Pick-up Truck Question

[Nitetimes]

OMG, there really is a drum within a disc parking brake on a bunch of GM trucks. WTF were they thinking. Is there any wonder why the government had to bail out GM?

It took me a little research, but some nimrods were apparently reluctant to leave behind the drum brake, so they put an almost useless drum within a disc parking break on the otherwise 1950s technologies of the full-sized GM truck.

So, I was wrong. GM is even more bassakwards than I thought they were. I can not think of any good reason to not use the discs that are already there to also serve as a parking/emergency brake.

I learn something new every day -- not always something that makes me happy.

CD

More info so you can keep larnin'. I replaced all four discs and pads on my 2004 f-150 ford. I was very surprised to see what you can't believe is there--a drum in the rotor housing (or is that a rotor on the drum?) with conventional brake shoes and cable activated. It maks those back rotors very heavy.

Sorry for the Ford hi-jack but we need to keep CD up to date on his auto knowledge . . .

I was just going to say that Ford uses them too on some the smaller truck and I believe from the 350' to at least the 550's....we change them all the time. The system works but only if used regularly/properly.

[Larwyn]

Back in high school I worked for an outfit that had a stagecoach and a couple of wagons which were used in pardes. My primary job was simply to exercise the horses but I also ended up working on those old vehicles from the 1800's. They all had wheels axels and a brake. Why would all the vehicle manufacturers of the world be continuing to use technology that predates even these examples from the 1800's.

The wheel is suspected of being in use since at least 3700 BC so I reckon most all modern vehicles are using some old technology.