A recent post got me thinking.

Why do cars still come with rear drum brakes? I know that there is the handbrake advantage, but on the downside they seem (to the untrained eye) more complicated and less efficient. I don't understand how the complex drum / shoe arrangement can cost significantly less than a piece of iron and a pair of calipers.

Answers on a postcard, please.

Drum brakes have more parts than disc brakes and are harder to service, but they are less expensive to manufacture, and they easily incorporate an emergency brake mechanism

Coutesy of HowStuffWorks.

They also last a lot longer..or the brake pads pad materials do.

Drum brakes have more parts than disc brakes and are harder to service' date=' but they are less expensive to manufacture, and they easily incorporate an emergency brake mechanism

Coutesy of HowStuffWorks.[/quote']

Plus its another marketing point to try and sell you up to the higher spec versions that come with disks.

A touch of the Cosy Powells ??

Drum breaks.. Ok never mind it was an old joke anyway

Of the ancients amongst the 'list' did anyone else have problems with the front drums on 2CVs getting the lead in gaps right to prevent the mother of all judders developing...and the solution of cutting the back plate open to adjust the snail cam?

Tell that to kids today.............

Plus its another marketing point to try and sell you up to the higher spec versions that come with disks.

Cynical, but probably true!

Of the ancients amongst the 'list' did anyone else have problems with the front drums on 2CVs getting the lead in gaps right to prevent the mother of all judders developing...and the solution of cutting the back plate open to adjust the snail cam?

Tell that to kids today.............

I was lucky - I had a Dyane, with disc brakes. Just open the bonnet, take the old brake pads out, and put the new ones in.

Strange car, the 2CV/Dyane. There can't be many cars which included a (wooden) wheel chock in the toolkit

There can't be many cars which included a (wooden) wheel chock in the toolkit

I think you'll find that was the engine :P