2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission 1 ton wheel cylinders

[budctdca]

I have heard talk to upgrade the 3/4 ton wheel cylinders to the 1 ton. Is there much gain in doing this? Does anyone know what it takes to do it (ie. parts, mods, etc)? Any recomendations would be great.

 

[ronco]

Bud,



To my knowledge, there are a couple of wheel cylinders that you/we can upgrade too. One, is the Dodge 3500 wheel cylinder and the other is a Chevrolet 3500 wheel cylinder. Your truck should have a wheel cylinder with a 24 MM bore. The bigger Dodge has a 27 MM bore and the Chevrolet has a 30 MM bore.



I personally went with the Chevrolet wheel cylinders (About $15 a piece). You only need the wheel cylinders, some fresh brake fluid, a can of brake cleaner and the normal drum brake tools.



I removed my shoes and associated brake hardware. Cleaned the backing plate and hardware of brake dust. The new wheel cylinders are a direct replacement as far as fastener size. Install the hardware and adjust your shoes to fit as usual.



The Chevrolet wheel cylinders now provide enough brake force to lock up my rear brakes in a panic situation. Yes, my ABS unlocks quickly, but it is not and ideal reaction. During normal stop and go driving, I notice a marked difference in stopping force.



If you are loaded, or carry more weight than I do (empty mostly) normally, you should not lock up as easily as I do.



Either choice should provide a nice improvement over stock offerings.



Ronco

 

[McCRam]

I put the gm cylinders on as well. I had the dodge one ton cylinders on before that. It made a great improvment. I can really feel the rear brakes working, especially when towing trailers that are to heavy.

 

[Neibe]

Yes on ton Dodge wheel cylinders here big improvement you can also wire the arm of the brake proportioning valve so it is wide open to get better braking when empty.

 

[budctdca]

Thanks guys for the input, sounds like the Chevy wheel cylinders are the way to go. what year chevy do you use? 2 or 4 wheel drive, thought that probably should not make a difference. thanks



Luke

 

[CMckee]

i just installed the chevy's on mine a couple of weeks ago,OMG what a difference!!!. you can actually feel the rears grabbing now and yes i could lock up the rears initially however it seems they have found their happy place as they don't lock up as easily now. probably they have worn a bit and are not adjusted as tight. the truck seems to almost squat in the rear now as you stop, one of my better investments i must say. i didn't take off my shoes or hardware, just backed the adjusters off and the new cylinders fit right in with a little wiggling of the actuators. the part number from napa was 4637377 i think, if you do a search a bunch of the posts have the part number.

 

[budctdca]

the 463... #'s are the cheaper trustop kind, i wouldnt use them, i would get the united brand... im a NAPA nut, worked 4 years, ase certified

 

[McCRam]

If you still haven't bought them, I asked for 97 gm 1 ton dually 4x4 wheel cylinders. Bumper to bumper said they were 1 3/16 in cylinders.