How do I know if my rear brakes are drum or disc?
The quickest way to know is to look at the rear braking components: if you can see a brake rotor and caliper, you have disc brakes; if the braking area is enclosed by a drum behind the wheel, you have drum brakes. If in doubt, check the owner's manual or have a professional inspect the system.
Visual clues from the outside
These are the cues you can use without taking things apart. They help you identify the brake type on the rear axle with minimal tools.
- Visible brake caliper clamping onto a round steel disc (rotor) behind the wheel means the rear brakes are disc brakes.
- No rotor is visible and you see a smooth, enclosed drum behind the wheel or within the wheel hub area—this indicates drum brakes.
- Some wheels allow you to peek through spokes or openings; if you can spot a rotor and caliper, it’s a disc system; if you only see a drum housing, it’s a drum system.
- On many modern cars, the rear brakes are discs, but some budget or older models still use drums on the rear; check the car’s spec if you’re unsure.
In practice, you’ll often determine type by the presence or absence of a caliper and visible rotor when the wheels are on the car. If you can’t tell from the outside, wheel removal is the definitive method.
What you’ll see if you remove the wheel
Taking a wheel off gives you a definitive view of the braking components behind the hub. This is the most reliable way to confirm the brake type.
- Rear disc brakes: you will see a brake rotor (a flat, round metal disc) with a caliper clamped over or around it. The caliper houses pistons and brake pads that squeeze the rotor when you brake.
- Rear drum brakes: you will see a hollow drum that rotates with the wheel. Inside the drum housing are brake shoes, springs, and a wheel cylinder; the shoes press outward to contact the drum when braking.
- Some cars with drum brakes also have an access point or service port on the drum for wheel-cylinders or adjustments; others require detaching the drum completely to inspect the shoes.
- Note that some vehicles use rear discs with an integrated parking brake (electronic or mechanical), while others use a drum-based parking brake integrated into the drum assembly.
Wheel removal provides a clear, unambiguous identification: rotor plus caliper equals disc; inner shoes inside a drum equal drum brakes.
Why the distinction matters for maintenance and safety
Understanding whether your rear brakes are drums or discs helps you plan maintenance, replacement parts, and diagnostic steps. The two systems wear differently and have distinct parking-brake designs and service procedures.
- Disc brakes generally offer more consistent performance and easier rotor/pad replacement, but the rotor may require resurfacing or replacement over time if worn or warped.
- Drum brakes tend to wear shoes inside a drum and often require periodic adjustment to maintain proper clearance for the brake shoes and parking brake function.
- Some vehicles use rear discs with a separate parking brake, while others use drum brakes that incorporate the parking brake into the drum assembly.
Knowing the type helps you interpret symptoms (such as unusual grabbing, squealing, or reduced braking efficiency) and ensures you obtain the correct parts and procedures for maintenance.
Quick reference checklist for identifying rear brake type
Use this concise guide when you’re trying to identify the rear brakes, especially if you don’t have the manual handy. You may need to move the vehicle safely to inspect the wheels or remove a wheel.
- Look through the wheel opening for a visible rotor and caliper. If present, the rear brakes are disc brakes.
- If you don’t see a rotor and the area behind the wheel appears to be a solid or hollow drum, the rear brakes are drum brakes.
- For definitive confirmation, consult the vehicle's owner’s manual or the service documentation by VIN, or have a qualified mechanic inspect.
Conclusion: A visible rotor and caliper means discs; an enclosed drum behind the wheel means drums. When in doubt, professional inspection is the safest option.
Summary
Rear brake type varies by model and year—from common drum setups on older or economical vehicles to rear discs on many newer cars. The most reliable tell is whether you can see a rotor and caliper behind the wheel (disc) or a drum housing (drum). If visibility is limited, removing the wheel or consulting the manual will provide a definitive answer. Understanding the type helps with maintenance, parts, and safety considerations on the road.
How do I tell if my car has disc or drum brakes?
Look like an enclosed unit(drums). Rotors look like a disc and have a clamp looking unit sitting on them(calipers).
How do I know if I have disk brakes?
If you have V-brakes, the caliper will be at the fork or the top of the seat stays, near the rim of the wheel since they're a type of “rim brakes.” If you have disc brakes, the caliper will be by the hub of the wheel, and the brake disc will be sticking in there.
How do I know what kind of brakes I have?
How to tell whether your brakes are drum or disc. To double-check, look through one of the holes in the top of your front wheel. If you see a shiny smooth metal surface, that is your disc rotor. However, if you see a rusty and not smooth round surface, that's your brake drum.
What year did they stop putting drum brakes on cars?
Drum brakes were largely phased out on front wheels by the 1970s, and many rear applications were phased out by the early 1990s, though they are still used on some rear wheels and for parking brakes today. While front drum brakes on vehicles like the Jeep CJ-5 were discontinued around 1986, and some cars went to all-wheel discs in the early 1990s, drum brakes are still manufactured for cost-effectiveness on certain rear-wheel applications and as a simpler integration for parking brakes.
- Front wheels: Disc brakes became standard on the front wheels by the 1970s due to superior performance, especially in wet weather. The last automobile to use front drum brakes in the United States was a 1986 model year Jeep CJ-5.
- Rear wheels: Drum brakes were phased out of rear-wheel applications more slowly, with many vehicles transitioning by the early 1990s, though some models continued to use them even later.
- Continued use: Drum brakes are still used on the rear wheels of some modern vehicles because they are cheaper to manufacture. They are also commonly used for parking brakes due to their simplicity in incorporating a parking brake with a mechanical cable system.
