How important to you are rear disc brakes? ...

[tdinut]

I noticed that only the SE Yaris models have rear discs. Do you consider that important enough to only go for the SE over other models? I prefer 4 wheel discs over rear drums but my choices go up if it's not mandatory.

Thoughts? :burnrubber:

[kimona]

I'm fine with rear drums... because they work very well on this little car.

[GrayYaris]

I noticed that only the SE Yaris models have rear discs. Do you consider that important enough to only go for the SE over other models? I prefer 4 wheel discs over rear drums but my choices go up if it's not mandatory.

Thoughts? :burnrubber:


I don't think you will see a performance gain on a daily driver. While I hate changing drum brakes, I prefer them because it seems like you never have to worry about them unless something rots and snaps. Also, I have used a pontiac vibe with a spiral caliper and I like the design better than the top hat mini drum brake but I feel like standard rear drum brakes make for the strongest e brake.

[Jcp123]

I've had very few cars with rear discs (actually just one). Aside from the slight headache you get maintaining drums, it's not a big deal. Light cars like this don't need the additional clamping power of discs.

I drive big rigs and they are drums on all wheels. The air brakes have a big delay. Hydraulic anything is fantastic by comparison.

[NYC-SE]

It was important to me. It was one of the reasons I went with the SE model. I'll admit I rarely drive aggressively enough where they would really make a difference but I like knowing they're there.

I'm surprised there are still cars made with rear drums nowadays. I would have figured that discs would have won the debate by now. They have for me.

[sheekeebut]

Important enough for me to require them on my next car, if and only if it's not the usual small, light, torsion beamed economy compact.

Not important enough to desire an upgrade to them on my current cars.

[tdinut]

Thanks everyone. I guess I'm making too much of it. I am driving myself crazy trying to figure out what I want, car-wise. So far you are all helping me come back to a Yaris.

I appreciate your replies.

[bronsin]

The only benefit I see to rear wheel disc brakes is easy of replacing the pads vs brake shoes. Its much quicker and simplier to change pads instead of shoes. :smile:

But a Yaris is an economy car so jacking up the price by getting the "package" necessary to get RDBs isnt appealing.

Of course if you are racing your Yaris in this years Indianapolis 500 I guess you want rear discs. :wink:

[nookandcrannycar]

I'm fine with rear drums... because they work very well on this little car.

^^^^^ This

[WeeYari]

It's cosmetic.

[mrpj]

The front brakes provide 70/80% of stopping effort anyway so it's quite sensible to fit drums on the rear.
Shoes seem to last far longer than pads, in fact with any car I've owned with rear drums, including two Yarisssss, I've never had to renew the rear shoes.
I would say the only advantage with rear discs is the ease of renewing the pads and, if necessary, the discs.
So, to me personally, of no importance whatsoever.

[matti]

Personally, I have never once considered what type of front/rear brakes my cars have. It simply doesn't matter for the type of driving I do.

[haunter1982]

In fact, many people have problems on Yaris with rear disk brakes because they dont get used enogh, get rusty, get stuck and on this, has to be changed long time before usual.
I have one with drums and if you push the brake hard your eyes are about to pop off :). As written before, 70-80% are on the front brakes.
And on wet conditions drums are faster because the mist on disks has to be removed before braking starts. So you got little delay on wet streets.