Posted on 2/28/2025
When shopping for a new car or replacing brake components, you might notice that many vehicles still come equipped with drum brakes—at least on the rear wheels. With disc brakes widely recognized for their superior stopping power and performance, the question arises: Why are drum brakes still in use? If disc brakes are better, why haven’t all automakers completely switched over? The answer lies in cost, durability, and specific use cases where drum brakes still hold their own. The Difference Between Drum Brakes and Disc Brakes To understand why drum brakes are still used, it’s important to first recognize how they differ from disc brakes. Drum brakes use brake shoes that press outward against the inside of a spinning drum, creating friction to slow the vehicle down. The entire mechanism is enclosed within the drum, protecting it from dust and debris. Disc brakes, on the other hand, work by pressing brake pads against a rotating disc (or rotor), whi ... read more