Drum vs. Disc brakes on the salt

[wickedwagens]

I'm putting the suspension back together and have everything to go either direction.  4 wheels disc or 4 wheel drum or any combination of the two.  I was thinking that since you can not put a lot of stopping force to the salt there would not be much gain going to a disc setup.  I was also thinking about possibly having less rolling resistance with the drum brakes.  What are your ideas, recommendations, and experiences with this?

[lsrjunkie]

I have no experience either way, but through out the course of my build, a lot of racers have told me that my rear disc brakes are over kill.

[Tman]

Tom Burkland told me you can never have too much brake!

[Milwaukee Midget]

You can retract shoes all the way, whereas discs tend to drag a bit.

I removed my front brakes and will be running rear drums only this year. 

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I race bikes -- and take the time before runs to use a scraper or something to pull the pucks off the rotors.  Ir's a bit of a pain - but showed some increase in top speed over a handful of runs for comparison.  I don't have immediate braking that way -- have to pump the lever a few times, and that has caught me by surprise at Maxton , but at the salt there's no good need for brakes.

As for disc vs. drum -- I'd far rather have drum brakes on the pickup, for instance, because there are too many ways that the salt and crud will farkle with the sliding parts of the disc system.  Drum brakes are easier to clean.  I vote for drum brakes, adjusted for minimum drag.

[kiwi belly tank]

You can retract shoes all the way, whereas discs tend to drag a bit.

I removed my front brakes and will be running rear drums only this year. 

What he said. 
  Sid.

[gkabbt]

I removed my front brakes and will be running rear drums only this year. 

Chris, Are you going to make it to Wilmington before Speedweek and if so will this matter?

Gregg

[maguromic]

You can retract shoes all the way, whereas discs tend to drag a bit.

You can eliminate the drag by spot facing  the disc pads with a small drill bit and running springs to knock the pads back.  This is very common on road race cars.  Tony

[SPARKY]

If I were going as fast as Tom---I would agree--- but I am not so I opted for Drum less drag, and on the lakester aero also.

[Sumner]

You can retract shoes all the way, whereas discs tend to drag a bit.

You can eliminate the drag by spot facing  the disc pads with a small drill bit and running springs to knock the pads back.  This is very common on road race cars.  Tony

Do you have more info on this as I'm having a hard time visualizing it?

Discs do drag and I've never liked that on the Stude.  We've tried to pry them away before but it is a pain on that car and if the driver forgets just once in staging and presses the pedal that is lost.  I'm going to try rear discs only on the lakester and since the calipers will be easier to get to, will pry them off but if the above will do that then I'm very interested.

Jon I'll have to disagree with you on the effects of salt on disc vs. drums.  Way less parts with disc brakes.  The year we ....



.... ran through the water at the end of the road I had to completely rebuild the rear drums on the truck but the front disc's survived.  Most all boat trailers now that have brakes have gone from drums to disc.  Lots of parts to rust up with the drums.  The problem with the discs is when the rotors rust up and then drag even more.  They do have stainless steel rotors available for boat trailer brakes.

The whole thing still comes down to what Sparky said and that is how fast are you running and where.  250 on the salt is different than 250 at EM or one of the mile tracks, but you probably are going to have different chutes there also.  Also are you driving a brick that wants to stop once you are out of the gas or a streamliner that will coast forever?  Under 250 I for sure would not worry about front brakes and about anything will work on the back if you have the right chute for the car,

Sum

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Okay, Sum -- whatever works for you.  I've had far more problems with the discs than with drum -- on my last three pickups.  I understand about the number of parts, but what goes awry in the discs (mine) is that pads won't slide back and forth properly.  The pins corrode and the pads lock into position.  And yes, Nancy and I have driven the vehicles through similar lakes as the one shown in your photo.

[wickedwagens]

I forgot to add that I will be running 125-160 mph range.

[Stan Back]

See Reply #3.  Best for salt.  Maybe not for airports -- although don't know what your speed would be in a mile.

[wobblywalrus]

Tony, some photos of your spot face and spring trick will be a big help.

[Buickguy3]

   Once, many years ago when we were drag racing we put springs between the pads to push them off of the rotors. When I went through the traps so as not to break out I hit the brakes and the car made an immediate Left turn and I darn near rolled it in the lights. The springs were removed before I made another pass.
   Doug