Disc vs Drum Brake | Which Should You Choose for Your Motorcycle

As motorcycle power and technology improve, high-speed motorcycle riding has become quite common nowadays. Keeping pace with immense speed and technology, motorcycle brakes have also become much more advanced. Despite the significant increase in bike prices in 2022, not all motorcycle brakes feature the latest technology. When you're riding a bike at high speed, a sudden situation might arise where you need to brake hard unexpectedly, but with a short braking distance. This is where technology has replaced drum brakes with faster disc brakes. And now, almost all scooters have disc brakes on the front wheel. Research shows that the front wheel is approximately 70% more effective than the rear wheel in controlling the speed of any vehicle. However, it's not true that disc brakes are superior to drum brakes in every aspect. Drum brakes also have several advantages. Therefore, a motorcycle's braking system can be a matter of personal preference for each rider.

Understanding Disc and Drum Brakes:

Let's explore some detailed insights into disc and drum brakes -

Drum Brakes

A drum brake primarily consists of brake shoes, springs, a brake cable, a brake arm, a brake panel, and a brake drum. In the rotating cylindrical part of a motorcycle's brake, outwardly applying brake shoes create friction against the drum surface under hydraulic pressure. This drum is connected to the wheel's shaft and mounted in the center of the tire. Consequently, when the brake is applied, the motorcycle's brake fluid exerts force on the brake pads due to the pressure from the lever's piston. This causes the pads to create friction against the drum, stopping the wheel's shaft.

Disc Brakes

The design of disc brakes is quite straightforward. It includes a disc, a caliper, and a pair of motorcycle brake pads. The entire system is operated by a thick, smooth fluid line. This thick fluid is what we know as brake oil. Brake fluid is stored in a small reservoir connected to the brake lever's pump. To stop a bike or scooter, pressure is applied to the motorcycle brake lever. Due to this pressure, the motorcycle brake fluid flows through the line, presses against the caliper's pistons, and the disc experiences friction between the brake pads. Under the influence of this friction, the disc, and thus the bike's speed, decreases or stops completely. The amount of pressure determines how much the brake pads engage with or stay away from the disc. And how quickly the brake will engage depends on how hard the brake pads grip the disc, i.e., the bite of the motorcycle brake.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Disc and Drum Brakes

Stopping Power

At the beginning of this report, we learned that disc brakes have significantly more stopping power compared to drum brakes. Whether overloaded or not, disc brakes are more effective for sudden hard braking. Using dual disc rotors, or connecting multiple or larger motorcycle brake pads, can further increase the brake pad's bite, which is not possible with drum brakes.

Stopping Distance

The most crucial aspect when choosing any motorcycle brake is considering its stopping distance. The distance a bike travels before coming to a complete stop after braking is the motorcycle brake's stopping distance. In this regard, disc brakes are also ahead of drum brakes. Its stopping distance is considerably shorter than that of drum brakes. So, if you encounter a sudden obstacle and need to brake, disc brakes can provide the quickest protection. Furthermore, if Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) technology is added, the stopping distance is reduced even further.

Heat Dissipation Capability

When our engine and bike tires get very hot, the braking efficiency of drum brakes gradually decreases. This is because the brake shoes generate more heat due to friction, and since this entire process occurs within the drum inside the tire, it takes a considerable amount of time to cool down. Disc brakes are mounted on the outside of the bike's tire, while drum brakes are enclosed within the tire. Therefore, in the case of discs, temperature does not significantly affect motorcycle braking efficiency. Because it can dissipate heat much faster and cool down compared to drum brakes.

Effect of Wet Roads or Rain

When a motorcycle is ridden on wet roads or in rain, and the wheels get completely wet, the friction reaction between the motorcycle's brake shoes and the inner surface of the drum becomes somewhat weaker. As a result, the stopping power of drum brakes decreases. However, in the same situation, the stopping power of disc brakes is not affected.

Wheel Damage

The causes of wheel damage differ for disc and drum brakes. However, excessive heat and friction from drum brakes gradually damage motorcycle tires. Even if disc brakes get damaged, they cause negligible damage to the wheels.

Maintenance

Since disc brakes are on the outside of the wheel, they are quite easy to clean and maintain. There is no need to go to an auto service shop for its care. Even if you do go, a mechanic can fix it very easily and quickly. However, to maintain drum brakes, the entire wheel must be removed. Then, many springs, auto parts, etc., inside it need to be disassembled and cleaned. Even a skilled mechanic takes considerable time to do this. Additionally, there is a significant difference in the price of extra auto parts for disc and drum brakes. Small parts of disc brakes are available separately, so they can be easily repaired. But damage to a drum brake often means a high probability of damage to your wheel as well. Even though drum brakes are cheaper, changing the tire can be quite expensive.

Wheel Lock-up

If your bike doesn't have ABS, there's always a possibility of the motorcycle wheel locking up during sudden hard braking. Thus, the absence of ABS is a major problem for disc brakes. Wheel lock-up can lead to serious bike accidents. There is no possibility of this kind of wheel lock-up in a drum brake system. Therefore, disc brakes will only be better than drum brakes for your bike when accompanied by an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).

Bike Skidding

When riding a motorcycle on a rainy day, if your bike has disc brakes, hard braking is completely inadvisable. Because disc brakes have a short stopping distance, if the front wheel suddenly stops on a wet road, there is a risk of the bike skidding and causing an accident. Since drum brakes have a longer stopping distance, they will stop gradually on wet roads. Therefore, there is no risk of sudden skidding with them. If you ride carefully, observing the road, both disc and drum brakes can be beneficial for you. However, for avoiding skidding on rainy days, drum brakes are the best.

Price of Disc and Drum Brakes

Considering superior braking efficiency and maintenance advantages, disc brakes are far more advanced. Naturally, the price of these brakes is much higher. Since drum brakes are a bit behind technologically, their price remains quite affordable.

Some Brake Problems Due to Repeated Braking:

Repeated braking can lead to several serious problems. Some of these problems are discussed below:

Brake Pad Issues

Despite the higher heat dissipation capacity of disc brakes, emergency braking or repeated braking while climbing steep roads can make motorcycle brake pads somewhat slippery. This reduces the bite, meaning the pad's ability to grip the disc, and simultaneously significantly decreases braking efficiency.

Brake Failure

Excessive heat from motorcycle brake pads, calipers, or rotors can also cause the brake fluid to overheat and expand in volume. As a result, regardless of whether it's disc or drum brakes, the bike's braking power significantly decreases. If the fluid line is damaged in this way, the motorcycle brakes can fail immediately.

Excessive Rise in Rotor Temperature

Excessive heat can put undue stress on the rotor, leading to cracks. Even if it doesn't crack, if the rotor's temperature rises excessively, it can warp. And a warped rotor can cause problems in other disc brake parts. Consequently, braking efficiency is significantly impaired.

Conclusion:

Hopefully, by reading this article, you have gained a proper understanding of Disc Vs Drum Brakes. Stay with BikesGuide for all motorcycle-related information. Make your journey easy and beautiful by finding any new or used bike from Bikroy.