2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
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. But why do manufacturers equip cars with such brakes? Most likely, the point here is a banal desire to save on production. Drum brakes work, but their effectiveness is not very high. Replacing drum brakes with disc brakes should improve the result. Let's see if this is the case and if this replacement is worth doing.
Drum brake device
Let's consider the construction in general. This system uses two semi-circular brake pads.
They are installed inside the brake drum. On one side, the pads are fixed quite rigidly, and on the other side they are developed by a piston. The latter works when the driver presses the pedal. And the higher the force, the more the piston will extend.
Springs are installed between the two pads. When the driver lets gopedal, these springs move the pads to their base position. They are used to prevent the drum from jamming.
As you can see, the drum brake mechanism is really simple in design. But the progress and development of modern technologies are constantly moving forward, engines are developing. Those speeds that seemed unrealistic at the dawn of the automotive industry have become invisible today. Often on the track, cars move at speeds up to 200 km / h. Such speed, even for motorsport champions 40 years ago, seemed fantastic.
At such speeds, the drum brake is no longer able to cope with its main task. Efficiency is lost. The first, and also the only problem with a brake of this design is overheating of the pads. Hence the deterioration in work efficiency.
With the growth of speeds and power, engineers and designers faced a difficult task - to improve the braking system. And there was nothing left but to turn to the aircraft industry for help. That's right, because the first disc brakes were installed on aircraft. Further, the system was successfully transferred to passenger cars.
Device of disk mechanisms
The disc 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 more speed and more mass. Let's see how this system works and whether drum brakes can be changed to disc brakes.
So, the thin disk is fixed on the axle of the car. It maybe both front and rear axle. A so-called caliper is fixed at the top or side of the disc. Its mechanism includes pistons and brake pads. When the driver presses the pedal, the pads are compressed under the influence of the piston. Between these elements is a disk. This is how braking happens.
Disc brake features
The disc mechanism is more productive. The fact is that the contact patch is not semicircular, as on the drum system, but parallel. Due to this, the pads are pressed against the surface of the disc very tightly. This makes it possible to brake much more efficiently at high speeds. Replacing drum brakes with disc brakes really allows you to increase the efficiency of the system many times over.
Drum brakes get hot, but disc brakes get stressed too. However, the disc cools better when moving. Also on the market you can find ventilated and perforated elements. Various notches allow you to significantly reduce the braking distance.
With all the pluses, there is also a negative side. Since the disc-to-pad contact patch is higher, they wear out much faster. In addition, the disc is erased faster. He grinds with blocks. The resource of the latter for a disc brake is at least three times lower than the service life of a drum brake. It's hard to say how long the brake pads last. The rate of wear depends on driving style. On average, disc 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 automakers use them to save on budget models. The drum brake has a significant resource. Pads are changed at longer intervals (more than 100 thousand), which means that the owner will spend less money on maintenance.
The disadvantages include a small contact patch, low braking efficiency. Also drum systems heat up more. And since their device is closed, the effectiveness of braking is further reduced. Finally, the drum element is more difficult to maintain.
Pros and cons of disk drives
Among the pluses are the high efficiency of the braking process. Also, this system does not heat up to such temperatures as their drum counterparts. Disc brakes are easier to clean. The element is easy to change if necessary. Change them when the disc is thinner than a certain parameter. The minimum thickness of the brake disc is 20 millimeters.
The disadvantages include rapid pad wear. Even expensive consumables have a small resource - only 30-40 thousand kilometers. Discs also wear out. They are enough for an average of 100 thousand kilometers. These brakes are more expensive to maintain 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 must be no thinner than 20mm.
This is the minimum thickness of the brake discregulated by most manufacturers. It is indicated on the end of the product and is different for each manufacturer.
How to replace drum brakes with disc brakes
Which brakes are better - disc or drum? For modern conditions, the first type of mechanisms is better. Speeds even in sparsely populated cities have increased. Engine power has grown, and every day there are more and more cars. To carry out the replacement, you must purchase two sets of brakes. It's not worth saving and buying the cheapest components - jokes are bad with brakes.
Dismantling and installation of new elements
Replacing drum brakes with disc brakes should be done in a garage with a pit, on a flyover or lift. You can also use a regular jack. The first step is to lift the car and fix it. Then the wheel is removed. Next, unscrew the studs that hold the drum. This does not always work out, as the studs often stick. Then the drum is removed. It is more convenient to do this by tapping with a rubber mallet. Next, remove the parking brake cable, dismantle the brake cylinder. They take out pads and other parts from the hub.
The installation site of 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 by pressing it firmly against the faceplate. Then the nodes on the beam are straightened. Well, then everything is very simple - brackets are installed on the faceplate, and a disk is installed on the hub. Be sure to enclosedistance washers. Next, the joints of the brackets are tightened. The hose is connected to the caliper, pads are installed. The integrity of the brake line is being checked.
This completes the replacement of drum brakes with disc brakes. You can enjoy the efficient operation of the braking system.
Conclusion
Budget cars are equipped with drum brakes. But they can always be replaced with disk counterparts. This will improve braking performance.
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