Disc vs. Drum Brakes

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Daniel S. Young

Insurance Content Managing Editor

Daniel S. Young began his professional career as chief editor of The Chanticleer, a Jacksonville State University newspaper. He also contributed to The Anniston Star, a local newspaper in Alabama. Daniel holds a BA in Communication and is pursuing an MA in Journalism & Media Studies at the University of Alabama. With a strong desire to help others protect their investments, Daniel has writt...

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Joel Ohman

Certified Financial Planner

Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Joel...

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Updated November 2023

Disc Brake vs. Drum Brake

  • rotate
Disc and drum brakes offer different methods of stopping a vehicle.

Disc Brake

Brake fluid

Rotor (disc)

The rotor provides a friction surface for the brake pads to press against.

Air flow

Axle

Cooling fins

Heat can negatively impact brake function. Specially designed internal fins act as a “fan” to pull cooling air through the disc.

disc brake cooling fins diagram

Brake pad

Brake pads contact the rotor and cause friction to occur. Once friction is great enough, the rotor is unable to spin and the vehicle stops. Brake pads are the primary wear point of the system, and are designed to be easily replaceable.

Piston

As the brake pads wear down, the piston slowly adjusts to make sure the pads can continue to contact the rotor.

Caliper bracket

The caliper bracket attaches to the vehicle and holds the brake pads in place, though still allowing them to slide toward the rotor when the brake pedal is depressed.

Caliper

The caliper houses brake fluid and the piston. Incoming brake fluid pushes the piston inward, causing the interior pad to press against the rotor; once the interior pad presses against the rotor, the caliper moves to bring the exterior pad in contact with the rotor.

Brake pedal

Slide pins

Drum Brake

  • rotate

Anchor pin

As well as providing an “anchor” for the return springs to hook around, in some instances the anchor pin can also assist or replace the wheel cylinder in keeping the brake shoes from rotating with the drum when the brakes are applied.

Return springs

Return springs pull the brake shoes off the brake drum when the brake pedal is not being pressed.

Brake shoe

Brake shoes contact the drum and cause friction to occur.

Hold down spring, pin, and retainer

Pins and retainers keep the hold down springs in place while the springs allow the brake shoe to move when necessary.

Adjuster

By turning an adjustment screw, the adjuster can be lengthened to ensure that the brake shoes remain a similar distance from the drum as the shoes wear down.

Backing plate

The backing plate is attached to the axle housing and does not rotate. It holds the wheel cylinder, anchor pin, and pin.

Brake drum

The brake drum houses and protects the inner brake parts. The inner rim of the drum is the braking surface.

Brake pedal

Wheel cylinder

As brake fluid enters the wheel cylinder, it pushes the seals/pistons outward, causing the brake shoes to contact the inside of the drum.

Axle

Parking Brake

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Disc

If a personal vehicle has disc brakes on the rear, a ‘mini’ version of a drum brake will often be placed inside the disc. A less common option uses a self-adjusting screw mechanism inside the disc brake pad assembly (not shown).

Drum

When the parking brake, and in turn the cable, is pulled, a lever and bar assembly pushes the brake pads against the drum.

Overview

Disc

Generally, disc brakes dissipate heat efficiently because the components are exposed to airflow.

  • Brake fade (a reduction or loss in braking power) is less likely to happen.
  • Since most of a vehicle’s stopping force is usually on the front brakes, many vehicles will have disc brakes on the front.

  • Drum

  • The average cost for the drum and brake pads of a drum brake can be around 77% less expensive than comparable disc brake components.
  • Drum brakes are well protected from outside elements and are usually less likely to corrode.
  • Since the rear brakes often account for less of the vehicle’s stopping force, many vehicles will have drum brakes on the rear.

References

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