Why do American trucks still use drum brakes?

probably because thats what everyone knows works (tried and tested over many many years) and are used to working on that setup.

 

You haven't looked at the new trucks?

 

They cost more, or they used to.

 

disc brakes are now enough robust first series have some problems disc brakes without ebs are not good combination

when you have combination of drum and disc on same truck than you can feel difference

for example driving downhill with 110000-120000lbs on 4axle tipper with discs on both front axle and 10" drums on rear you have feeling that drums are not working

 

You can't have a disc brake truck with a drum brake trailer. The disc brakes on the tractor would fry.

It would cost to much to convert every trailer and truck on the road.

Our tiny little company has two tractors and 5 trailers. The trucks are newer than the trailers. The trailers are old but work just fine. A brake conversion would cost more than the trailers are worth.
Apply this to big company that has a say (majority stock holder) in what the trucking industry does.

Drum brakes are not as effective as disc, but they work. Brakes don't prevent an accident, a driver does.

 

Bingo! Another winning quote...

 

dont most new trucks have an option for disk brakes on the steer axle???? I do beleive I've seen them somewhere.....at least on the Peterbilts



American Trucker

 

Ok that makes sense, always good to learn something new.

 

Not true, there are a lot of them in Europe without problems. It's not the perfect combination but it's not a reason not to use discs.