Hi all. While researching new diesel coaches, I notice most just specify ABS braking systems. I assumed all had air brakes but saw the following as a feature. Full Air Front Discs & Rear Drum Anti-Lock Brakes Is this a good thing or bad thing to have drum brakes on the tear or is it how it is? Thanks for any insight.Trish

Many vehicles have disk front and drum rear brakes. Its an easier setup to be able to balance the braking power

Our brakes are drum air brakes, and they do well, considering we do most of our braking at speed with the Jake brake. Country Coach went to front disc brakes in the late 90's, and in 2008 switched to all disc brakes. All disc brakes would be better, but I have not had any situation where our brakes were inadequate.

pweekly wrote:Hi all. While researching new diesel coaches, I notice most just specify ABS braking systems. I assumed all had air brakes but saw the following as a feature. Full Air Front Discs & Rear Drum Anti-Lock Brakes Is this a good thing or bad thing to have drum brakes on the tear or is it how it is? Thanks for any insight.Trishpweekly, Drum brakes on a diesel pusher are very common. They work outstandingly well. There's ton of square inch application area in those drums and, the mechanisms are quite dependable and stout. The primary reason most mfgs of motor homes used drums on their diesels units for so long is of course, money. If the chassis manufacturer gave the coach manufacturer a choice of drum or disc in a specific chassis, about 95% of them chose the drums to keep the price down and, still be able to supply a quality unit to the end buyer. If a diesel coach is equipped with drums all the way around, as ours is, and, it's driven smartly and correctly, the drum brakes on it could and often do, last for way past 150,000 miles. It all depends on the drivers ability to utilize secondary braking systems like either what's called the "Exhaust brake" on about 75% of the lower end diesels or, on the heavier coaches with the larger Cu.In. diesel engines, they come with what's called a true, "Jake Brake". A "Jake" (short for Jacobs manufacturing) is an engine compression brake, utilizing the internal parts of the engine, to supply braking power for the coach. If either of those secondary braking systems are used correctly, either primary braking system, disc or drum, is a great and very dependable system. ABS or, Anti-Lock Braking Systems are coupled to drum or disc and or, both tied together, as in your question. When searching for a nice diesel used coach, and you find one that's really to your liking, and it is equipped with drum brakes, there's not a thing wrong with that at all. That coach's brakes will serve you for decades of time. Good luck.Scott

I have disc all the way around on my Foretravel. Work great and S&P great too and I am at 162824 miles.

Thank you for the information. I appreciate learning from you all. I wonder what my Mandalay has? (2005 Freightliner/Cummins 400hp). It stops on a dime and has an exhaust brake as well. We just didn't know if that was standard to have half air/disk and half drum, all drum or all air and what is preferable. Does anyone know what Tiffin Allegro Bus has Thanks again.

Question about diesel brakes | Good Sam Community

slemnah
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
According to this article the disc brake setup adds about 100lbs per axle over drum brakes.

http://www.truckinginfo.com/article/story/2014/07/brake-trends-drums-vs-discs.aspx?utm_campaign=Headline-News-20140718&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter&btm_ea=c2xlbW5haEBzYmNnbG9iYWwubmV0
mpierce
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
slemnah wrote:
Many new tractor trailer trucks still use drum brakes all the way around. I was just reading that many trucking companies order them that way because of the additional weight and cost of the air disc brake system. Drums work great, just make sure the adjusters are properly adjusted and that the grease seals aren't leaking.

Disc brakes are lighter, not heavier than drums. They do cost more.
slemnah
Explorer
Jul 24, 2014
Many new tractor trailer trucks still use drum brakes all the way around. I was just reading that many trucking companies order them that way because of the additional weight and cost of the air disc brake system. Drums work great, just make sure the adjusters are properly adjusted and that the grease seals aren't leaking.
Sully2
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
dons2346 wrote:
Peralko wrote:
dons2346 wrote:
Peralko wrote:
..........Country Coach went to front disc brakes in the late 90's, and in 2008 switched to all disc brakes.......

Not correct

Well, excuuuuse me! I should have specified Country Coaches--Allures on up.

Even then you are still wrong. My '02 Intrigue still has drum brakes on the front and rear as do other coaches of the era. I don't know when the change over started but definitely not when you stated.

So, you are excused :B

My Allure is a 2000 model year....drums all around...
Peralko
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
OK, if you want to get the real skinny, Affinitys and Magnas went front disc in 2000, so I was off by a year, so sue me! Intrigues went front disc in 2007 starting with coach #12119. Allures, Intrigues, Magans and Affinitys went all disc in 2008. As far as I know Inspires never got disc brakes, and I would imagine the same for Tributes.
dons2346
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
Peralko wrote:
dons2346 wrote:
Peralko wrote:
..........Country Coach went to front disc brakes in the late 90's, and in 2008 switched to all disc brakes.......

Not correct

Well, excuuuuse me! I should have specified Country Coaches--Allures on up.

Even then you are still wrong. My '02 Intrigue still has drum brakes on the front and rear as do other coaches of the era. I don't know when the change over started but definitely not when you stated.

So, you are excused :B
Peralko
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
dons2346 wrote:
Peralko wrote:
..........Country Coach went to front disc brakes in the late 90's, and in 2008 switched to all disc brakes.......

Not correct

Well, excuuuuse me! I should have specified Country Coaches--Allures on up.
mpierce
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
A lot of semis have gone to disc front, drum rear. All are air brakes.
Tinstar
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
Not all diesel's have air brakes. My Allegro Bus has hydraulic disk all the way around and they work fine.
dons2346
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
Peralko wrote:
..........Country Coach went to front disc brakes in the late 90's, and in 2008 switched to all disc brakes.......

Not correct

Forum Discussion

Question about diesel brakes

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

Used Cummins Diesel Questions

Air brake questions?

diesel warm up question

Urgent question re diesel

EOH Brake Question