Posted by Sherman in Idaho [72.47.153.61] on Tuesday, March 03, 2015 at 19:28:30 :
In Reply to: Re: Brake pads posted by Kaegi [76.22.23.236] on Tuesday, March 03, 2015 at 13:32:32 :
We tend to assume disks are better, but in terms of contact area, you have 3 or 4 times as much with drums and shoes as with disks and pads. Assuming they're made of the same material, which they probably aren't, shoes ought to last 3 or 4 times as long as well. It seems to me the advantages of disks are in terms of simplicity, lack of need for adjustment, and less likelihood of getting soaked with oil, brake fluid, grease, or mud. But if they're in good condition, drum brakes are just fine. Under hard service, there's something to be said for having all that thermal mass of a big drum to absorb the heat of quick stops, which could warp a disk, and more rough, dark surface area to radiate heat from when you're going too slow for airflow through a ventilated disk to do any good anyway.
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