Re: Drum Vs Disc... (a rant)

[Arfon Griffiths <ArfonRG@xxxxxxx>]

Jamie-

> > The OTHER selling point of the disc brakes is the "ease of maintenance".
> > A: This is TOTAL bull!  I can have my drum pads replaced in the time it
> > takes you to run to the store to buy a new torx-socket because you broke
> > your old one trying to get the calipers off (been there done that)!
>
> It took me about 5 minutes to pull each caliper. On this particular truck 
> they were held on with a locking pin rather than bolted on.

You're lucky!  Of the disc braked vehicles I have had the un-pleasurable 
experience to work on, all have been held on with bolts.



> > Why I hate disc brakes:
> > 1) The bolts that hold on the calipers are always heat-welded tight and are
> > never in a spot that you can get a tool on easy.
>
> I have nevrer had that problem. even if they are bolted on the bolt comes 
> out easy....even on an older vehicle.

Next time my friend's Lincoln needs brakes, I'll call you so you can enjoy 
bolted on calipers.  I went through 4 stinkin' torx-sockets on that danged 
car. :)



> > 2) The rotors are ALWAYS warp and make you rumble when you stop.
> >
> > 3) Even on the first brake pad replacement, the rotors are ALWAYS:
> >       a) too warped to be resurfaced
> >       -or-
> >       b) too thin to be resurfaced
> >
> >               ...and therefore cost $150+ per wheel.
> >
> > 4) Cost (per pair): Pads-$20    Resurface-$0 (See #3)  New
> > Rotors-$300   New tool to remove calipers-$25
> >       TOTAL-$345
>
> rotors arent that expensive for all vehicles. For my Eagle I can get 
> rotors for $25 each and pads for $15 per set.

Disc vehicles I have had to work on:
1992 Ford Probe 
~$130 
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=92+Ford+Probe+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle

2001 Dodge Dakota ~$130 
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=Dodge+Dakota+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle

2002 Dodge RAM ~$150 
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=Dodge+RAM+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle

1998 Lincoln Continental ~$100 
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=Lincoln+Continental+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle

Now these were all FROOGLE prices which do not include shipping.  I know 
that the all the rotors I bought above have been $130 to $180 per pair locally.

I'd LOVE to get a $15 set of rotors!



> No new tools required. Rotors $50, pads $15. I do the work myself so $65 
> in parts. I can even throw in new calipers for $17 each so add another $34 
> to that and I am still not over $100.

Even if you don't need a new tool AND you can find unrealistically cheap 
rotors, your're still 144% more expensive than drums to repair.



> When I did the brakes on my american (drums). I had to replace both front 
> drums and one rear drum at a cost of $40 each, all 4 wheel cylinders at a 
> cost of $25 each, springs (hold down kits) at a cost of $14 per side and 
> self adjuster kits at $15 per axle and brake shoes at $12 per axle. so we 
> have drums $120, wheel cylinders $100, springs $28, adjusters $30, brake 
> shoes $24 for a total of $302. So if I had replaced that 4th drum I would 
> have been at $342 making the total price $171 per axle. Almost 2 times the 
> cost of disc brakes on my eagle or my boss' ford. On the other hand, those 
> drum brakes should last a while. Not long after doing all of the brakes my 
> master cylinder went out. I bought a new one for $14 and then paid another 
> $10 for fittings to make it work so I am into my american for $325 on 
> brakes. The only things that haven't been replaced is one drum and the lines.

 Ah, I would expect to have to replace the drums on a 30+ year old car (I 
never had to (yet) but, it's reasonable).  What I don't expect is to have 
to replace rotors at the first brake pad change (which I have had to do 
every time so far).

Just my thoughts