Comparision of Disk Brakes and Drum Brakes
                     Comparison of Disk Brakes and Drum Brakes
B.K Vijay 
Writer at HIOC, Adds content related to  
Hyderabad Updates and other topics like 
Tsrtc Bus pass rates 2020, real estate, 
maps etc.
There is little hesitation in acknowledging that brakes are probably the most 
vital components of any automobile, more so from the perspective of safety. In 
this context, we have to understand that the brakes come in few varieties: 
hydraulic & pneumatic brakes, mechanical brakes and electric brakes. This 
particular write-up endeavors to compare disk brakes and drum brakes, both of 
which are subcategories of the mechanical brakes.
 The drum braking system can be classified as the traditional variety, as their 
usage predates that of disk brakes.
 Drum brakes come enclosed in a drum that is round and which spins 
together with the wheel. Here, you also have a pair of brake shoes that are 
present inside the drum. Upon exerting pressure on the brake pedal, the 
friction between the shoes and wheel slows down the automobile. On the 
other hand, a disk brake consists only of a small-sized caliper and a sleek 
rotor, to stop the vehicle.
 The basic design of disk brakes is such that there is a continuous exposure to 
air. As a result, heat gets easily dissipated and this obviously enables 
enhanced efficiency. But, this is not the case with drum brakes where, 
accumulation of heat is more or less inevitable. The fact that this reduces the 
performance, especially in situations where the braking system is put to 
stringent test, necessitates no special mention.
 No doubt, both these types of brakes fall under the mechanical category. Yet; 
only the disk brakes are compatible with all related latest technologies such 
as ABS systems.
 Similarly, when the drum brakes are considered, driving in rainy weather 
could be a problem, for water gets accumulated in them. Over a period of 
time, this seriously impacts the braking system. On the contrary, due to the 
fact that there is no accumulation of water, the disk brakes never let you 
down even while driving in heavy rain.
 Owing to the simple build of drum brakes, their repair and maintenance is 
fairly simple. This is in terms of both the cost and also the time consumed at 
the workshop. But, when it is the question of repair of disk brakes, a fair bit 
of complexity is involved; the resulting cost could be comparatively 
burdensome on your pocket.
 Normally, disk brakes are seen in vehicles of low power that are of medium 
size and heavy vehicles rely on the drum brakes.
Drum brakes and disk brakes – the contemporary scene
It’s rather interesting to see that, despite the bigger advantages of the disk 
brakes, the drum brakes have not vanished altogether. Let’s have a glance at a 
few of the corresponding points.
 In most of the latest automobiles, the disk brakes are used for the front 
wheels, while the drum braking is there for the rear ones.
 The drum brakes are not as inferior as what they are thought to be, by most 
people. As a matter of fact, the design of a typical drum brake has 
significantly been enhanced, during the course of the past two decades.
 It would not be an exaggeration to state that the present-day drum brakes 
are way ahead of the disk brakes of around three decades back.
About Hyderabad India Online
Hyderabad-india-online.com (HIOC) is a website about Hyderabad city in India that 
publishes information updates, tips, and practical insights on Hyderabad markets, 
shopping, real estate, maps etc. The Hyderabad Info section and business limelight 
series of HIOC are popular. Some content published in this website is in collaboration 
with Marvist Digital Marketing.
Thank you for spending your precious time in reading this article!