Read the Bendix white paper - standard as of 2010. And it's been optional on Kenworths since 2004.

They work, sure. So do stock 4 wheel drums on older Fords. It's just that discs work better, and not just in the sense of "can lock a wheel" either. Drums fade like hell, discs don't, and that's just one advantage.

 

If disc brakes were so good, drums wouldnt even be an option

 

disk brakes have been optional on freightliner since the 90's and i see hundreds of new trucks every year mostly freightliner but some volvo and have a few petes now disk brakes are getting very common now ( i only work on new trucks straight from the factorys and spent 2.5 years at freightliner building chassis)
Also they seem to stop smoother unloaded with very light pedal pressure im sure under load they would also work better
that being said unless my drums just go to **** totally they will stay under my truck
but my toy has 4 wheel disk and stops much better than the old stock drum stuff did

 

By that logic, unhealthy food would not exist either. You can not use that kinda of logic for your argument. Sales decisions are based on what the company believes people would prefer to buy, within the limits of the law. Having a better option does not mean people will select it, and they may pay more to have what they are familiar with, not what is best. And, as I'm sure you know, there are many other requirements of large trucks other than simple stopping power, such as service life, which may not be as important to us. And for some like myself, the drum system is shot, and will require full replacement soon. A disk kit may be easier to service, provide better response, and has a number of small advantages which have already been mentioned, at a lower overall cost.

-Mike

Also, I believe we are getting away from the intent of this thread.

 

and one other thing those big sandy runaway ramps coming down the mountain were started because of brake fade which drums are alot more prone to do than disk due to the cooling design

 

I can say one thing. I'm really glad I did my rear disc conversion. I don't care what anyone says about the conversion being unnecessary. My truck DOES stop better and the biggest reason I did it, I don't have to worry about my drums being filled with mud and water.. Anyone who has tried to stop with mud and water in their drum brakes knows that it doesn't work very well.

When i do my F-250, i will be running the 10.5, but I'm doing a complete '05+ swap, so I will be keeping the 8x170 lug pattern. If I was keeping the stock lug pattern, I would just machine the 10.5 hubs to work.

 

you have me as confused as the NFL does.
the ruling on the field stands uh?

 

Oops. The second paragraph should have said my F-250. I did a rear disk conversion on my F-150, but it weighs a lot less and doesn't pull anything, so I'm running El Dorado calipers with hawk pads on the back, EBC pads up front.. On my F-250 I would go to the 10.5 and have better calipers than the El Dorado calipers. They work fine on my half ton, but I'm not sure I'd like them on a bigger truck. LOL I'm way too tired for forums today. I edited my original post.

 

So, after going around in this circle for the past couple of days I would still be interested in such a kit. If one is not soon in the offing I may proceed on my own, but am still wondering if someone who has already been down this path can tell me if the E-250 semi-floating axle brake components would work on our full-floater 10.25 Sterlings.

dn.