Rear Disk Worth It?
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08Bluesky
Member
While I do like the looks of Disks in the Rear, my experience has been that the Parking Brake durability and adjustments on rear “Disks” is somewhat troublesome and a bit of a pain to set up. (old Fiero & Saturn Sky) I kinda welcome back the Drum Rear. (once the fronts are painted black to match) 
Odd thing, on my 01 PT Cruiser…. The rears are Disks but have an internal Drum built into the Rotor for the parking brakes. – Seems to work quite well.
Odd thing, on my 01 PT Cruiser…. The rears are Disks but have an internal Drum built into the Rotor for the parking brakes. – Seems to work quite well.
sx sonic
New member
While I do like the looks of Disks in the Rear, my experience has been that the Parking Brake durability and adjustments on rear “Disks” is somewhat troublesome and a bit of a pain to set up. (old Fiero & Saturn Sky) I kinda welcome back the Drum Rear. (once the fronts are painted black to match)
Odd thing, on my 01 PT Cruiser…. The rears are Disks but have an internal Drum built into the Rotor for the parking brakes. – Seems to work quite well.
Some cars are implementing the parking brake into the rear calibers.
The cable attaches to a lever that mechanically squeezes the pads together when the parking brake is applied. It's a neat system that seems to work really well and eliminates alot of the issues you described.
And then there's the electronic parking brakes that's been on BMW's for awhile and will grace the newest corvette. They use the rear calipers and they should be killed with fire. It's a blasphemous system.
laborsmith
New member
I had not noticed electronic parking brakes for the Stingray. Thanks for the heads up.
Laborsmith
Laborsmith
sx sonic
New member
I'm pretty certain it was the new corvette that is getting electronic parking brake, my memory can get pretty hazy. I do know atleast one new american sports car is getting the system, That much I could never forget nor forgive.
ecohauler
New member
Confirmed, the new Stingray has an electronic parking brake. I don't understand why they would ever do that, and now I'm angry and I need to smash things.
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray drive-mode controls and electronic parking brake photo
All good points. I had forgotten to mention the contained system bit, and I had read somewhere without confirming that drums were more efficient. Thanks for setting me straight. If disks are slightly more efficient, maybe I should upgrade. Maybe in a few years if I find all the parts for cheap in a junkyard or something. I don't mind working on drums, but discs are easier IMO.
2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray drive-mode controls and electronic parking brake photo
What is wrong with rear drums? My Sonic will stop on a dime and give 9 cents change if I need it to. Nothin wrong with a properly setup drum brake system, hell I do drums in my sleep! Its all in what your used to. Do a set of drums/shoes once or twice, if you have the right stuff it seriously is cake work. I had drums on the back of my 87 Camaro and had NO issues with braking - that car STOPPED.
Nope.
If that was the case then why does the Cruze Eco and Volt use disc brakes?
And - if those shoes aren't slightly (and I do mean SLIGHTLY) dragging on the drums you will have a noticeable low brake pedal. There is always a little drag on drums. Actually, more drag on drums than discs!
Drum brakes are cheap, simple, quiet, don't overheat (when on the REAR), and one of the biggest reasons is: they are a contained system - no brake dust, no pitting/rusting rotors when the car sits for extended period of time, no squealing noises in the morning because it rained last week. Drums nowadays last 100k miles and rarely need any maintenance. Gee, I wonder why they still use drums on compacts?
/okimoffmyhighhorsenow
All good points. I had forgotten to mention the contained system bit, and I had read somewhere without confirming that drums were more efficient. Thanks for setting me straight. If disks are slightly more efficient, maybe I should upgrade. Maybe in a few years if I find all the parts for cheap in a junkyard or something. I don't mind working on drums, but discs are easier IMO.
laborsmith
New member
Does this mean you are getting your deposit for a 2014 Stingray back?
Laborsmith
Laborsmith
13TurboLTZ
New member
While I do like the looks of Disks in the Rear, my experience has been that the Parking Brake durability and adjustments on rear “Disks” is somewhat troublesome and a bit of a pain to set up. (old Fiero & Saturn Sky) I kinda welcome back the Drum Rear. (once the fronts are painted black to match)
I feel the same way. And if you use your parking brake regularly on a car with rear drums you will probably never have any drum/parking brake issues because your constanly using the cable and the self adjust mechanism.
My 04 Grand Prix has that. Its more common with GM on FWD cars with rear disc brakes.
All the new Chevys are going to electric parking brakes. The Volt, Stingray,2013 Malibu, and 2014 Impala have it. I think the 2014 trucks have it to but we just got our first one I havent looked at it too closely yet.
Honestly theres nothing wrong with the setup, minus the fact that ghetto slides are gonna go bye bye.
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sx sonic
New member
And what happens when the battery craps out (which is common on many luxury cars Because short trip and lots of accessories.)? Won't be much of an issue for the dealer guys after they deactivate the system on a car or 2 or watch a tech video. But how bout independent shops and tow wreckers that don't know how to deactivate the system and manually release the brake?
Edit: or when you're doing a huge service job on a car with E-parking brake and you need to move it to another stall while waiting on parts, but you've got all the brains out of the car? I've seen that one :blankface:
What happens as the brakes wear out? is the system self adjusting? On a normal parking brake you just pull until the sucker gets tight and can gauge when an adj is necessary by how long it takes to engage. These Q's i really don't know about, I watched a tech video on it at BMW but I've never messed with the system aside from PIDs and a dead battery tow in (and the wrecker didn't know how to disable it) and that was years ago.
I can't see it being cheaper to manufacturer either. motors, additionally sensors, redundant back ups, redundant monitoring systems, additional R&D
And as you mentioned, good bye ghetto drifting :sadbanana:
and good bye emergency brake, not a big deal because only a tiny percentage of people have ever needed their parking brake for emergency stopping.
And for what? what is gained? whats the point? What's the benefit?
ecohauler
New member
Interesting read that answers a few of your questions, sx, which were also some of my own:
Electronic Parking Brakes: What's The Point?
That article kind of changed my mind on the subject. My dad is not an idiot in general, but he ran over himself with his own truck one time. It was starting to rain and he had musical equipment in the back, so he pulled over to close the vents on his cap. Being in a bit of a hurry, he didn't quite get the shifter into park and instead left it in reverse and jumped out. Most people accustomed to driving automatic wouldn't apply the parking brake for a quick roadside stop like that, and he's no exception. The truck started moving, and the door pushed him down and pinned him by the knee. Fortunately, once the door passed over him he was able to get up, relatively unharmed, and chase down his truck before it caused any more trouble. Per the article, an electronic parking brake could have prevented the whole problem.
Electronic Parking Brakes: What's The Point?
That article kind of changed my mind on the subject. My dad is not an idiot in general, but he ran over himself with his own truck one time. It was starting to rain and he had musical equipment in the back, so he pulled over to close the vents on his cap. Being in a bit of a hurry, he didn't quite get the shifter into park and instead left it in reverse and jumped out. Most people accustomed to driving automatic wouldn't apply the parking brake for a quick roadside stop like that, and he's no exception. The truck started moving, and the door pushed him down and pinned him by the knee. Fortunately, once the door passed over him he was able to get up, relatively unharmed, and chase down his truck before it caused any more trouble. Per the article, an electronic parking brake could have prevented the whole problem.
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13TurboLTZ
New member
To be honest I cant answer all of those questions, mainly because its pretty new and we really havent seen any failures yet. But you cant even get most cars out of park nowadays if the battery dies, so having the brakes lock is almost the same thing. I wonder if when you use the shift lock release if it also releases the brake if it was applied- maybe theres some sort of back up/retained power to it, or it may self release if power is taken away. Regardless its an excellent point to bring up and Ill look into it. As far as removal, if you disconnect the "brains", the brake stays unlocked and you service the caliper like you would any other. Its just an actuator instead of a manual handle.
As far as its service life - its really just for parking anyways and relieving the vehicle weight off the parking pawl so it should last the life of the car. Tts not designed as an emergency brake. Ever try n stop a Corvette with the parking brake handle by itself? Neither have I - because you can't.
They overengineer brake systems nowadays, very VERY seldom do all four brakes actually fail, causing the driver to lose control. It can happen, but less times than the amount of times a ball joint just lets loose out of nowhere or a tire flies off.
Lastly, I would imagine the benefit is so when people are out looking for a new car they go "OH KEWL ITS ELECTRIC!!" Other than that I see no true benefit.
Edit: there IS a manual release or the cable: theres a plug on the parking brake control module (behind one of the rear wheelwells). Once you pop the plug off you can turn a screw and release tension to the cable.
laborsmith
New member
According to the link several posts back, an important benefit is weight savings. The link says up to 16lbs and if that is unsprung weight, that would be a huge saving.
I doubt 16lbs for a Sonic sized braking system but I can easily see 16lbs for a Stingray sized system. Even for a Sonic, the weight savings could be significant.
Laborsmith
I doubt 16lbs for a Sonic sized braking system but I can easily see 16lbs for a Stingray sized system. Even for a Sonic, the weight savings could be significant.
Laborsmith
13TurboLTZ
New member
I didnt think about it as a weight savings at first - but I guess if you're eliminating the whole pedal/handle assembly plus the front cable and shortening the rear cables it actually could save a bit of weight. The module is probably plastic and cant weight more than 1/2 lb.
MustGoFaster
New member
I've been thumbing through the park brake description for Cadillac CTS. It doesn't look like they have taken out anything. Its still got the cables and everything they just exchanged the lever for the module. So, yeah. No weight saving.
laborsmith
New member
Maybe there is a difference between looking at pictures and reading descriptions and real life. For example, this Electric Park Brake | TRW Automotive seems to indicate weight saving is a reason to use the electronic parking brake system. But since TRW is a supplier to the auto industry, what could they know?
Laborsmith
Laborsmith
laborsmith
New member
I already posted not the Sonic.
I remember when electronic ignition had problems now try to find a new car without. The same about EFI but the transition seems to have happened with fewer bumps.
Laborsmith
I remember when electronic ignition had problems now try to find a new car without. The same about EFI but the transition seems to have happened with fewer bumps.
Laborsmith
