If you own a classic car that was produced before the 1960s, then it is likely equipped with an automotive brake type called the drum brake. While some classic car enthusiasts do keep their automobiles' original braking systems, many instead opt to replace drum brakes with modern disc brakes. These modern brakes offer many advantages that cannot be obtained from drum brakes.
Read on to learn two reasons every classic car enthusiast should consider replacing their vehicle's drum brakes with disc brakes.
1. Reduce Brake Heat Build-up For Better Performance
While drum brakes and disc brakes do vary in design in many ways, one of the main design improvements in the disc brake, when compared to the drum brake, is the inclusion of rotors instead of brake shoes. Disc brake rotors are completely exposed to outside air, while drum brake shoes are not.
While these exposed rotors do absorb some of the heat generated by the friction all brakes use to stop a car, they quickly release any heat they absorb into the surrounding air to reduce the risk of brake overheating, which is also called brake fade. Since brake shoes cannot release this heat as easily, they are much more prone to overheating. When automobile brakes overheat, their ability to perform the task of stopping a vehicle is greatly reduced.
For this reason, making the switch from drum brakes to disc brakes can help keep you and your passengers safer when on the road by preventing brake overheating.
2. Eliminate Braking Problems on Rainy Days
Replacing your drum brakes with disc brakes can also improve brake performance on rainy days. Not only do disc brake rotors naturally repel water, but any water that does manage to accumulate on the surface of the rotor is quickly wiped away by the brake pad. For this reason, few people notice a reduction in disc brake performance on rainy days.
Drum brakes, on the other hand, have a design that allows small amounts of water to enter the braking system. When water enters the drum brakes, brake performance can be impacted. For this reason, driving with drum brakes on a rainy day can be a somewhat risky endeavor.
If you are a classic car enthusiast and enjoy driving your antique automobiles from time to time, then you should consider swapping any drum brakes present on your cars with disc brakes to keep yourself and your passengers safer while on the road. Look for an auto front disc brake conversion kit that is compatible with your car to make this change simple and easy.