From all my experiences with drum brakes vs. disc, they both have their good points. Disc brakes are the "in" thing, while drum brakes seem to be getting old fashioned. Disc brakes definitely provide more stopping power, but they do tend to need replacing more frequently. Reason I say this is because our old threewheeler had drum brakes, of course, and the drum brakes held out for 13 years before they had to be replaced. So I guess drum brakes require more maintenance, and disc more pad replacement. Discs also seem to hold up better to mud and water, but not snow. Almost every time I ride one of our machines with disc brakes and going through deep snow, the discs will get packed full of snow and then when you try stopping, you try either of the brakes and they are froze tight. Foreman's drum brakes, their sealed against the snow and other elements, they work every time. But they have to be sealed good though. My point: the Rubicon doesn't have disc brakes, but drum brakes aren't necessarily a bad thing either.

 

Bill C. be honest. What you are really waiting for is the King Quad with the 500CC engine in it, same transmission and subtranmissions as the 300 (280) King and disc brakes all the way around.

I know I am. (won't hold my breath though).

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Eric Baatz 1996 Suzuki KING QUAD Remember the KING Lives!!

Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts Remember it does not matter what we ride, just that we ride!!



[This message has been edited by ecbaatz (edited 01-26-2000).]

 

I suppose if one was to NEVER take his/her quad mudding,than there would be NOTHING wrong with the drum style brakes.I have never had any problem in any snow,mud,or water with my Disk brakes.Although,I will admit,before I learned how to use my EBS,I did indeed burn out front and rear brakes in 100 miles on my disks brakes.After that,I could easily go 5 hundred miles no problem.Now you take drum style brakes under the SAME mud conditions and as often,you'll be replacing drum brakes 4 times to one.At least on the King Quads you will.This much I know first hand,no hearsay.====BILL

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My '85 Odyssey has drums on the front and a single disc on the rear. I have not noticed that one has worn more than the other has, most likely because I really haven’t ridden it enough to really wear the pads down. I will tell you this though; the single rear disc out performs both front drums combined by far. Both the front and rear have brand new pads and have been adjusted and bled to the best of my ability, and consistently the rear brake is the mainstay of my stopping power. I wish I had two more discs up front to back it up.

Eric Zeh




[This message has been edited by Eric Zeh (edited 01-27-2000).]

 

Bob,drum brakes being better suited for an environment like mud?I hardly beleive so.But if that is your opionion,you certainly have the right to it,and I will respect it.Happy Trailing===BILL

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Bill, whats your point? That Suzuki drum brakes suck? Maybe they do, but Honda drum brakes are exellent. Honda also has some of the best discs ever put on an atv, my old 85'350x still had the original pads when I sold it in 90', and I beat the snot out of that bike. My point, if Honda wanted they could put discs on their utility quads, but they won't. Why? Because *sealed* drums are better suited to the environment in which 4x4 quads are used, ie mud.

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Bob4x4 00'TRX350FE

 

I personly havent had any trouble with honda drums.. other than squeaking when they get older. I have herd that the holes punched in the disk rotors combined with mud wear the pads faster on disks.. thats why moose off road sells solid disk rotors for XR's, but personly I have put over 20,000 miles on the stock pads and still have 1/4 left on my 91'XR250R (my main ride) No problms yet
Joe

 

Just a couple more things, disc brakes will always provide more stopping power, and fade resistance than drum brakes. But when subject to a constant diet of mud, they will wear very quickly. Drums on the other hand must be sealed very well to be suited to use in the mud, which is the way Honda builds them.(SEALED)

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Bob4x4 00'TRX350FE

 

Bob4x4,I have NO reason to dis-beleive you on the Honda drum brakes.Most everyone I've talked to likes them to.But I must admit,I have heard of a FEW problems with even Honda's drum style brakes in serious mudding events.I have NOT seen ANY Honda drum problems first hand.I've only heard about them in here and thats not very often.Have a great day,===BILL

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The day Honda makes a liguid cooled 500 with switchable 2wd and 4wd and IRS, and the automatic (if it works good),I might, just might get one; i still wouldn't trade in my Sportsman for it.