[clsmooth]

Had a bit of a musing thought the other day:
Picture a fairly base model Impreza, Forester, etc. with rear drum brakes, and only the front brakes were upgraded to 4 pots.
How would the car behave? Would it nose dive every time you'd brush on the brake pedal?

 

[RunsWithScissors]

The car behaves normally/predictably, even under hard braking conditions. Remember, drum brakes were enough to stop the land-yachts in the 50s/60s, it's not like they're ineffective.

 

[stalkergc]

I believe the front brakes are responsible for the majority of the stopping power, which is why you rear pads usually have a longer lifetime. I had one 2pot and one single pot caliper on the front of the car once and it definitely dove in one direction under hard braking.

 

[silverton]

drums on these cars are 3mm. always 3mm. 50k miles... 150k.... 300k.... 3mm.

 

[EMDGP40]

That is my current setup. '01 OBS jdm 4 pot fronts, stock drums rear. And it honestly stops quicker and harder than my stock RS. Autocross and aggressive street driving, zero brake instability, even braking in turns.

The swap was easy too, just 06 pads and rotors, done.

 

[stalkergc]

Of course it stops better, the brakes are effectively twice as powerful lol.

 

[JDMPREZA713]

Am I wrong in thinking that drums have more stopping power but are less consistent/more prone to heat soak then disc's? Thought I read that years ago, trucks have had rear drum brakes for the longest time

 

[silverton]

Am I wrong in thinking that drums have more stopping power but are less consistent/more prone to heat soak then disc's? Thought I read that years ago, trucks have had rear drum brakes for the longest time

the only pro to drum is their cheapness of production, but they are just as effective at stopping in normal circumstances.

 

[JDMPREZA713]

the only pro to drum is their cheapness of production, but they are just as effective at stopping in normal circumstances.

Thanks for the clarity on that!