2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Help with Dual Piston Front brake upgrade.

[bmw54]

Hello to all, can anyone here please help me with upgrading front calipers to a dual piston caliper. would like something that is direct bolt-on if possible.



1996 Ram Cummins 4x4 .



Thanks.

 

[VolsFan]

There is no direct bolt on option to upgrade your single piston, hub pressed in rotor style brakes. I think the 'easiest' way would be to do the ford brake conversion. I still have some of the parts to do this project for my old 99, never did it, ending up selling it. The earlier 90's ford dana 60's interchange with our danas. You cant interchange the newer 01. 5+ dual piston brake assmebly. I wish it could have been that easy when I had the old truck. Do a search on here, it has been done. I think it is member Jmcoy that has a nice write up on it, helped me out getting necessary parts, correct yrs, etc. If that doesnt suit you, running slotted rotors with a good pad like hawk or ebc is about the best you can do.

 

[bmw54]

What about putting on a 2002 front axle on a 1996 truck?.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Yes swapping in a new axle would solve your issue, only thing is starting 2000 model year the axles are 2" wider meaning it will push the front tire out 1" more per side, something to consider.



If you are seeking better braking power there are easier ways to go about it. I put a Blackbird rear disk conversion kit on my '98. 5 and it helped a lot. Then up front I put slotted rotors and quality semimetallic pads and my truck has terrific fade-free braking power now, love it.

 

[bmw54]

Thanks for the reply's. Has someone on this site did the axle swap?. I would like to hear from that person. I feel that it should bolt right up. Also I think I could swap out the spindals and outers from the 2002 onto the 1996 axle. what do you think. ?.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

You won't be able to swap spindles, Dodge made a lot of axle/suspension/brake changes for MY 2000 and many components between older and newer styles do not interchange.

 

[HHhuntitall]

EGR makes a bolt on kit for the Dodge: http://www.egrbrakes.com/index-main.htm



It is my opinion that you want to keep your older axle, as I believe the ball joints are better. CAD is the biggest weakness to those tubes, but there are ways around that, too. The later model axle is a bit wider, with some differences in the bearings, ball joints, and steering.



Swapping axles is not hard, and is bolt in. The cost is the biggest prohibitive. Have you found a good axle at a good price?

 

[VolsFan]

A big advantage to swapping the front axle other than the two piston brakes, is having a rotor assembly that is not part of the hub, that way its a piece of cake to swap rotors or hubs.