The DR400 is the genuine Brother drum unit for the classic HL-1200/1400-series laser printers, MFC-8000/9000-series multifunctions, DCP-1200/1400 copiers and IntelliFax-4100/4750/5750 laser fax machines. It lasts about 20,000 pages and works with TN430 standard toner (about 3,000 pages) or TN460 high-yield toner (about 6,000 pages).
These machines have been in service for many years, and plenty are still printing in offices, shops and home offices. Brother still lists genuine supplies for them, so you can keep one running with original parts. This guide covers which models take the DR400, how TN430 and TN460 compare, and how to replace and reset each part.
DR400, TN430 and TN460 at a glance
| Part | Type | Rated life | UPC on the box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN430 | Standard-yield black toner | ~3,000 pages | 012502525974 |
| Brother TN460 | High-yield black toner | ~6,000 pages | 012502525981 |
| Brother DR400 | Drum unit | ~20,000 pages | 012502525967 |
Toner yields are Brother ratings at about 5% page coverage on letter paper. The drum and toner are sold separately; neither box contains the other part. In manuals and older listings you will often see the part numbers written with a hyphen (TN-430, TN-460, DR-400). They are the same parts.
Which printers use the DR400 drum and TN430/TN460 toner?
All three parts fit the same machines, so if your model takes the DR400 it also takes both toner cartridges. Brother USA lists these models:
| Series | Models |
|---|---|
| HL laser printers | HL-1230, HL-1240, HL-1250, HL-1270N, HL-1435, HL-1440, HL-1450, HL-1470N |
| MFC multifunction | MFC-8300, MFC-8500, MFC-8600, MFC-8700, MFC-9600, MFC-9700, MFC-9800, MFC-P2500 |
| DCP copier/printers | DCP-1200, DCP-1400 |
| IntelliFax laser fax | IntelliFax-4100, IntelliFax-4100e, IntelliFax-4750, IntelliFax-4750e, IntelliFax-5750, IntelliFax-5750e |
Our product listings also name the HL-P2500, MFC-9650, MFC-9750, MFC-9850 and MFC-9870. Those model numbers are not on Brother USA's current list, so if you own one, confirm the cartridge number in its manual or on the old cartridge before ordering.
Printer-specific pages: HL-1250, HL-1440, MFC-8500, DCP-1200 and IntelliFax-4100e.
TN430 vs TN460: which toner should you buy?
The TN430 and TN460 contain the same Brother toner; the TN460 simply holds twice as much. Based on current GS TONER prices, the TN460 costs about 1.4 times as much as the TN430 but prints 2 times the pages, so each page costs roughly 30% less.
| TN430 | TN460 | |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | ~3,000 pages | ~6,000 pages |
| Price vs TN430 | 1.0× | ~1.4× |
| Toner cost per page vs TN430 | baseline | about 30% less |
| Cartridges per DR400 drum | about 6 to 7 | about 3 |
| Best for | Occasional printing and fax-only use | Regular office printing and copying |
A simple rule: if the machine prints more than a few hundred pages a month, buy the TN460. The TN430 makes sense for a fax machine that receives a handful of pages a week, where a cartridge can sit installed for a long time, or when you need the lowest outlay because the machine may be retired soon.
Remember that 5% coverage is roughly a short business letter. Fax pages with letterheads, logos and dense forms use more toner, so expect fewer pages from either cartridge in that kind of use.
The DR400 drum: life, warning signs and cost
The drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that receives the toner image and transfers it to paper. It wears as it turns, so Brother rates the DR400 at approximately 20,000 pages and notes that the figure varies by type of use. Many short jobs, such as single-page faxes, add more wear per page than long print runs. For a plain-English explanation, see what the drum on a Brother printer is.
Because the DR400 is rated for fewer pages than newer Brother drums, it is a bigger share of running cost: per page, it adds about 40% on top of TN430 toner cost and close to 60% on top of TN460 toner cost. Budget for a drum roughly every three TN460 cartridges.
Signs the drum needs replacing:
- The machine signals that the drum is near or at the end of its life: a drum message on models with a display, or the Drum indicator light on HL printers without one.
- Dots or marks that repeat at the same spacing down the page and do not go away with a new toner cartridge.
- A gray haze across the background of every page, or faded print that a fresh TN460 does not fix. Our guide to faded or light laser printing walks through the other causes first.
How to replace TN430/TN460 toner or the DR400 drum
On these machines the toner cartridge clips into the drum unit, and the two come out of the printer together.
- With the machine switched on, open the front cover and let it cool for a few minutes; the fuser area gets hot.
- Lift out the drum and toner assembly and place it on a sheet of scrap paper.
- Press down the lock lever and lift the toner cartridge out of the drum.
- Unpack the new cartridge, remove any packing material and rock it gently side to side five or six times to spread the toner evenly.
- Seat the cartridge in the drum until it locks into place.
- Clean the corona wire by sliding its cleaning tab gently from one end to the other a few times, then return the tab to its home position.
- Put the assembly back into the machine and close the front cover.
Replacing the drum is the same job: move the toner cartridge from the old DR400 into the new one. Do not touch the drum surface, and keep the new drum in its bag until you are ready to fit it.
Resetting the DR400 drum counter
The machine counts drum use and keeps showing the drum warning until you reset the counter, which you should do only after fitting a new DR400. The method depends on the model. On LCD models (MFC, DCP and IntelliFax), the reset is typically done with the front cover open, by pressing the clear or options key and confirming the "replace drum" prompt. On HL printers without a display it is typically done with the front cover open, by holding the control panel button until the indicator lights change. Because these are older machines, check the exact key sequence in your model's user's guide, or see our general Brother drum reset guide.
Genuine vs compatible DR400 and TN460
Because these machines are older, compatible and remanufactured TN460-type cartridges and DR400-type drums are common and usually cheaper upfront. Quality and actual yield vary between makers, and Brother states that its warranty may not cover damage caused by non-Brother supplies. A genuine cartridge gives you the rated yield and Brother's free recycling return. If you compare, compare cost per page at realistic yields, not the box price.
To recognize genuine parts, check for Brother branding, the exact part number on both the box and the cartridge label, a factory-sealed box and the UPCs listed in the table above. Every TN430, TN460 and DR400 we ship at GS TONER is genuine Brother OEM, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and a right-cartridge-or-your-money-back guarantee.
Empty TN430/TN460 cartridges and DR400 drums can go back to Brother free through its recycling program; see how to recycle Brother toner cartridges.
Bottom line
If your Brother HL-1200/1400, MFC-8000/9000, DCP-1200/1400 or IntelliFax machine is in regular use, buy the TN460: it costs about 30% less per page than the TN430. Order a DR400 when the drum warning appears or prints show repeating marks, expect to need one about every three TN460 cartridges, and reset the drum counter only after the new drum is in.
Frequently asked questions
What printers use the Brother DR400 drum?
Brother USA lists the DR400 for the HL-1230, HL-1240, HL-1250, HL-1270N, HL-1435, HL-1440, HL-1450 and HL-1470N; the MFC-8300, MFC-8500, MFC-8600, MFC-8700, MFC-9600, MFC-9700, MFC-9800 and MFC-P2500; the DCP-1200 and DCP-1400; and the IntelliFax-4100, 4100e, 4750, 4750e, 5750 and 5750e.
What is the difference between TN430 and TN460?
Only the amount of toner. The TN430 is the standard cartridge at about 3,000 pages and the TN460 is the high-yield version at about 6,000 pages. Both fit the same machines and use the same DR400 drum.
How long does a DR400 drum last?
Brother rates the DR400 at approximately 20,000 pages, and actual life varies with use. That is about three TN460 cartridges or six to seven TN430 cartridges. Frequent single-page jobs, such as faxes, wear the drum faster.
Does the TN460 come with a drum?
No. The TN430 and TN460 are toner-only cartridges. The DR400 drum is sold separately and is replaced far less often than the toner.
Do I need to reset the drum counter after installing a DR400?
Yes. The machine does not know a new drum has been fitted until you reset the drum counter from the control panel, following the steps in your model's user's guide. Reset it only when you install a new drum.
