Which weighs more drum brakes with aluminum drums, or a disc brake setup?

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1985 Camaro IROC-Z LB9

1989 Pontiac Firebird
Formula W6S LO3 TBI 305
-180 degree stat
-Hooker Cat-Back

 

disc

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My Firebird & other stuff

- 4 out of 5 people think the 5th is an idiot

 

I think if you had cast drums the disks would still weigh more. The drum system has the drum, backing plate, shoes, wheel cylinder and brake hardware. The heaviest part being the drum. Disk brakes have the rotor, caliper and mount. All three of these parts are heavy. If you had aluminum calipers it would be to close to guess.

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Stephen's racing page

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
454 Big Block buildup now in progress for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857 altitude corrected to 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87 altitude corrected to 126.10
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP based on power to weight ratio: 476.5
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

[This message has been edited by Stephen 87 IROC (edited January 01, 2001).]

 

Is a cast drum heavier than a disc? I would think it is, but I've never got to hold an aluminum drum yet. The whole system drum system probably equals or weighs less, but what about the weight that is rotating?

 

It's not the weight of the rotor that's heavy. It's the rotor, caliper and mount that's heavy when compared to the drum. The rest of the drum components (see above) is light. That little 9.5" x 2" drum isn't very heavy.

Rotating mass I would still go with the drum as being lighter. I have both out in my shed but no scale to weigh them. The rotor feels a bit heavier than the drum and it's mass is closer to the center of rotation.

[This message has been edited by Stephen 87 IROC (edited January 01, 2001).]

 

Thanks, I think all of my questoins were answered.