Brakin' My Chops...

[Archive]

One of the benefits of hanging all sorts crap on an otherwise perfectly well-engineered pickup truck is that your rig gets heavy. My Ram weighs over four tons without my 6'6", paunchy, middle-aged butt cluttering up the cab... (sting like a horsefly, float like a sperm whale) lol!!

So, I'm eating front brake pads like Rosie O'Donnell packin' flapjacks at a Shoney's Sunday mornin' breakfast buffet.

The TDR has devoted time to a comparison of Phord brakes with those on the Ram. Phord wins, hands down. Ram breaks are sub-par for a vehicle of this weight. The rears need constant (auto-adjusting is a joke) tinkering or they are virtually just along for the ride.

I'd like to install new brakes in the rear -- I mean drums, too. The whole shootin' match.

Anybody have any solutions, suggestions, that might make a difference? I'd like to upgrade the entire brake system with the best brakes available.

Thanks.

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97 2500 4x4, club cab, auto, 3. 54 limited slip, JRE 4" exhaust, Dr. Performance Fuel system (370 HP), turbo, Geno's guages -- Boost, EGT, transmission & Rear -- MAG Hytec covers, SunCoast Converter/Transgo shift kit, Brite Box, tons o'chrome under hood, Prime Loc, EZ Drain, Seat covers, wood dash, Rancho Suspension, Warn M12000 Winch on Warn Brush Guard, Warn driving and fog lights, Hella twin back up lights, 285/75/R16 B. F. G. ATs on Mickey Thompson rims; Linex bed liner, BD exhaust brake.

 

[Archive]

One thing that helps a little is to put 3500 wheel cylinders on the rear. More braking in the rear helps the front pads last longer.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,Torque plate,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Archive]

Sasquatch,

Try using your exhaust brake! #ad
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1996 Dodge 2500 SC, SLT, Cummins 12V, 5-spd. , 4X4, JRE 4" exhaust (somebody stole my kitty and my muffler fell off!), Horton Fan Clutch, Jacobs/Ram Exhaust Brake, MagHytec Differential Cover, Combo Gauge, K&N Filter, Brite-Box, no turbo silencer ring, full-time fog lights. TST 280HP/685Ft-Lb torque plate and Prime-Loc coming soon!

 

[Archive]

Radi,

You rascal you...

Us automatic transmission drivers can't use the e-brake like you shift-pushers can. I use the brake on the highway in the mountains all the time, but I do a good deal (way to friggin' much) of city driving and switching the "mystery switch" on and off all the time to engage and disengage the converter (without which the brake is useless) is a pain in the butt. (not to mention totally impractical)

That's the ONE benefit of a five speed over an auto transmission. ;-)

Better treat me nice so I'll pull your skinny butt out of a ditch with my manly-man winch the next time we cross paths (laughing my ass off here... )

Now cut me some slack and answer my brake question!

 

[Archive]

I was thinking the same thing about the exhaust brake - sorry you bought the auto ;-) !! One thing you could do (I didn't say it was cheap) is to put out feelers at local salvage yards for the front diff off of a 2000+ 4x4 2500. They made quite a few upgrades on the brakes in '00. AFAIK that and putting the 3500 wheel cylinders on the rear are the only upgrades that we have available. One more I forgot about is grafting on the rear discs from a Ford - Dave Fritz's website has the details of that swap I think but it's a major job and major $$.

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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 Quad Cab Long Bed (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, Prime-loc remote fuel filter,
boost & pyro gauges, TST Powermax, muffler eliminator, 5" chrome tip, BD Exhaust Brake,
Isspro turbo temp monitor, Permatech spray in liner, Grizzly stainless nerf bars,
Stull SS grill & bumper inserts, Front Draw-Tite receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's
http://my. voyager.net/stevest

 

[Archive]

Sasquatch,

You can make your manual lockup switch a LOT handier to use. Instead of going directly to ground with it from the switch go thru a "door ajar" switch mounted on the floor next to your left foot. It's the kind of switch that makes a circuit to ground unless it's pressed. That's how the little warning light on the dash board knows your door is open. Just press it to break the ground. That's the way I have mine hooked up. The on/off switch on the dash and a push button to step on to temporaryly interrupt the ground to the switch. Kinda like stepping on the clutch to stop.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,Torque plate,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Archive]

The May issue of 4-Wheel & Off-Road has an article about a rear disc kit by Stainless Steel Brakes(www.stainlesssteelbrakes.com).
I'll check them out & let y'all know what I find out.

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Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 valve,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,K&N filter,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring, cat,& muffler all stolen,
waiting for PsyScotty air

 

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Thanks, y'all.

I'm definitely going to go with the 3500 rear cyliders -- see if that won't do the trick.

 

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Hey SAS, On my 92 2500 with the d-70 rear diff it only had 2. 5 inch shoes on it. The drums were able to be cut (turned) for the 3500 3 inch shoes!! Now I admit I don`t know about the newer ones but its worth the thought. Also used the 3500 1 1/8 bore cylinders. It used the same mastercylinder 2500 or 3500. I will be checking on it for my 99 when the time comes!!!

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Black 99 4x4 QC LB 24V Diesel AT 4. 10 Gears Loaded Including Leather 285 tires Bed cover Bushwacker flares Ventvisors 12,000lb Winch mounted where the spare tire used to be... Bomb My truck?? No way!!(Wink Wink) More to come ...

 

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Bad news, guys. I got an e-mail from Stainless Steel Brakes- nothing currently or planned for our trucks. The search continues...

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Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 valve,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,K&N filter,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring, cat,& muffler all stolen,
waiting for PsyScotty air

 

[Archive]

Thanks, y'all, for taking the trouble to respond.