3" brakes on W250 and love it

[JMarsh]

I just completed a brake job on my 90 W250. I used the 3" brake shoes and the 1 1/8" wheel cylinders. WOW! now my truck stops a lot better. I rebuilt all the brakes on the truck 2 years ago, used the carbon metallic pads on the front, but still used the 2 1/2" shoes and 1" wheel cylinders on the rear (I didn't know any better at the time). Never did like how the truck stopped, actually hated how it stopped when I was towing something. Now the truck stops when you hit the brakes. I also ordered the upgraded axle nuts from quad4x4 I will change those as soon as they come in.

 

[dan brooks]

Sounds exactly like my truck - if I had known how much of a difference it would make I would've done it the first time around.

 

[Greenleaf]

Will these 3" shoes and 1-1/8" cylinder work on my "D" model? Do I use the OE drum or go larger with this swap?



Thanks... ...

Scott

 

[boatpuller]

Scott,

Yes they will work on the D model, you just need to turn the drums, the drums are the same for the 2 1/5" and the 3"



Happy Rammin,



Caleb

 

[Greenleaf]

Thanks Caleb

Perhaps I'll give it a try. I sorta figured I'd have to get the drums turned regardless of what size shoe I use.



Need to get the dowel pin addressed first though.



-S

 

[Steve Graham]

JMarsh,

Did you have to change the backing plate to hang the 3" shoes on?



Steve

(wants better breaks for the 35's)

 

[dan brooks]

No change on the backing plate, just the shoes and cylinders. All the hardware is even the same between the two. It's well worth the little extra effort and cost.



Now if they'd just come out with some self-adjusters that actually work... .

 

[JMarsh]

That is the amazing part of the swap. Just purchase the different shoes and wheel cylinders and everything else is the same. Once I figured out it was so easy to upgrade it was a no brainer to do for me. The drums for both models are the same. I bought new drums, just because mine were wore out. If you use your existing drums you will need to have the turned.

 

[DennisH]

What trucks would have came with the larger shoes and cylinders originally? I will need this info for the genius's at the local auto parts store.



Dennis

 

[Philip]

The 350 series of trucks came with the larger shoes and cylinder from the factory. Then later one Dodge started replacing with the larger shoes when owners complained about bad rear brakes.

 

[dan brooks]

As far as the shoes go, just be sure to specify 12x3" brakes.



Drums ar a different story: When I was doing the brakes the first time around, we went through every set of drums the book showed for a D250 truck. The right ones were actually for a D350 - I'm assuming the CTD trucks got the HD stuff regardless of 3/4 or 1-ton.



If I can dig up the right receipt I'll post the part numbers for the cylinders and shoes - that way the parts monkeys won't get too confused.

 

[dan brooks]

Okay, here are the numbers (I think these are all Raybestos numbers):



314PG... ... ..... 12x3 shoes

WC36057... ... Wheel cylinder

WC36058... ... Wheel cylinder

417158... ... ... Axle seal (Timken number?)



We really need a sticky thread with common part numbers... right? (EDIT: Never mind... I just noticed it's in the FAQ section. )

 

[DennisH]

My truck is a 1993 d350. Do I already have the larger brakes?



Dennis

 

[Philip]

Your truck should have the larger brakes all ready Dennis

 

[ABGordon]

I am really looking forward to doing this upgrade on my W250, but am a little confused about the brake drums. Dan Brooks has a D250, but his post says the correct drums are from a D350, but it doesn't look like he bought new drums from his parts list.



Do I need to replace my W250 drums, or is resurface ok?



THANKS

 

[dan brooks]

ABGordon - I replaced my drums the first time I did the brakes, and just had them turned when I swapped to the 3" shoes a few months ago. If your drums are good you'll only need to have them turned.



My truck is a 250, but none of the drums the book called for were correct. The ones shown for a D350 were the right drums. Confused the heck out of the parts guy.



I don't have the part numbers for the drums handy, but I'll try to find the right receipt when I get home (after returning two or three "wrong" drums I have several receipts).

 

[DennisH]

Your truck should have the larger brakes all ready Dennis

Good to hear. Thank you



Dennis

 

[dan brooks]

ABGordon - Sorry, couldn't find the receipt for the correct drums (had the receipts for the wrong ones, though... )

 

[ABGordon]

Thanks for checking

 

[DOverton]

I have a 98 2500 2wd with 2. 5 inch brakes. Would you know if the 3 inch would work with this year model? I checked with the books of the 98 3500 and they use the 3. 5 inch brakes, which might be to big to fit my 2500. Any info on this would very helpful to me. Thanks Dallas...