Disc/Disc vs. Disc/drum ?

[68LSS1]

Just for the record I will be running a Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve on my set up. As far as the big three going 4 wheel disc is it possible to have anti lock on drums? I'm thinking it's because it allows for better abs control. I know that abs can be had on the backs of vehicles using drums but both were controlled together via a sensor in the differential, instead of independently like the front.

[toddtheodd]

I know that 18 wheelers use drums.
I will look into this "adjuster kit". What is the normal cost of this?
Todd

[Longhorn Man]

Like I said, you can replace the shoes, wheel cylinders, adjuster kits, and mounting kit for less than 100 bucks per axle. If memory serves, it is just over 100 bucks for all 4 wheels. (drums)

[Budweis]

the guys running 20" wheels longhorn so he must not be worried bout rolling weight. im not gonna argue as i dont want a bunch of spam in my email lol. some of us know disc are better and for the rest of you? well we need somebody to buy our old crappy drum brakes so there you are. i got 4 full drum brake set ups if you want to buy them.

[Longhorn Man]

discs up front are wonderfull. I just can't see putting them in back when i have proved it to myself on a couple different vehicles, that they don't do squat back there.

[1969 GMC]

on the weight issue...i have not measured them, but the drums on my H052 are f'in huge. THe drums on H072's are even bigger, and the drums on corp 14 bolts are huge as well. The disc conversion kit that most offroad guys are using has the rotors and calipers from a '75 K20, ie off the shelf napa items. I doubt these weigh more than the drums. But that is just in the aftermarket offroad category.

I was a little surprised to learn that all school buses run 4 wheel drum brakes. Some mornings, if it had been a damp evening, the shoes would stick something terrible and you'd have to rock the bus to bust em loose. Those drums were monsters, very heavy.

[drink2mny]

I tell ya what guys. It is a "to each their own" theory when it comes to rear disc brakes.
Here is what I have dealt with.
Some use stock componants and add rear disc brakes and love it
some don't so they read and read what is needed for it to work right then get new proportioning and adjustable and master cylinders..

Some are happy after that. Some aren't.
Some people get them for the looks.
some people get them and say they are a HUGE difference and better than drums.
Some people think it was a waste of money.
Our business started out for the 4x4 and offroad community.
Where rear disc breaks were a god send. try taking any one of the dana 60 eaton 3rd member drop out or a coporate 14 bolt in the mud, then drive it home on the street..
Yeah that sucks for braking..
The off road community was almost the for front for rear disc brakes on trucks.
It got big around '96 to '97 and has grown since.
then folks wanted them on there 10 and 12 bolts cause what do ya know, the 10 and 12 bolt car rear ends were getting them. and had them for years including the other 2 big companies.

it is going to be a constant pissing match as to whether they are better or not.
And I won't tell you which way to go.
It is going to be a preference of the person and what they want for their truck.

But if ya did want my 2 cents you can only guess what all my trucks have :p

[72c10step]

Originally Posted by 1969 GMC

If drums are more than enough, then why does the big 3 use factory discs on the rearends of all their bigger trucks?

FYI, I'm not sure about the HD's, but I know that Chevy/GMC 1/2 tons at least are going back to drums in the rear. They are going to have large drums that require a change to 17" rims to clear them, and they're using the money they saved going back to drums in the rear to upgrade the front discs. Overall, the setup is the same price or a little cheaper, and the stopping distance is decreased.