2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Brake upgrades?

[NavyDoc]

Anyone upgraded brakes front or rear? I have drums on back of my '01 (built in Jan '00)

Looking to boost braking power with aftermarket calipers/pads/rotors - any ideas?

 

[WilsonF]

I upgraded my drum brakes by installing larger GM wheel cyl. on the rear. Its a bolt on fit and I was amazed by the improvement. I would do it again.

Floyd

 

[super38]

Went with a set of dimpled and slotted on the front from http://brakeperformance.com/

huge improvement over stock. Every thing that was in the back, is now up front after the first hard stop.



James

 

[Joe Mc]

Doc, I hate my drum brakes - they just don't stop like the disc!!! I've tried the larger GM 3500 rear cylinders and "thought" there was a difference but at the same time I added a better quality rear shoe. After about 8 months the new bigger cyl started to leak and I went back to the stock set - everything is the same after returning to stock cyl. So, in MHO, the bigger cyl didn't do squat. I'm sure there are others that feel differently - which is why I stated MHO.

Now as for "is there an upgrade" - there are several kits to convert to rear disc but they are out of my range / I'd rather spend the money on something elsewhere - I don't tow so my rear drum (did I mention I hate my rear drum brakes?) are adequate enough for my needs.

Decisions, decisions. . . .

 

[raychem]

Anyone upgraded brakes front or rear? I have drums on back of my '01 (built in Jan '00)

Looking to boost braking power with aftermarket calipers/pads/rotors - any ideas?

Upgrade the rear cylinders, it will make a noticable improvment. Also for brakes... Power slot front rotors and Hawk Performance Servere Duty brake pads. It will give you an instant improvment over factory braking and can be had for a decent price.



Richard

 

[GBlaksley]

I did the EGR disk brake conversion on the rears of my 96. Good improvement in braking, however it was quite an ordeal to get the parking brake to function properly. In fact I had the coversion done last April, and last week just got the parking brake to function. It involved shortening the springs on the calipers that the parking brake cable went through.



I pull a 34' fifth wheel, and am happy to have the better braking. Costs a few bucks, but I feel safer.

 

[DCreed]

I installed a 01. 5 disc Dana 80 in my 98. 5. cost me less than $200 after selling the stock 70 and is a better all-around rear. If you do change rear sizes 70-80 the drive shaft and U-bolts/plates are different.

 

[snuff]

ebc rotors and pads and shoes

 

[NavyDoc]

Thanks for the input. I will start researching. Don't really want to swap the whole rear axle, but I could see the logic in that for $200 - great deal!

Anymore inputs are welcome... .

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

I swore by EBC pads when I roadraced bikes, When I put on a set of "Greenies" on my truck with no other mods I felt the difference in braking effort was reduced.



EBC Brakes | Automotive Product Selector | Ultimax, Greenstuff, Redstuff, Yellowstuff, Bluestuff, Industrial, Brake Pads | Car Disc Rotors | Brake Fluid



EBC GreenStuff 2000 Series Sport & Street Brake Pads Products | Place for Brakes

 

[earpster]

does anybody have the part # or the year for the stock gm 3500 wheel cylinders that Joe Mc tried on his truck? i would like to try this to my 2000 2500 cause my rears are junk!!!! thanks guys

 

[ph]

I used NAPA part # 4637337

 

[WilsonF]

#4637337 NAPA the same ones I used. I also flushed the brake fluid at the same time.

Floyd

 

[NavyDoc]

ph and wilsonF,



how much better did the 3500 rear cylinder upgrade make you braking? 10% ?50% ?? etc



worth the time/money?



anybody tried to convert the rears to discs?? money involved???



thanks again.

 

[ph]

Navy Doc,

10% maybe. It quickly becomes the new norm. I think keeping the rears adjusted yeilds as much improvement. For $20 it's probably worth the time and money. Flushing the system is always a good idea. ph

 

[MShaheen]

check to see if your drums are with in spec as well.

 

[Joe Mc]

When I got the 3500 GMC cylinders I just asked for 1999, GMC 3500, rear wheel cyl. they fit.

 

[EricBu12]

I did the EGR Conversion. It really does help. . I second that the parking brake to get it to work good was hard. . there might be a solution now...

Here is my original post when I bought it.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...iscussions/55420-4-wheel-disk-conversion.html

Here is the gallery pics of the job.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?albumid=381

To supplement my stopping ability, I installed these. .

STOP Safer with Brake-Guard

They are canisters that have a air charge with a bladder separation. when you step on the brake, the air charge helps the braking ability.

 

[JGK]

A few years ago I looked into the EGR disc brake conversion to replace the drums on the rear of mine and compared that to a whole axle swap from a newer truck with the factory discs. The latter was more money but if I were to do it, that's the way I'd go. They wanted way too much $ for the only new axle I could find locally at the time, so I skipped it. But now that I tow a camp trailer in the summer I will reconsider it as spring comes on.



As for the fronts, I did do the EGR slotted roters, superduty calipers and SS brake lines. That was definately worth the money. I spread it out though to lessen the bite on the wallet. Lines first. Then rotors and pads. Then calipers.



-Jay