stopping 44's
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,871
Likes: 0
From: Coutts Canada
Kinda, main reason is that disc don't have a smaller contact area that a drum does, and becuase of the sheer size of big rig drum brakes and the fact that a spring about the size of a front 2wd coil spring is used to operate the the brake (air is used to keep the spring compresed, let some air out when you step on the pedal the spring extends, pushing an s cam which in turn pushes out the shoes stopping the truck, so unless something breakes or the operator is a complete ******* you will always have brakes on a big rig). Basically a caliper isn't effecient enough at the sizes that are needed for big rigs, plus rotors that big would warp fairly easily under hard use in the size that would be needed for them to be effective.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Back in the early days of disc brakes on big rigs, they used to have mandatory places to stop and cool your brakes on long grades.
Disc equipped trucks had to stay 30 minutes longer than drum brake equipped trucks.
Less surface area to dissipate heat from rotors than there was on drums.
On smaller vehicles, I do agree with the larger piston creating more pressure against the pad, but the size of the pad versus the size of a shoe, I still like my rear drum brakes.
When they are adjusted properly I don't see much advantage to disc's for stopping force.
The key part there is disc's don't need adjusting and drum brakes do.
Most people do not brake enough in reverse for the auto adjusters to keep the drum brakes as tight as they need to be or the adjusters do not work.
Disc equipped trucks had to stay 30 minutes longer than drum brake equipped trucks.
Less surface area to dissipate heat from rotors than there was on drums.
On smaller vehicles, I do agree with the larger piston creating more pressure against the pad, but the size of the pad versus the size of a shoe, I still like my rear drum brakes.
When they are adjusted properly I don't see much advantage to disc's for stopping force.
The key part there is disc's don't need adjusting and drum brakes do.
Most people do not brake enough in reverse for the auto adjusters to keep the drum brakes as tight as they need to be or the adjusters do not work.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
Get drums wet, or pack them with mud and they are pretty useless.
Drums are heavy and add quite a bit to the unsprung weight. This is also a killer for reciprocating mass. The drum brake adds to parasitic losses.
No drum brakes for me. They do not offer any advantages for me.
Its Comin Right for us!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,144
Likes: 2,631
From: GA
ME either, i hate them...On my wheeling rig i never wore out the junkyard shoes that came on the 10.25...so i never saw a reason to put any money into the brakes...as the drums would lock up the rear with ease
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
I just installed a 79 f350 2wd Dana 70 rear with disc brakes yesterday. I'm just waiting for my Detroit locker to come in hopefully tomorow( they accidentally sent me a 14 bolt Detroit Saturday) I just need to set it up by the end of the week. I'll let you guys know how it works out. You can also check out my 70 rear build album as well if your interested.
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