Anybody have advice on larger brake upgrade/ mod?

[GBrock]

I have an '01 3500. Plan to eventually tow my 11,000 lb boat. With trailer she will probably come in at 14,000 lbs. I have an exhaust brake and the trailer will have tri-axle disc brakes but I would still like to have a better brake setup on my rig if possible. I have looked at slotted/ cross-drilled rotors but not sure if they will really make a difference. Ideally one would think larger rotors are the way to go. Thus far I haven't found anyone that sells larger than 14" rotors, my rig has 13 inchers.

 

[DBF]

With the exhaust brake and six-speed manual transmission, plus the disc brakes on the trailer, you'll have no problems stopping on dry surfaces.



Keep the trailer's electrical connection out of the water, which shouldn't be hard to do with the lift you have.



DBF

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Larger rotors will probably do nothing noticable. Do you have rear discs on the truck?

 

[GAmes]

If you have the TDR issue that has the article on brakes you need to read it. What stops you is the friction of your tires on the ground. You can have the fanciest slotted/drilled/oversized discs ever made, but if the tires don't have traction you won't stop. The discs do help with brake fade from overheating, but if you drive sensibly that won't be a problem. Pull that little boat and don't worry about it.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I agree with everyone, you have enough brakes but you can always optimize what you have with some really good after market pads. I switched to Raybestos "Brute stops" on my first gen and the difference was incredible. When my 03 needs pads, I'll get the Brutes.



Enjoy your toys!

Scotty

 

[GBrock]

Thanks for the advice, all. I'll look up that back issue for the article on brakes. I have most of the TDR back issues anyway.



I know my brakes are probably good enough, and I'm sure my tires don't help the matter much. I just thought while I'm replacing the pads I should go ahead and swap out the rotors for bigger ones.



Nevertheless, y'all are right about the exhaust brake, when enganged and in gear that thing is amazing.

 

[jelag]

I often pull 20K with my 04 dually... it now has 175K miles and has never gone one tank full of fuel just as a pickup... first brake job was at 160K



Use the PXRB exhaust brake 100% of the time, and the trailer has power disc brakes with the brake smart controller. . I have the controller set up so that the trailer brakes come on a fraction of a sec before the pickup brakes and the trailer brakes alone can stop the load in a panic...



Remember that special rotors and pads... . are designed to prevent fade... . we sell vented rotors and special pads to lots of police forces local to us... but all their street cars and pickups not involved in a chase has stock parts... . I personally wouldn't put those on a work truck. . towing... I don't think you'll get enough extra out of them warrent the money... .



Just my 2 cents worth...



Jim