GREAT Mysteries of RV'n
There remain some Great Mysteries in RV'n. I'll start: 1. 50 plus years on, and black and gray tank level indicators don't work.
Forum Discussion
brdprey wrote:GoPackGo wrote:
Disc Brakes.
Disc brakes have been installed as standard equipment on just about all cars and trucks for the last 30 years or more, (Even my 1971 Honda motorcycle had one) yet you still can't find them on current trailer/fiver offerings (I'm sure there are probably a couple exceptions). Disc brakes work better, have better fade resistance, run cooler, and have GOT to be simpler then these ridiculous electric gizmos that are used now. Maybe they didn't get the memo ?
i have wondered this as well.
Because drum brakes are "self-energizing".
Once you move the shoes to touch the drum, they start grabbing harder on their own.
For a trailer, you only need to supply enough power to energize the magnet, which attracts to the spinning drum. The spinning drum moves the magnet, which is attached to a lever that pushes the shoes against the drum. Then the shoes grab the drum harder through the "self-energizing" action.
Disc brakes need a lot of continuous pressure to force the pads against the rotor. I image that trailers with disc brakes have some sort of hydraulic pump to generate the pressure.
That is why many trucks with rear disc brakes have a small drum for the parking brake.
Steve
