New Chevy's got rear drums?

[South Florida Lawns]

What the heck, so GM goes back to drum brakes on the 1500 Silverado's and Sierras? Why? Everybody knows that drum brakes can't dissipate heat like a disc. I think even the WT trucks have crossover braking which isn't even 4 wheel ABS. Why did they go back to drums, anybody know?

[IA_James]

I think they were having some reliability issues in the Rust Belt with the rear disc setup they were using, something about all the salt screwing 'em up.

[salopez]

it was cost vs performance

rear brakes don't do as much braking as the fronts and the disk set up cost allot more then drums to maintian but don't offer enough performance to justify.

[TLS]

I'll take drums back any day!

I'm on my second set of rotors and I have less than 20K miles! (truck in sig)

The steel they use is crap. The calipers rust and no longer slide, leading to uneven pad wear.

My latest set was put on in March, and they already look like hell.

[South Florida Lawns]

I don't live by road salt so I don't have those problems.

[TimsLawnCareVA]

Drum brakes don't have as much brake fade as disc brakes. Also, how many road tractors you see with rear disc? They use drum for a reason.

[KGR landscapeing]

Drum brakes don't have as much brake fade as disc brakes. Also, how many road tractors you see with rear disc? They use drum for a reason.

cause its not like you dont see a bunch of those things jack knifed every year. air brakes work on a spring the air keeps them open when you shut the air off the springs clamp them together. drums r cheaper i guess here i had 30k on my truck and had to cut slots and break the back disc off rust is nasty

[k911lowe]

I'll take drums back any day!

I'm on my second set of rotors and I have less than 20K miles! (truck in sig)

The steel they use is crap. The calipers rust and no longer slide, leading to uneven pad wear.

My latest set was put on in March, and they already look like hell.

thats because you have a chev.my f150 has over 200000 miles and the rear have only been replaced once.they stop the truck when it rains,not like drums.they get wet and wont stop your truck as well.

[lawnboy dan]

what else would you expect from gm?

[South Florida Lawns]

Thanks k911lowe for bringing us back to topic. I'm also considering a new f150 as well, they are great trucks.

[TLS]

I don't live by road salt so I don't have those problems.

This is a VERY good point. If your not having problems, you don't drive in salt.

I would venture to say Fords would have problems in my circumstances.

[ProStreetCamaro]

thats because you have a chev.my f150 has over 200000 miles and the rear have only been replaced once.they stop the truck when it rains,not like drums.they get wet and wont stop your truck as well.

Yeah fords are so great that our F150 ate front brakes every 3,000 miles and lost oil pressure at 60,000 miles. Love them fords! I can say almost the exact same thing about 2 broncos and 1 E-250 van also. Oh yeah the 2 expeditions we have owned were also crap including the one we currently own.


Never ever will we buy another ford.

[PLM-1]

I have over 90k on my original brakes. I just checked them when i changed oil last week and still have plenty of life left. Should ATLEAST make it through until Spring.

[02DURAMAX]

I'll take drums back any day!

I'm on my second set of rotors and I have less than 20K miles! (truck in sig)

The steel they use is crap. The calipers rust and no longer slide, leading to uneven pad wear.

My latest set was put on in March, and they already look like hell.

Same here My truck does the same thing..

[mike lane lawn care]

i will agree that a drums are not as easy to work with a disk, but they (GM) need to do something about the amount of rust that forms on everything, perhaps a new way to coat things. with my old truck, seems as once a month i was tearing the rear calipers off and either rebuilding, or replacing them. even on my new truck, there is a decent amount of surface rust forming on the frame and tailer hitch, i'll have to spray them down with some rustoleum paint.

[Optimum Lawn]

rear disc and Road Salt do not go well together....I would only want a rear disc brake setup when not in the winter salt environment other wise drum all the way.

[Gravel Rat]

Drum brakes are horrible why do you think Ford Dodge and Chevy are using disk brakes on the 1.5 and 2 ton trucks.

One drum brakes get hot you get serious brake fade I guess non of you guys drive commercial truck. When drum brakes get hot the drum expands and you get less braking power.

There is a huge difference bettween air operated drum brakes and hydraulic operated drum brakes. Air brakes have more power.

They are starting to use more air operated disk brakes on class 8 trucks because they have better stopping power.

[GravelyNut]

Drum brakes are horrible why do you think Ford Dodge and Chevy are using disk brakes on the 1.5 and 2 ton trucks.

One drum brakes get hot you get serious brake fade I guess non of you guys drive commercial truck. When drum brakes get hot the drum expands and you get less braking power.

There is a huge difference bettween air operated drum brakes and hydraulic operated drum brakes. Air brakes have more power.

They are starting to use more air operated disk brakes on class 8 trucks because they have better stopping power.

Thank you GR!:clapping: My truck has rear disc brakes and now is at 70K miles. Still on the original parts. And yes, it has been driven on salted roads, and is exposed to higher humidity longer than most see. It also gets driven thru standing water up to 6 months out of the year. Like the last 3 days.
Discs shed water better than drums too.

As for drum brake fade, that is why discs were installed on the fronts long before they were used on rears. Lakewood made a set of shoes back in the 70s just to combat fade on race car's drum brakes. After a few stops in street use they were better than regular shoes and in racing, they could go for 24 hours in a road race. Problems? Exspensive, dirty to make, required specially machined drums, special grease need for bearings, had to be warm to work well, and after a 500 mile race or 24 hour race, the drums were shot.

[topsites]

My attitude is only high performance cars need or have 4-wheel ABS discs,
my D2500 has drums in rear and if my truck isn't stopping then I am driving too fast
or following too closely so slow down and stop trying to race everyone lol

Who said a truck is supposed to keep up with every day traffic, especially when trailered?

[Gravel Rat]

I fought with no stopping power drum brakes for years I went to F-450 trucks which have rear disk brakes no more fighting. When your decending a twisty down grade you want brakes that do something.

If you never driven a loaded truck with 4 wheel disk brakes then you don't know any different.

[jkilov]

What I don't like about discs is that some don't have sweeper plates on both sides. While towing the discs really heat up and if you drive over a rain puddle water splashes on them warping them instantly. For some reason rear discs are more prone to this. Luckily they're easier to work on.