Rear Drum Brakes

Outbacker · June 1, 2008

I just bought a 2008 Sierra 1500, and I was surprised to see that GMC is still using drum brakes on the back end. Does anybody know why they would do this as opposed to switching to all disc brakes? Without saying the "F" word, they are using disc brakes all around, and I personally would prefer disc as they distribute heat better, and have better braking then drum. Other then that, it is a great truck, and I would still have it over the "F" truck.

Cheers

jrrod2004 · June 1, 2008

cost effectiveness

DukeMan21J · June 1, 2008

it can't be that much more can it? i mean the sticker on these news trucks are like $45G

vranasaurus · June 1, 2008

If I remember correctly my 02 1500 had 4 wheel disc but when I traded it for my 06 I was surprised that the new one had rear drums.

yv1650c · June 1, 2008

As a truck, it has to brake like this...

Look at bigger trucks like Silverado 3500, NPR, FVR, Kodiak... they doesn't has rear disk or in some cases front disk.

Most of you has to town/hawl tons of pounds.... you need to brake like a MediumTruck..!

Corssing rivers, theres better brake with drums than brakes...

But i know there are cons...

you have to graduate it, adn any others..

huero626 · June 1, 2008

My V-Max has rear disc brakes, the only way to get disc brakes on newer GM truck is by getting the Max Trailering Package which includes the Vortec Max 6.0L engine, the 4L70E transmission, heavy duty differential. I had a 2006 Silverado and I was shocked when I saw the rear drum brakes. GM was too cheap to put rear disc brakes on all half ton trucks. People will tell you that their trucks with drum brakes, brake better than the older models with rear disc brakes. But they don't tell u that GM completely upgraded the front brakes which makes it brake better than the older models. After GM upgraded the front brakes, they cheapened out and put some drum brakes on the rear. GM is the only car maker that has rear drum brakes on the full size trucks. That's when I bought my 2007 V-Max I made sure it had rear disc brakes.

Here is some pics of my V-Max rear disc brakes, they're getting rusted because I haven't driven it recently.

sonjaab · June 1, 2008

A few years back till about 03? GM used rear discs on all

its 99 and up GMT-800s.

Seems GM had a high rate of rear disc problems from

corrosion and such in areas of snow, salt and ice. Thus

high rates of warranty repairs and consumer complaints.

So in GMs wisdom they changed all 1/2 ton models to good

ol' drum brakes again !

Ya figure they would of changed their design after the same

rear disc issues that also plagued the Corsica/Beretta twins

a few years back. Those vehicles that had issues also in

snow and ice land were recalled and retrofitted with rear drums.

Funny.........my 04 GMT-800 and 07 GMT-900 2500s have rear

discs and never had a issue................

My bud has a 07 GMT-900 1/2 ton and it has rear drums.

huero626 · June 1, 2008

A few years back till about 03? GM used rear discs on all
its 99 and up GMT-800s.

Seems GM had a high rate of rear disc problems from

corrosion and such in areas of snow, salt and ice. Thus

high rates of warranty repairs and consumer complaints.

So in GMs wisdom they changed all 1/2 ton models to good

ol' drum brakes again !

Ya figure they would of changed their design after the same

rear disc issues that also plagued the Corsica/Beretta twins

a few years back. Those vehicles that had issues also in

snow and ice land were recalled and retrofitted with rear drums.

Funny.........my 04 GMT-800 and 07 GMT-900 2500s have rear

discs and never had a issue................

My bud has a 07 GMT-900 1/2 ton and it has rear drums.

I never had any issues on my 2003 Suburban and it had 4 wheel disc brakes. The brakes were awesome on that SUV, it had 130,000 miles on it and it didn't need brakes at all.

BigJayDogg3 · June 1, 2008

A few years back till about 03? GM used rear discs on all
its 99 and up GMT-800s.

Seems GM had a high rate of rear disc problems from

corrosion and such in areas of snow, salt and ice. Thus

high rates of warranty repairs and consumer complaints.

So in GMs wisdom they changed all 1/2 ton models to good

ol' drum brakes again !

Ya figure they would of changed their design after the same

rear disc issues that also plagued the Corsica/Beretta twins

a few years back. Those vehicles that had issues also in

snow and ice land were recalled and retrofitted with rear drums.

Funny.........my 04 GMT-800 and 07 GMT-900 2500s have rear

discs and never had a issue................

My bud has a 07 GMT-900 1/2 ton and it has rear drums.

I never had any issues on my 2003 Suburban and it had 4 wheel disc brakes. The brakes were awesome on that SUV, it had 130,000 miles on it and it didn't need brakes at all.

+1

And if that was the problem

a) Why are other manufacturers' disc brakes lacking the problems and

b) Why would the Vortec MAX and up have disc brakes if they were so problematic. It is all about cutting costs.

Drunken Sailor · June 1, 2008

I work on late model trucks every day, and as much as I hate drum brakes, I have to go with GM on this one. The rear discs just don't work that well on trucks and they're a constant source of grief. I don't know why, but the sliders are always seizing in the calipers (dirt and crap gets in there I guess) and the pads wear unevenly. The rear pads also seem to wear twice as fast the fronts on most new trucks; it seems like you go through 2 or 3 sets of rears for one set of fronts.

Steveman · June 1, 2008

Probably one of the only reason GM reverted back to drum brakes is cost-effectiveness. Also any truck not equipped with the NHT package cant really tow that much, and so the rear drum brakes with the front disk brakes are probably more then sufficient. Also if you really want rear disks, then get the NHT package on the 1500, or just buy a 2500 HD, or a 3500.

BigJayDogg3 · June 1, 2008

Probably one of the only reason GM reverted back to drum brakes is cost-effectiveness. Also any truck not equipped with the NHT package cant really tow that much, and so the rear drum brakes with the front disk brakes are probably more then sufficient. Also if you really want rear disks, then get the NHT package on the 1500, or just buy a 2500 HD, or a 3500.

OK I understand what you are saying and while what you are saying does hold some value, why should I have to upgrade to a 2500 HD, or 1500 with teh NHT package just for disc brakes? I can have all the safety features I don't want, but I can't have a feature that would help keep me out of an accident unless I upgrade to an engine that gets worse gas mileage than the one I would otherwise get (albeit slightly worse gas mileage now). And if I were to get a regular cab truck, I would just be SOL then.

Not trying to start an argument with you, but just trying to have a civil debate.

compulynx · June 1, 2008

There are good and bad to both types. I do not haul heavy loads in my truck, and drums will just as easily lock up the rear wheels as the disks would. The percentage of stopping the rear does in a fast, hard brake situtation is rather small anyway. I also would prefer to have only 2 wheels to clean brake dust off of rather than 4. I owned a 2003 GM car that had rear disks, and they were always a problem. The pads had to be replaced 2 times to every once for the front.

Disk brakes will also get wet from splashes where drums will stay dry.(No, I am not saying drums will stay dry in the swamp) Ever tried to do a hard stop with wet rotors?

In my opinion, if you are hauling heavy loads in hilly terrain, yes, you may need disks in the rear, just go get a 2500. But if not drums are the better choice in my book.

The strong point of the disk brake is fade resistance in hard, long stops....As for brute stopping force, either can be made to have the same force with the right surface area and the right caliper/wheel cyl. to master cylinder piston size ratio.

C

slimjim2525 · June 1, 2008

A few years back till about 03? GM used rear discs on all
its 99 and up GMT-800s.

Seems GM had a high rate of rear disc problems from

corrosion and such in areas of snow, salt and ice. Thus

high rates of warranty repairs and consumer complaints.

So in GMs wisdom they changed all 1/2 ton models to good

ol' drum brakes again !

Ya figure they would of changed their design after the same

rear disc issues that also plagued the Corsica/Beretta twins

a few years back. Those vehicles that had issues also in

snow and ice land were recalled and retrofitted with rear drums.

Funny.........my 04 GMT-800 and 07 GMT-900 2500s have rear

discs and never had a issue................

My bud has a 07 GMT-900 1/2 ton and it has rear drums.

GM switched back to drums in the rear in 05. My 04 had rear discs, and my 07 has rear drums. The brakes on the 07 are 100 times better. That was one of the reasons I got rid of the 04, I just didn't trust the 04's brakes. I don't believe GM switched to save money, I believe they switched to get better brakes.