to brake fade: Since drum brakes generate more heat than disc brakes, they're more likely to experience brake fade.
  • More complexity: With more components and housing, drum brakes can be a little more complicated to install and work on.

Pros

Cons

Longevity

Lower maintenance

Lower cost

 

Less stopping power

Prone to overheating

Prone to brake fade

More complexity

What Are Disc Brakes?

Disc brakes force two brake pads to clamp down on either side of a disc-shaped brake rotor. The two pads are housed inside a small caliper assembly that stays in one position as the wheel rotates and the connected rotor turns between the two pads. This is a simpler, more open design than a drum brake—and a more effective one.

From a more technical perspective, when you press your brake pedal, pressurized fluid is sent from the master cylinder to a hydraulic piston inside the caliper. This pressure pushes the interior brake pad into one side of the rotor. This force causes the caliper frame to move in the opposite direction, pulling the pad on the other side of the rotor with it so that it presses against its side of the rotor.

Disc Brake Diagram

If you're having a hard time visualizing how all this works, check out this diagram for a handy visual aid.

Illustrated diagram of a disc brake.

Pros and Cons of Disk Brakes

Disc brakes are the gold standard for stopping power, but they don't come without a few drawbacks to balance out their benefits. Here's what makes them the universal choice for wheels on front axles—which do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to braking—and what makes many manufacturers choose to pass them up on the rear axle.

Pros

These benefits make disc brakes superior to drum brakes.

  • More stopping power: Disc brakes offer better performance with less effort than drum brakes.
  • More consistent performance: Disc brakes also perform better across weather conditions than drum brakes.
  • Less brake fade: Since disc brakes don't build up as much heat as drum brakes, they're less prone to brake fade.
  • Simpler design: With fewer components and a more streamlined, open design, disc brakes can be simpler to install and work on than drum brakes.

Cons

So, why not slap disc brakes on every axle on every vehicle? Here's why.

  • Higher cost: First and foremost, disc brakes are more expensive than drum brakes to install.
  • More regular maintenance: Disc brakes require more regular maintenance to keep up than drum brakes.
  • Shorter life span: You'll need to replace components like the brake pads (which can vary depending on whether they're metallic, semi-metallic, or ceramic) more often on disc brakes than you will on drum brakes.

Pros

Cons

More stopping power

More consistent performance

Less brake fade

Simpler design

Higher cost

More regular maintenance

Shorter life span

 

Are Disc Brakes Better Than Drum Brakes?

In short: Yes, disc brakes are almost universally considered to be better than drum brakes (aside from higher price and replacement costs). They have superior performance under a wider range of conditions, are less prone to brake fade, and are all-around more reliable. However, they come with the main drawback of being more expensive to install and maintain. 

But that doesn't mean drum brakes are bad options in all cases. Most vehicles these days come with drum brakes stock on the rear axle because they're perfectly fine for secondary braking, and their lower price point helps keep costs down for more affordably priced models and trims. 

For performance applications, however, you'll want to maximize your stopping power with a full set of disc brakes.

Chart showing a comparison of drum brakes and disc brakes with drum brakes having superior maintenance, longevity, and price and disc brakes having superior performance, reliability, and installation.

Final Thoughts on Drum Brakes vs. Disc Brakes

At the end of the day, where most truck owners come out on the issue of drum brakes vs. disc brakes really comes down to cost vs. performance. For pure performance with a more straightforward design, disc brakes are an easy choice if cost isn't an issue. To save a little money at the expense of premium stopping power, leaving drum brakes on the rear axle wheels should be just fine.

FAQs

Why Are Drum Brakes Not Used Anymore?

Drum brakes are still commonly used, but most newer vehicles are manufactured with disc brakes on at least the front axle wheels. This is because disc brakes have far superior performance, but they also cost more to manufacture, so many models still come with drum brakes on rear axle wheels to keep costs low.

Do Drum Brakes Have Rotors?

Drum brakes do not have rotors like disc brakes. Instead, they use round plates called shoes to press against the inside of a drum that rotates with the wheel to generate friction and slow the turning of the wheel.

What Are the Disadvantages of Drum Brakes?

The disadvantages of drum brakes include lower stopping power, less reliable performance in inclement weather conditions, more potential for brake fade, and slightly more complexity for installation and maintenance.

 

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