Rear disc brakes or drums?

[wolf_06]

Hi guys,

I have a choice of 2 diffrent trims of 2018 elantra.

One GL and one GLS.

GL has drums in the back, GLS has discs on all 4 wheels.

Is it worth it? Will i see a huge diffrence with 4 discs?

I always had drums, and had great luck with them, never replaced any on my cars, just the front brakes.

Only downside is drums gets rusty here in Canada and dont look great with nice wheels.

I got a geat deal, elantra loaded GLS, plus remote start and 4 new Michelin Defender to replace those cheap Khumos for $25,000 all in on the road.

Here is a photo of the GL trim that I took.

 

[michaelluscher]

Go for discs

If for nothing else, for ease of future service

 

[dogememe]

I hate drum brakes, and am VERY disappointed my 2010 Escape has rear drums.

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted by wolf_06


I always had drums, and had great luck with them, never replaced any on my cars, just the front brakes.




Which means your front brakes were doing all the work, not ideal. Drums are OK out back but discs are better.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I HATE drum brakes! Get the discs. ALWAYS

Disc brakes are MUCH easier to work on!!!!!! Hyundai seems to have cheapened the Elantra, as the previous gen came with 4-wheel discs standard even on the base model.

Will you be getting Krown done to your new car?

 

[rubberchicken]

Originally Posted by AZjeff
Originally Posted by wolf_06


I always had drums, and had great luck with them, never replaced any on my cars, just the front brakes.




Which means your front brakes were doing all the work, not ideal. Drums are OK out back but discs are better.

Front brakes do all the work anyhow right ? I thought only 10-20% of the braking effort was directed at rear brakes.

 

[ctechbob]

I would rather have no rear brakes than drums. As soon as I get rid of my wife's 2000 Accord I will never own another car with drum brakes. Yes, they're not terribly complicated, but I would rather work on 10 cars with disks than one with drums. Of course, if you don't do your own maintenance then it likely won't matter one bit.

 

[Inspecktor]

Drums on the rear do seem to be less affected by salt. I have had many stuck rear calipers, drum mechanisms are better protected.

 

[WyrTwister]

Originally Posted by wolf_06
Hi guys,

I have a choice of 2 diffrent trims of 2018 elantra.

One GL and one GLS.

GL has drums in the back, GLS has discs on all 4 wheels.

Is it worth it? Will i see a huge diffrence with 4 discs?

I always had drums, and had great luck with them, never replaced any on my cars, just the front brakes.

Only downside is drums gets rusty here in Canada and dont look great with nice wheels.

I got a geat deal, elantra loaded GLS, plus remote start and 4 new Michelin Defender to replace those cheap Khumos for $25,000 all in on the road.

Here is a photo of the GL trim that I took.




What is the price difference ?

I also hate drum brakes . The rear discs ( at least on the GM cars we have owned ) were much easie to work on .

 

[Lolvoguy]

Originally Posted by Inspecktor
Drums on the rear do seem to be less affected by salt. I have had many stuck rear calipers, drum mechanisms are better protected.

Agreed.

I find rear disks are most effective/noticeable on high performance/tracked cars.
I've owned a few meticulously maintained Escort/Focus cars that I've never needed to open the rear brakes (and I sold them with near 160kms, only selling due to boredom),
By the time you have to open the rear drums to replace the shoes, it's usually at the same time to replace the rear bearings, springs etc while your in there (less maintenance/easier to replace parts once open).

For an Elantra (grocery getter/commuter), I doubt it'll make a difference (aside from costing more and looking "cooler").

 

[KneeGrinder]

LOL, if you go for the disc option you will still have drum parking brakes. Disc!

 

[Andy636]

Get the disks, no brainer. Good looking car, the 2019 model looks like poop.

 

[hpb]

Wow, I can't believe you guys can actually buy a new Elantra with drum brakes....

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted by michaelluscher
Go for discs

If for nothing else, for ease of future service


But drums are easier than disc?

 

[demarpaint]

I'd rather have disk brakes all around.

 

[BigD1]

Disc front and drums rear works just fine. It's not a race car.

If I had to pay lots more money for the higher trim GLS, and rear disc brakes were the stand out feature I would pass, and buy the GL.

 

[Trav]

Nothing wrong with rear drums, most daily driver cars are front biased anyway. Be careful what you wish for, many newer cars with 4 wheel disc are coming with electric parking brakes you need a scan tool to open for servicing them.
Even some of the old caliper that have a mechanical park brake incorporated in them could be a PITA once they got a few years on them.

Drum brakes are real easy to service, when I first started trade school in 1971 disc brakes even up front were rare on cars we got to work on. Parking brake shoes in the little drum on disc brakes can be a bit of a nuisance but not difficult.

 

[skyactiv]

Disc brakes are easier to work on. The new UPS semis have them and they are worlds better in stopping power and replacing pads is easier than removing the wheel.

 

[Oildudeny]

don't pick a trim level based on rear brakes. if you like the features better on the trim level up that just happens to have rear disc and its in your price go for it. if this is just an econobox car from point a to b not needing the upper trim features go for the lesser. enjoy your new ride.

 

[Andy636]

Originally Posted by Trav
Nothing wrong with rear drums, most daily driver cars are front biased anyway. Be careful what you wish for, many newer cars with 4 wheel disc are coming with electric parking brakes you need a scan tool to open for servicing them.
Even some of the old caliper that have a mechanical park brake incorporated in them could be a PITA once they got a few years on them.

Drum brakes are real easy to service, when I first started trade school in 1971 disc brakes even up front were rare on cars we got to work on. Parking brake shoes in the little drum on disc brakes can be a bit of a nuisance but not difficult.


Maybe 30-40 years ago.

Esp and drums don't mix...