Rear Brakes: Drum vs. Disc

[walker_creek]

I'm going to replace my rear axle housing. My small bearing housing is worn out and warped.
The only thing I'm going to re-use is my 3rd member. It's in good condition with the gears and Detroit Locker I need.
I will need new brakes since I can't use the small drums with the new housing. (I'm going to order housing from WH)

I'm tempted to go back with drum brakes (11") for a quicker install...but since the price difference isn't much...is now the time to switch to disc? I already have discs up front.
I can't really complain about the performance of the 10" drums even with heavy 35s and beadlock wheels.
Will the discs give me a better parking brake? The factory park brake is useless no matter how smooth it works and how much I play with the adjustment.

Opinions??

 

[Viperwolf1]

If you use the parking brake much you probably should stick with drums. There's a lot more brake contact surface with drums than with disks. I suspect something is wrong with the current park brake system.

 

[SLOWnEASY]

I accepted no parking brake for 20 years until I finally got tired of blocking the tires when parked in the garage. I would go with the drum brakes but pay attention to the cables. You might be surprised by something worn like I did. If you just want the cause jump to post #16 below.
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/how-do-i-stop-the-parking-brake-from-doing-this.328392/

 

[ntsqd]

If you were going to go with rear discs, then in a bolt-on or weld-on solution the Explorer based kits are the only option worth looking at. They have a drum type parking brake, but the shoes simply can't be as big as a drum brake's shoes, so even though they're a reasonably good p-brake they won't be as effective as a drum service brake.

You didn't list your use or where you're located, so disc vs. drum is hard to guess which would be the better overall choice.

 

[Steve83]

Rear disks cannot perform better than original drums that are properly-maintained (which is cheap & easy). And caliper-based e-brakes are notoriously problematic & under-performing. If you want the rear brakes to work well, keep the drums.

 

[JB Fab]

What's a parking brake?

 

[Yeller]

I’ll second the drums if you want the parking brake to really work. If you want easy put it on and forget it is there with great brakes, do an explorer disc kit.

 

[dmoses42]

And don't forget, if you go with rear discs, you "may" have to change your master cylinder too. Seems that some need to while others do not.

 

[SLOWnEASY]

What's a parking brake?

I suspect you're just rattling the topic a bit. But I use the name parking brake over emergency brake.
A functioning brake system releases the brakes when you lift your foot. A parking brake keeps the brakes applied when you remove your foot. The very fact that the pedal stays down and you have to manually trigger a release makes it a parking brake not an emergency brake.

 

[73azbronco]

I have zero issue with how my big bronco front disks and rear big drums, with brake booster stop the thing.

 

[Hozr]

I just did this 2 months ago - 67 original 9" to Toms 9" w/taper bearings

-required new axles
-reused my center section

Had them leave the shock mounts off - I have front mount shocks but for rear shocks with disc the mounts need to move inward from stock location.
Used the Toms disc kit - fairly easy install (except for the ebrake adjustment part?) all cables, hoses, parts included
Needed a new Master cylinder which also required a prop valve.

New disc PARKING brake works better than the old drum parking ever did. (Toms calipers are Cadillac(?) style calipers)

Brake feel with the discs is 100% better than the drums

 

[ntsqd]

And don't forget, if you go with rear discs, you "may" have to change your master cylinder too. Seems that some need to while others do not.

This is more about the driver than the system. Different drivers like a different pedal feel.

 

[bmbm]

11" drum looks good! Disc are more effective where you have them now on the front.

 

[fordguy]

I went with a Currie housing and explorer disc. I got the exp disc cheap. The parking brake works ok. The exp disc made it easy to move my parking brake to a lever controlled emergency brake located between front seats.

 

[Shimmy]

77 here so i'm already equipped with the "good" brakes. i have zero complaints on performance with exception to the parking brakes. i just have this problem with not being able to leave things alone... that being said i have all the parts to do my 24' trailblazer rear caliper install and hoping to get that done in the next few weeks. it'll give me an electronic parking brake

 

[904Bronco]

Opinions, well you asked...

Front Disc and rear drums would be my choice... But it is your Bronco, so do what you feel is necessary and can afford.

 

[73azbronco]

My 2001 Tacoma had drum rear disk front, never knew that until i needed a brake job at 175,000 miles. Worked great.

 

[ntsqd]

Taco's didn't get rear discs until sometime in the last couple of years. I think 4rnnrs got them earlier, and they would be closer to the config of an EB. Which isn't saying a lot.

I have been battling an odd issue where the FSB looses it's rear brake function. The up-shot of that is that I've become quite able to tell when it has happened again. The rear brakes may not do much, but they do do something that is noticeable. Without them I smoke the front disc pads fairly fast.

 

[walker_creek]

Thanks for all the input! I'm definitely leaning towards drums now.
I thought if discs were enough of an advantage, this would be the time to do it. Doesn't sound like there would be enough benefit to go through the extra hassle.

 

[ntsqd]

I'm a fan of discs for one simple reason: I DETEST adjusting drum brakes. My avatar taught me that, 8 shoes that have to be adjusted individually.