In the past, I've wished that Honda would use disc brakes more on their utilities. The disc brakes are easier to work on and supposed to have better stopping power. Now I'm wondering if the sealed drums might be better for wading through deeper mud, water with rocks, pebbles, rock chips, sticks etc...? Is there a chance of debris getting under the pads and scratching the disc? When I had my Warrior, I didn't ride it in these conditions so I didn't worry about it. So which is better for the above conditions disc or sealed drum?

 

Just my experience: Discs don't fade as much when they get wet. If a drum brake gets water inside, it just doesn't work - at least the front drums on my old Big Bear were completely gone after an extended water crossing, though a few seconds of riding the handle brought them back. If you were to come out of a creek and need to stop quick to avoid something unpleasant, this could be a problem.

Don't know much about the wear situation - the pads ride right on the discs, so anything thicker than dirt will have trouble getting in there. A sealed drum won't let junk in. A nonsealed drum lets junk in, and keeps it there. It's a matter of whether or not the drums stay sealed. I haven't noticed serious pad wear on my AC 500i, but it spends most of it's time on trails and on the farm, which are relatively clear of junk.

Discs are a whole lot easier to rebuild. Usually, you just yank the pads out, compress the slave pistons, and stick the new pads in. Drums are a bit of a pain - springs fly off, etc... you can do it, but it definitely isn't the drop 'em in operation of discs. I tend to think I'm biased toward discs, from years of rebuilding drums on cars, and what a royal pain that was.

I'd be interested to hear from Honda owners - any problems with drums staying sealed? I don't hear a lot of Honda owners fussing, so maybe they aren't such a bad idea.

 

i have a honda rubicon 02 and have 1400 miles. the drums are sealed never any water inside and i do alot of deep water crossings and mud and they both stop me on a dime work just like the day i bought it. i may change the pads soon just for normal service time, i'm not cheap when it comes to service, paid alot of money for it and want it to last a long time. actually my brothers and friends have praire 650's and they both had a small prob with their front disc breaks when it gets real cold out, they wouldnt compress all the way, but rest of the time they r fine my brother just changed his front pads, very easy but very worn and he has the same amount of miles so in the end no matter what u have if it sops u then who cares, right!!!!!!!!!!

 

GRIZZ MAKES A VERY SENSABLE STATEMENT WHICH IS SOMETIMES HARD TO COME BY ON HERE. I WON'T EVEN START TO CALCULATE THE PROBLEM FREE MILES I HAVE PUT ON MY DRUMS AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY I RIDE EXTREME AND MOST TIMES STUPID ,NO WATER TOO DEEP ,NO MUD TOO BAD AND SO ON. I SEE WITH MY FRIENDS AND COMPANIONS THAT WHEN YOU RUN YOUR EXPOSED DISC'S IN THE MUD REPEATEDLY THE MUD IS ABRASIVE AND LITERALLY EATS UP PADS AND ROTORS AND I KNOW FIRST HAND CUZ I WAS CONSTANTLY REPLACING PADS ON MY 00' KODIAK 2 SETS PADS @ $35 EA. SET AND RUINED ROTOR ALL IN 300-400 MILES TOO PRICEY FOR MY BLOOD ----- JUST MY OPINION

 

Yes you do have to change pads a little more often, but the increase in stopping power & realiability is worth it. Plus I can remember plainly the years of getting up in the morning & beating on the rims of my previous Hondas & Suzys to free the frozen wheels to rotate, & forget braking until everything thawed around noon! No I WILL never own another drum brake machine again. Now don't get me wrong under diff circumstances, like milder climates & only ocassional mud & water they are fine, for me NO thanks.

 

sxr6's right. I also have had to pound on my rims to break the ice off. I'm sure that new atv's probably seal great until they start to age. My old 93 would have really needed new seals. I have a 02 Kodiak now and will want disc brakes on my next atv for sure. I guess the saying "to each is own" really apply's to this debate I guess.

 

disks are better.

 

Once again, I don't have any complaints with drrum brakes. 90% of the time I gear down to slow down rapidly because I have a manual transmission. Maybe the engine braking on belt drive autos does not come on as strong, so having stronger brakes is a must.

As for watertightness, I have never had a wet brake, and the brakes are not that bad to work on. IMO

 

My Honda Foreman has drum brakes and I have no desire for disc brakes. Any more than the pressure of two fingers on the front brake and you risk going over the handlebars.