Most modern cars are equipped with disc brakes front and rear. On budget models, the rear axle is still drum. These mechanisms are considered obsolete long ago. But why do manufacturers equip cars with such brakes? Most likely, the point here is the banal desire to save on production. Drum brakes work, but their efficiency is not too high. Replacing drum brakes with disc brakes should improve the result. Let's see if this is so and whether it is worth performing this replacement.
Drum brake device
Consider the construction in general. This system uses two semicircular brake pads.
They are installed inside the brake drum. On one side, the pads are fixed quite rigidly, and on the other hand, they develop with a piston. The latter works when the driver presses the pedal. And the higher the force, the stronger the piston will extend.
Between the two pads installed springs. When the driver releases the pedal, these springs move the pads to their base position. They are used so that the drum does not jam.
As you can see, the drum brake is really simple in design. But the progress and development of modern technology is constantly moving forward, engines are developing. Those speeds that at the dawn of the automotive industry seemed somehow unrealistic, today have become invisible. Often on the highway, cars move at speeds up to 200 km / h. Such a speed, even for motorsport champions 40 years ago, seemed fantastic.
At these speeds, the drum brake is no longer able to cope with its main task. Efficiency is lost. The first and only brake problem of this design is overheating of the pads. Hence the deterioration of work efficiency.
With the growth of speeds and capacities, engineers and designers faced the difficult task of improving the braking system. And there was nothing left to do but seek help from the aircraft industry. That's right, because the first disc brakes were installed on airplanes. Further, the system successfully switched to cars.
Device disk mechanisms
The disk element was considered a new round in the development of brake systems. Previously, it was installed only on aircraft, as well as huge trucks. There is higher speed and more mass. Let's see how this system works and whether drum brakes can be changed to disc brakes.
So, a thin disk is fixed on the axis of the car. It can be both front and rear axle. In the upper part or on the side of the disk, a so-called caliper is fixed. Its mechanism includes pistons and brake pads. When the driver presses the pedal, the pads are compressed by the piston. Between these elements is a disk. This is how braking occurs.
Disc Brake Features
The disk mechanism is more productive. The fact is that the contact spot is not semicircular, as on the drum system, but parallel. Due to this, the pads are pressed very tightly to the surface of the disk. This makes it possible to brake much more efficiently at high speeds. Replacing drum brakes with disc brakes really allows many times to increase the efficiency of the system.
Drum brakes warmed up, but disc brakes were also subject to stress. However, the drive cools better when driving. Also on the market you can find ventilated and perforated elements. Various notches can reduce the braking distance at times.
With all the advantages, there is a negative side. Since the contact patch of the disk with the block is higher, they wear out much faster. In addition, the disk erases faster. He is grinding off pads. The last resource for a disk brake is at least three times lower than the service life of a drum brake. How much brake pads are enough is hard to say. Wear rate depends on driving style. On average, disk pads with a calm driving style are enough for 25-30 thousand km.
Advantages and disadvantages of drum brakes
It’s worth starting with drum mechanisms. They have certain advantages. Drums are cheap to manufacture. Many car manufacturers with their help save on budget models. The drum brake has a significant resource. Pads change at large intervals (more than 100 thousand), which means that the owner will spend less money on maintenance.
The minuses include a small contact spot, low braking performance. Also, drum systems heat up more. And since their device is closed, the braking effect is further reduced. Finally, the drum element is more difficult to maintain.
Pros and cons of disk
Among the advantages, high efficiency of the braking process is distinguished. Also, this system does not heat up to such temperatures as their drum counterparts. The disc brake is easier to clean. The element is easy to change if necessary. Change them when the disk is thinner than a certain parameter. The minimum thickness of the brake disc is 20 millimeters.
The disadvantages include quick wear pads. Even expensive supplies have a small resource - only 30-40 thousand kilometers. Disks also wear out. They are enough on average for 100 thousand kilometers. Serving these brakes is more expensive than drum brakes. In the summer, squeaks are possible due to fake parts. It is also necessary to constantly monitor the degree of wear of the disk. It should be no thinner than 20 mm.
It is this minimum brake disc thickness that is regulated by most manufacturers. It is indicated on the end of the product and each manufacturer is different.
How to replace drum brakes with disc brakes
Which brakes are better - disc or drum? For modern conditions, the first type of mechanism is better. Speeds even in sparsely populated cities have increased. Engine power has grown, and every day more and more cars. To carry out the replacement, you need to purchase two sets of brakes. Saving and buying the cheapest components is not worth it - jokes are bad with brakes.
Dismantling and installation of new elements
Replacement of drum brakes with disc brakes should be carried out in a garage with a pit, on a flyover or a lift. You can use the usual jack. First of all, they lift the car and fix it. Then remove the wheel. Next, unscrew the studs that hold the drum. This does not always work, since the studs often stick. Then remove the drum. It is more convenient to do this by tapping with a rubber mallet. Next, remove the parking brake cable, dismantle the brake cylinder. Pads and other parts are taken from the hub.
The installation site for new parts is carefully cleaned. There should not be any cracks or irregularities on the surface. If everything is in order, you can continue to work.
Install the hub, firmly pressing it to the faceplate. Then the nodes on the beam are straightened. Well, then everything is very simple - staples are installed on the faceplate, and a disk is installed on the hub. Be sure to insert distance washers. Further, the joints of the brackets are tightened. The hose is connected to the caliper, pads are installed. The integrity of the brake line is checked.
At this, the replacement of drum brakes with disc brakes is over. You can enjoy the efficient operation of the brake system.
Conclusion
Budget cars are equipped with drum brakes. But they can always be replaced with disk counterparts. This will improve braking performance.