 Brake Repair: Disc vs. Drum Brakes
Posted by carsandtrucks on Wednesday, January 09 @ 07:36:50 PST
There are two types of brakes on passenger car and trucks. There are disc brakes and drum brakes. Disc brakes use brake pads that clamp around a brake rotor with hydraulic pressure through a brake caliper. Drum brakes use a brake shoe that is pushed against a drum with hydraulic pressure supplied by a wheel cylinder. Disc brakes are found on the front and rear wheels of many cars and trucks. Drum brakes are only used on the rear wheels of today’s vehicles. The reason for this is the disc brake performs better than the drum brake. Whereas the majority of
the braking action is carried out by the front wheels, disc brakes are always used there. Both disc and drum brakes use friction to stop the vehicle, so there is normal wear to brake pads and shoes. As a result the shoes and pads should be inspected regularly and replaced when needed. There are several types of material used in manufacturing brake pads and shoes, so you should do a little homework before you decide what replacement brake parts to buy. You don’t need high performance, high heat brake pads if all you do is commute to and from work. On the other hand if you live and drive in mountainous country you want a brake pad that can take the heat generated by the braking process. For the most part a do it yourselfer with a shop manual can master the task of replacing brake pads. Brake shoes are a little more challenging, but with the right tools the job can be completed in a couple of hours. Brake pad and brake shoe wear can have a domino effect on other expensive brake components. So be sure you replace the pads before they cause further damage. Brake noise can be an indication of a worn brake pads or shoes, but not all brake noises are abnormal. If it is a light squeak noise it may be just a normal vibration in the brake pads. If the noise is a grinding sound chances are you waited to long and the brake job is going to be costly.
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