Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board | Discussion - The Premier Truck Drivers Forum!  

Trucker MySpace - Truckers Making Friends. Chicken Truckers Come Meet Other Truckers!

Good Trucking Jobs - Forget Those CRAP Trucking Jobs & Find A Good Trucking Job!

Go Back   Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board | Discussion > Truckers & The Trucking Industry > Questions From New Drivers
Reload this Page Disc brakes on a semi?
JOIN Forum Donate Truckers Blogs FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board - The Premiere Truck Driver Forum
Sponsored Links

Important Truckers Forum Notice!
Hello Truckers & Non-Truckers! Be sure to check out our TRUCKERS SOCIAL GROUPS or check out our TRUCKERS BLOGS to make your OWN place on the internet! SEARCH

Questions From New Drivers Newbie White Line Fever. Forum/Message Board for new truckers or those wanting to become a trucker to ask experienced drivers a question, and get their advice. New drivers can post questions and experienced drivers can help.

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  ^ Top   #1  
Old 04.29.2008
Light Load Member
  
Last Seen: 19 Minutes Ago 08.20 PM
Member Since: Jan 2008
Location: Indiana
Trucker? Trucking Industry
Posts: 229
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 2
Thanked: 18 Times
Disc brakes on a semi?
I have heard of them before and finally saw a truck that had them on there a couple of weeks back. Well I am going to be driving one. Question is, is the stopping power of the disc brake more or less than the drum brakes? Is the difference noticeable? Just wondering.
Reply With Quote
Remove This Ad By Registering. Join Our Truck Forum and Trucking Community For Free. Sponsored Links:

  ^ Top   #2  
Old 04.29.2008
Lurchgs's Avatar
Road Train Member
  
Last Seen: 3 Days Ago 11.14 PM
Member Since: Feb 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Trucker? 0-1 Year
Age: 50
Posts: 2,017
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 250
Thanked: 263 Times
Gonna depend on the size of the rotor and the pads. I would *guess*, however, that it's probably shorter stopping distance. Probably noticeably so.

The Gov't is contemplating mandating shorter stopping distances for big rigs, last I heard - to go into effect this summer, I think. In effect, requiring disc brakes - I think all around on the tractor.

In discussion, the general response was "Gonna need a darn crane to put those rotors on! " They'll probably have to be vented and/or slotted, too.
Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #3  
Old 04.29.2008
Brickman's Avatar
Trucker Forum STAFF
  
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: WY
Trucker? 5 Years
Age: 34
Posts: 9,881
My Trucking Photos: 7

Thanks: 2,229
Thanked: 1,110 Times
From what a mechanic told me you do not want to mix and match the drums on a trailer and disc on the tractor.
__________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Politicians and diapers need to be changed often and for the same reason.

Truckers Its useless to argue with ignorance

Don't blame me, I didn't vote for the anti American crew.

Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #4  
Old 04.29.2008
Lurchgs's Avatar
Road Train Member
  
Last Seen: 3 Days Ago 11.14 PM
Member Since: Feb 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Trucker? 0-1 Year
Age: 50
Posts: 2,017
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 250
Thanked: 263 Times
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brickman View Post
From what a mechanic told me you do not want to mix and match the drums on a trailer and disc on the tractor.
it would definitely be sub-optimal, but it could be done - particularly if the trailer is ABS
Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #5  
Old 04.29.2008
Light Load Member
  
Last Seen: 19 Minutes Ago 08.20 PM
Member Since: Jan 2008
Location: Indiana
Trucker? Trucking Industry
Posts: 229
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 2
Thanked: 18 Times
So what you are saying about the trailer having drum brakes and the truck having disc brakes that the truck will try to slow down faster? So then that would mean that the trailer would not really be doing that much braking at all. Am I correct on this thought?
Reply With Quote
Remove This Ad By Registering. Join Our Truck Forum and Trucking Community For Free. Sponsored Links:

  ^ Top   #6  
Old 04.29.2008
Lurchgs's Avatar
Road Train Member
  
Last Seen: 3 Days Ago 11.14 PM
Member Since: Feb 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Trucker? 0-1 Year
Age: 50
Posts: 2,017
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 250
Thanked: 263 Times
I'd not mix/match unless the trailer had ABS.. then it would slow down just as it does now - but yeah, most of the braking woudl come from the tractor
Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #7  
Old 04.29.2008
Lone Ranger's Avatar
Bobtail Member
  
Last Seen: 1 Week Ago 10.12 AM
Member Since: Apr 2008
Location: Dallas, Texas
Trucker? 25 Years
Age: 46
Posts: 48
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 0
Thanked: 7 Times
Disk brakes are much better than drum brakes, both in stopping force and fade resisting.

The disk brake system weighs less, and there are less moving parts.

The best thing about disks is that on a long downgrade, they do not fade nearly as much or as fast as drum brakes. When drums get hot they expand and it takes more brake pressure to maintain the stopping force. The shoes have to push harder and further.

When disk get hot they expand too, but the brakes are squeezeing the disk, so as the disks expand, they get squeezed even harder.

As for mixing them, that doesn't seem to be an option to avoid since most of the trailers made here (USA) have drum brakes. Disks are more expensive.
Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #8  
Old 04.29.2008
Medium Load Member
  
Last Seen: 4 Hours Ago 04.20 PM
Member Since: Dec 2007
Location: Portland, Or.
Trucker? 50 Years
Posts: 570
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 187
Thanked: 202 Times
Picked up axles at Hendrickson a few weeks ago and delivered them to a trailer manufaturer. There were some axles there with disc brakes and I was told they were available as an option. The rotors and pads didn't look that big. The brake pots were mounted perpendicular to the rotors.
Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #9  
Old 04.29.2008
dieselhound's Avatar
Medium Load Member
  
Member Since: Mar 2008
Location: Erie,PA
Trucker? 15 Years
Posts: 442
My Trucking Photos: 1

Thanks: 17
Thanked: 7 Times
I would guess the pads wouldn't be big because the friction area causing heat. The heat is what would bother me. The bigger disc could cool off without cracking. I can imagine the replacement costs as to shoes and drums.
__________________
Pain is weakness leaving the body.
Reply With Quote
  ^ Top   #10  
Old 04.30.2008
Lurchgs's Avatar
Road Train Member
  
Last Seen: 3 Days Ago 11.14 PM
Member Since: Feb 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Trucker? 0-1 Year
Age: 50
Posts: 2,017
My Trucking Photos: 0

Thanks: 250
Thanked: 263 Times
Quote:
Originally Posted by dieselhound View Post
I would guess the pads wouldn't be big because the friction area causing heat. The heat is what would bother me. The bigger disc could cool off without cracking. I can imagine the replacement costs as to shoes and drums.
I think the pads would HAVE to be big. Keep in mind, friction is what stops that 80,000 pound gorilla. The heat, though, is why I mentioned vented or slotted rotors.. very little loss of friction, but it keeps things a lot cooler.

As for the cost.. I'm not going anywhere NEAR that one
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Truckers Forum Bookmarks - Like This Thread? Tell The World!

Truckers' Trucking Forum/Message Board
Truckers Accessories

« thinking about trucking | Quick question about insurance »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Linear Mode
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Trucker Forum Replies Last Post
Brakes out of adjustment? GuysLady Trucking Industry Regulations 35 02.22.2008 06.32 PM
Transmission Brakes nbman Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ] 11 01.24.2008 09.40 AM
Checked Your Brakes This Week? You better Cybergal Canadian Truckers Forum 1 08.27.2007 09.15 PM
Parking Brakes; Times they shouldn't be used!!!!! Carolina Razorback Truckers' Photo Shack | Art Gallery 13 02.11.2007 04.23 PM
Ever set your parking brakes..... PackRatTDI Experienced Truckers' Advice 2 01.03.2007 11.28 PM


.

The Truckers Report - Trucker Photo Gallery - Contact Us - Truckers Forum - Top

vBulletin Forum Software, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
Copyright © The Truckers Report - Trucking Forum & Message Board - Truck Driver Discussion - Truck Forum

Trucker Forum Disclaimer: All content, information and opinions (collectively, the "Material") presented on Our Trucker Forum Discussion Board at TheTruckersReport.com are those of the authors of posts and messages (collectively, the "participants") and not The Truckers Report. The Truckers Report does not guarantee the reliability, completeness, accuracy, timeliness or up-to-date-ness of the material presented on the Truck Driver Forum. The material is published "as is," and does not represent the official views and opinions of The Truckers Report or any company. Any reliance upon the Material presented on these forums shall be at User's own risk. The Truckers Report does not review the substance of the content posted by users on these forums and is therefore not responsible for any of such content. The Truckers Forum merely provides a space for its users to express and exchange their own opinions.


Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO