4 wheel disc brake retrofit - anyone done it yet?

[TurboSandman]

Has anyone out there tried replacing the one piston caliper/rear drum braking system with the 2 piston caliper, four wheel disc brakes from the 2001. 5 RAM? Mechanically, the parts should fit as a Dana 80 is still a Dana 80, but would the old master cylinder be able to supply an adequate volume/pressure of brake fluid for all those extra pistons? Parking brake actuation might also be interesting, but installing a new pedal wouldn't exactly be rocket science.

Why, you ask? I dunno; it would seem to the mechanically unsophisticated (myself) that greater braking performance through improved cooling and the greater clamping force of dual pistons may relieve some of the excitement of downhill trailering. Similarly, the self adjusting nature of disc brakes may end the directional instability during braking that has been such a problem in the past or has that one been solved already?

2001. 5 drivers; have any of you noticed any great improvement over previous RAM brakes? Would a conversion be worth it?

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'97 2500 SLT, 5 sp, 4X4, 3. 54 LSD, Camper and Trailer Packages; awaiting first BOMBing

 

[Archive]

I traded my '95 in on a 2001. 5. My new truck has so many little improvements. If this had been my first Ram I would not have noticed. The brakes are greatly improved. Never had 4wheel ABS, works great. Go out and get yourself a new one. Life is short, have fun #ad
.

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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab, 4Wheel Disc, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Fog Lights, Muffler removed, Silence Ring Gone, K&N RE-0880, Skyjacker 2. 5 lift Class 2, Custom Pro Fab Trackbar (sweet), EGR Flares (nice fit), Centerline Comet III 16x9. 5 with 305/70R16, Smittybuilt stainless steps, THIS IS NOT A HOBBY, THIS IS AN ADDICTION !!! MAINLINING DIESEL !!!

 

[sam peterson]

I question whether the changeover would gain you anything but a headache. The dual piston design was used by ford for a couple of years and they scrapped it for something else. To many problems from what I have experienced. The only advantage of the dual piston is the pad material is larger than the early single piston. Its still a slider type caliper and prone to pull problems. The best solution would be a dual piston caliper with opposed pistons to create equal force on each side of the rotor---no slider problems. Rear disc brakes are neet but only so much braking can be put on the rear axle before the wheels lock and slide or the antilock kicks it out. The master cylinder would need to be changed because the volumn of fluid movement is more, also the rear resevoir would need to be bigger. The e-brake hookup wouldn't be much of a problem. We just makeup new cables that fit. A retro of this kind requires deep pockets and a thirst for a challenge. . Thats my . 02---Sam

 

[RobG]

While I'll readily admit my 2001. 5 is far superior to my '96, I'll still say I wish I had the MOTOR out of my '96 in this 2001. 5.

Rob


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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate 4. 10 USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, Edge EZ, SPA Guages, Psychotty, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover, DD 4" Exhaust, US Gear Exhaust Brake, etc.

 

[WCrovo]

The brakes are one of the major diff's in my new truck over my 99. You can not compare the 2 trucks. One of my biggest irritents on the 99 was the brakes or lack of them. I hated the pulling the most. This new one is straight as an arrow and has no problems stopping with loads. I checked them with 11,000 on them most of them towing and they looked like new.

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2001 2500 tow, camper, SWB, ETH/DEE, 3. 54 Bright white,4 wheel discs.

 

[Uncle Joe]

got an 01 yesterday, kudos to the chasis engineers... ... the brakes are out of corvette teretory,big improvmant over the 99!!!

 

[Uncle Joe]

got an 01 yesterday, kudos to the chasis engineers... ... the brakes are out of corvette teretory,big improvmant over the 99!!!

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01 swb 4wd qc intense blue with everything the only thing it hauls is my wifes big a$$

 

[Paul Herioux]

A Dana 80 may be a Dana 80 but this stops at the axle tubes. The flange welded on the end of the axle tube is much larger than the one for drum brakes. Also besides the afore mentioned master cylinder change the proportioning valve would need to be changed. I've been looking at this conversion for my 89 since I spotted my first 4 disc system during vehicle prep. Haven't had a customer complaint come in yet that would warrant tearing down the rear to take measurements yet and the boss would REALLY dissaprove of me taking apart a brand new truck from the lot. Guess I'll just have to wait till someone volunteers thier truck for exploritory surgery.

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89 w250, 47rh trans, cleaned up exhaust, Dynomax bullet muffer, 3" lift