Although vehicles have used drum brakes since the early 20th century, they still remain relevant today. Since the 1970s, disc brakes have slowly taken the place of the drum brake. Even though disc brakes offer better performance, there are still reasons why drum brakes are used in modern vehicles.

Front disc brakes in vehicles became standard beginning in the late 1970s. As many classic trucks and cars still have drum brakes, converting the old drum brakes to disc brakes will give you more stopping power. Both the front and rear drum brakes can be converted to disc brakes.

From strange sounds to unpleasant smells, brakes let you know when they need to be replaced. Here’s how to know it’s time and what parts you should check first based on what you’re experiencing behind the wheel.