What is the difference between a motorcycle disc brake and a drum brake
The disc brake is a hydraulic or oil brake, while the drum brake is a friction reduction method between the brake pads and the wheel drum.
1. Disc brakes, also known as hydraulic brakes or oil brakes; Drum brake is a traditional braking method that involves friction and deceleration between the brake pads and the wheel drum. Vehicles on the market generally use disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear wheels, known as the "front disc rear drum" configuration. The reason why the rear wheels do not use disc brakes is due to cost issues, as many large motorcycles have front and rear disc brakes.
2. The biggest difference between drum brakes and disc brakes lies in the issue of heat dissipation. During high-speed driving, drum brakes do not dissipate heat well, which can easily accumulate heat and cause heat exhaustion in the braking part, weakening the braking force. On the other hand, disc brakes have good ventilation, fast heat dissipation, and are not prone to heat exhaustion. In addition, the disc brake uses a caliper type, and the brake pad and disc are in flat contact, with a large contact surface and consistent time, resulting in rapid braking; The drum brake shoe and brake drum are in curved contact, from point to surface, resulting in relatively low braking efficiency.
3. Advantages of disc brakes: high braking sensitivity, automatic clearance adjustment, long service life of shoe blocks, labor-saving braking, high cost, high requirements for hydraulic systems, easy maintenance, and fast heat dissipation.
4. Disadvantages of disc brakes: Improper use can easily lock up, cause tires to slip, and be greatly affected by external factors. In snowy weather in the north, the snow on the road melts, but when thrown onto the car, it will freeze. If thrown onto the disc brake, the brakes will temporarily fail due to a layer of ice on the disc. The car will not, but due to its high braking torque, the ice will melt. When riding, due to its close contact, there will be a slight noise.
5. Advantages of drum brake: less affected by external factors, less prone to lockup, no unpleasant noise, silent, and low cost.
6. Disadvantages of drum brakes: The sensitivity of the brakes is not as good as that of disc brakes, requiring manual clearance adjustment. The service life of the shoe blocks is low, the brakes are laborious, difficult to repair, slow heat dissipation, and the shoe powder is not easy to remove, which will stay in the drum.
7. Racing cars generally use disc brakes due to their high requirements for braking, while our normal motorcycles usually use drum brakes.