Another brake question(again)

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Am going to replace the front brake system as there was metal to metal contact today. Any words of wisdom from someone who's been there? I plan on new rotors as mine got hot and warped a little last year. Also am going to go with new calipers with metal pistons. With the new rotors, will install new bearings. What is the best brand of pads and rotors to get?

Rear brakes will be done shortly. Have seen some info about larger wheel cylinders but could only find 1 post in search mode. Can any one help me out here? Also, what is the best shoes to get? I'm going to do the rear cause I need to replace the bearings and figured since they would be off that was the time to do the brakes as well.

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, 146K

[This message has been edited by paccool (edited 11-13-2000). ]

 

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Stan the 250's come with 1" wheel cylinders and 2 1/2" brake shoes the 350's have 1 1/8" wheel cylinders and 3" shoes. Not sure what the larger wheel cylinder gets you but they are supose to be interchanable. Can't help with the front.
Good luck.
Gene
92 350 4x4

 

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Thanks Gene
Somewhere I've read that installing the larger cylinders on the rear will increase braking power. Can't find where I read it at though. (it's tough to get old and forgetful!!!)

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, 146K

 

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I also remember seeing that but it was over in the second gen side.

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90 W250, 5-speed, isspro gauges, 16 cm2, K&N, Borgeson shaft, JRE 3" exhaust

 

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Brake salvation is the topic I think you are looking for.

Rodney

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92 2500 Reg. Cab LE
Dark Spectrum Blue and Silver 4x4 Auto
PW Injectors, 230,000 miles
16cm2 housing, Isspro guages.

 

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Thanks Rodney. Thats what I was looking for.

Stan

 

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This sounds like a very worthwhile upgrade if your already into the brakes. Has anyone been able to figure out if the 1st gen 1 ton and 3/4 tons have different wheel cyl part #'s?

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93 D-250 club cab. Auto 3. 54 gears. 75k miles. Bone stock.

 

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If you need to replace your rotors, Autozone has them for 50 bucks a pice. Yea, I know they they are made in CHINA, but they still work good enough for me. You will need to press out the wheel studs to separate the rotor from the hub, and new studs are recommended when going back togather.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, K&N, straight piped, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K and still going. 91 W-250 5 speed, 4. 10 Limited slip, 16cm2, 6" Skyjacker lift, RS9000, Dump bed, 18K original mi.

 

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Paccol, I used Raybestos PGplus pads, and the premium wagner shoes. If you didn't do it yet, try to machine the rotors, I say this because some aftermarket stuff warps easily it seems they don't use the quality you might already have. I tow 8500# and have no problems with the Hydraulics as they are. I think it's the smaller the cylinder the more pressure to the shoes, though I might have that mixed up with the Master Cyl size.

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'92 W250,3. 54,auto,reg cab, raven hi top cap, tach,boost,transtemp,pyro. 16cm housing.

 

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Well, got the front brakes in over the weekend. New Raybestos rotors and reman Raybestos loaded calipers, all new bearings and seals. Turned into "one of those jobs" that had a few problems. Couldn't find new studs locally and ended up going to 4 or 5 places to find. Found 9 at a parts house. Went to a Dodge dealer, he didn't have any! Ended up at another dealer, got the remaining 7. Got home and couldn't pull the bolts all the way in using a nut. Ended up having to have them pressed into place. Found the 2 tie rod ends had lots of play so changed those as well. Got everything back on this after noon, works good.

Had another seal go on the rear end so went ahead and pulled the hubs tonight. Have seen some posts that say the 3/4 ton has 2. 5" brakes - well, mine have 3".

Will go back with 3" and the 1 ton wheel cylinders. Also will get the speedy sleeves and put on for the seals to ride on. All new bearings and cups are in order, have some pitting on the bearings.

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

[This message has been edited by paccool (edited 11-19-2000). ]

 

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I found NAPA to be about the best supplier for wheel studs for the front. If you need bearings for the rear wheels. Autozone has genuine Timken bearings (made in USA not CHINA or hecto en Mexico) for about ten bucks each. Also, replace the rear wheel cylinders, even if they look good, or else they will leak all over your new shoes after you put it back togather. Been there,done that! Since your going to replace your wheel cylinders, you might as well upgrade to the 1 1/8 " ones. Autozone sells them for about 10 bucks each. I did my brakes with all aftermarket parts from Autozone and did not have any problems with any of the parts - including the cheap rotors made in CHINA.

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89 D-250 LE 5 speed 3. 55 Limited slip, K&N, straight piped, Boost/Pyro. & 16cm2 215K and still going. 91 W-250 5 speed, 4. 10 Limited slip, 16cm2, 6" Skyjacker lift, RS9000, Dump bed, 18K original mi.

 

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Well, found out some info today about the rear brakes. The books at the local Napa Store show both 2. 5" as well as 3" brakes on the 250's. The guy at the store is a friend of mine and he spent a few minutes looking this up for me. There has been lots of questions on this in some past posts and thought this might help. The 2. 5" has a 7/8' wheel cylinder while the 3" has 1-1/8" cylinders. Couldn't figure out what triggered the change in the shoe width, suspect it is GVW or the diesel engine package.

Well, now I have my weekend work for the long weekend! #ad


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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

 

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I just replaced my rear drums, shoes, hardware kit, e-brake this past week. Couldn't believe how easy they came all apart. I used the same studs putting the hub back in. I did have problems with the air gun not pulling the studs all the way through enough. I then tapped them in with a hammer and striking device... . aka. screwdriver. Once everything looked good to go, reassembly went rather easy. Brake pedal feels like new again, stops straight also. I think some slight adjustment is in order because right rear locks just a tad when applied heavy. It locks and then releases. Good ole' ABS kicking in. I figure back it off a tad and that should solve that problem. Otherwise, do it again in a heartbeat if need be... hopefully not for another 2 - 3 years.

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Scott
92 Ram, Bright White, Club Cab, LE package, 4x4, 130K, 3. 54 gears, Auto, Extra transmission Cooler under bed, 285x75x16 Cooper Discovery A/T, 16X10 American Racing rims, Rancho RS9000 all around, Tekonsha Brake Controller, Running boards, Lund Sunvisor, Marker lights, Lund bug deflector, Tonneau cover, Full cap, DynoMax muffler, 5" Chrome tip, 16 cm Turbo, Isspro Boost gauge, 23 lbs Boost, Pump Adjustments, Sprayed in Bed-liner, Rubber mat

'SHAKES, RATTLES & GOES'

 

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Stan have helped my neighbor replace his rear brake shoes. He has a 92 250 2x4, his has the 2 1/2" shoes. Wonder if the 4x4 has anything to do with it.
Gene
92 350 4x4

 

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Gene, I'll try to find out what the difference is for the shoe width. Suspect it may have something to do with a trailer tow package or "camper special" type rig. Maybe automatic transmission??? Lord knows my auto sure doesn't help much with engine braking!

Scott, I hope my change on the rear brakes go well also. I don't need to replace the drums and they look so good that I'm not even going to have them turned. Had to replace another leaking seal and decided to replace the drums while in there. Will replace the wheel cylinders as well. Will install the speedy sleeves for the seals to have a smooth surface.

For anyone contemplating speedy sleeves, got mine today at the local bearing supply house. They are NOT cheap! Cost $50 for 2 sleeves #ad
, 1 for each side. I measured 2. 875" on one side and 2. 878" on the other side. The sleeves cover a range of 2. 873 - 2. 879". You will need a longer driver than what they come with, I went to the local scrap dealer and picked up a piece of aluminum pipe and a metal conduit fitting that both fit the sleeve. Got 2 different setups in case one doesn't work as invisioned. Total cost for both was $3. will let you know how well they work.

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

 

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Well, finally finished the brake job on Sunday. What a pain in the ---. Saved a ton of money doing it myself, but may let someone else do it next time! Installed the sleeves, was warned by Rodney that the sleeves would need to be trimmed back so I wasn't surprised, but it was tough to do and not screw up something else. Ended up putting in about 2. 5 pints of additional fluid when finished.

Brakes work well, no signs of leaks(YET!)

This gives me new brakes all the way around as well as new bearings and seals. Front has new rotors, rebuilt calipers with life time pads. Rear has new shoes and 1 1/8" cylinders. Also have new tie rod ends.

Sure hope I don't need to do this again for a while!

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

 

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Hey guys.

Just for the record, a larger wheel cylinder or a smaller master cylinder gives more force on the shoes.

The new TDR has an article that has it the other way around.




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'93 W350 Club Cab, Bright White, 5 sp. , 132K, Factory Options: LE, 4. 10 Limited Slip, 7600 lb. rear springs, tachometer, front stabilizer bar. Mods: Banks stinger plus, Linex bedliner, 25,000 lb gooseneck ball, 10,000 lb receiver, Tekonsha brake controller, POWER WAGON injectors-WAY faster than stock!.