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.
Trish
pweekly,
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
