Whether you’re hauling a flatbed across the country or a gravel load across town, you have to trust that your truck will stop quickly and safely whenever you hit the brakes.

While most of today’s new trucks are spec’d with traditional drum brakes, air disc brakes are gaining in popularity. And for good reason.

Disc brakes provide better overall stopping performance compared to drums, especially in heavy stop-and-go severe-service applications.

Some of the benefits of disc brakes include:

Shorter stops

Research shows that fully loaded trucks equipped with disc brakes traveling at 60 mph can come to a complete stop in about 200 feet, 20 feet shorter than trucks with reduced stopping distance drum brakes.

Better braking feel

Disc brakes provide more of a passenger-car feel than drums, giving drivers more control when stopping.

Longer service life

Air brakes feature an “open” design, which allows air to flow over the pads and rotors. This cools the brake mechanism and can extend the life of a disc brake’s friction material up to twice as long as that found in drum brakes.

Fewer maintenance concerns

Disc brakes are inherently self-adjusting and have no “stroke” to measure, so trucks are less likely to be marked as out-of-adjustment at roadside inspections. Plus, disc brakes have fewer moving parts than drums, minimizing the likelihood of repairs.

Faster pad changes

On average, friction material can be changed in just 15 minutes per brake with disc brakes (once the wheel is removed), compared to the one hour per wheel it takes for drums.

Road Choice offers air disc brakes for your fleet. To learn more about whether Road Choice air disc brakes are the right fit for your new truck, review our Air Disc Brakes catalog or contact your local Road Choice retailer.