2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rear drum brake upgrade

[Nyoest]

Did the rear drum brake upgrade this afternoon. All I can say is wow!



The brakes before kinda left a pucker factor in a panic braking situation. Now the brakes leave a black mark! ABS has long been disabled and isn't worth restoring. I had the brakes set a little tight as well.



I did this n preparation for my 19. 5s and I think I'll still have better brakes than before. All in all I have fifteen dollars and an hour invested. I didn't even have to remove the brake shoes to do the swap.



Second pics is the difference between stock and cylinders for a 94 Chevy 1 ton dually 4x4.

 

[Mhannink]

did that upgrade years ago, along with several of my friends, three dodges myself and 4 or 5 buddies, every has said the same thing as you. it really is a worth while upgrade.

 

[Nyoest]

You know I read your post and thought " man he's a night owl". And I realized I was still up reading it... ... ... .

Night all

 

[Mhannink]

yeah its about the only time i have in the day to read on here lol.

 

[Joe Mc]

I did this upgrade several years ago, probably the first time I read it here and more like 7 years ago, I noticed a bit of difference but nothing discernible, or to write home about. Then about 2 years into the swap one of the blasted things blew a seal and wiped out a set of rear shoes. I went back to stock cyls and never looked back. I'm guessing it was just a bad set I got, but the stock ones are still going strong so who's to know for sure. Glad it's working for you. Did I ever say "I hate my rear drum brakes"? I think I have at least a dozen times and I've also said "I can't afford to convert to discs" the same amount of times . . . .

 

[The patriot]

I have a set of cylinders to put in there next time I have it apart.

Actually I'm still on the factory rear shoes.

I also wired up the load level/brake proportioning valve thingy to MAX brakes. :-laf

 

[Nyoest]

In average driving I don't notice it too much. When a deer runs across the road I can shut it down a good deal faster.

also noticed I had an axle just starting to seep so it was worth pulling the drum just to find that.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I put the Chevy wheel cylinders in my '98 about 1-1/2 years ago. It wasn't too much longer after that I started having a weird issue with the rear brakes shuddering real bad and making the back end hop up and down. Ended up one drum was warped and I replaced it, it helped but it was still an issue. Replaced the other drum, still have a problem. I am wondering if braking hard overtaxes the drums (too much heat) as I tend to be a fast driver and get on the binders hard at times. And I've towed a few times and with no exhaust brake I've had to get on the brakes pretty hard to slow down. I am going back to the standard wheel cylinders soon in hopes of getting to the bottom of the problem.

 

[NIsaacs]

Vaughn,



I wonder if the 1-3/16 Chevy piston is overpowering the size of your brakes. I think the '98 uses 13x2. 5" brakes, the Chevy uses 13x3. 5". Have you checked your brake lining for anything abnormal?



I am interested in what you determine as I am in the process of this upgrade. I did go with the 1st gen. dually cylinders tho, 1-1/8". The dually uses 12x3" brakes and my '01 uses 12-1/8' x 3. 5" so it is close. Napa only had the left side in stock so I have installed it and notice at slow speed in the soft dirt I can lock up that side now, the right does not. My stock piston size is 1".



Nick

 

[KcoleKennyc]

I have 2 98/5's and would like to do the swap on them. One has 270K and the other has 450K miles on them with the original rear brakes. That shows that they aren't doing much work. Could someone give me the NAPA part numbers for the cylinders. Thanks

 

[NIsaacs]

The Dodge wheel cylinders I used are Napa#36057 left, 36058 right. They were a direct bolt on and cleared all brake hardware, however the line attachment angle was a little different and was a little difficult to re-align the lines as they are short.



Nick

 

[Nyoest]

I used wc79768 brake best cylinders both sides. Bolted right up.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

If you want the best brakes the EGR upgrade to disc from drum on the rear axle is in my opinion the way to go. My brother-in-law did it for me (over 40 years a mechanic) over 2 years ago (when you are over 80 it is too hard to get up off the ground) and it reduced the stopping distance dramatically. Did not do any measurements but it seems to be half of what it was. I had my 98 12v since new and was never happy with the breaks. It is expensive but well worth the money in my opinion. If it saves one accident how could you put a price on that. My brother in law put it all together to make sure everything was ok then took it all apart and put it together again with LOCK TIGHT. His idea. He does some break jobs and won't use cheap parts. If the customer does not agree to the extra expense he won't do the job. In his words breaks are too important to do otherwise. I enjoy the secure feeling when I apply my breaks. I know it is going to stop, before I was left in doubt.

 

[Nyoest]

I've heard of the EGR upgrade several times. Sounds good, just too much money for me.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

NYOEST. The cost is too high, I agree but I went ahead and did it anyway. When you smack another vehicle in the rear it is always your fault for not having your vehicle under proper control. Years ago when I drove 18 wheelers if a driver let his rig slide on ice and collide it was always the drivers fault for not having his rig under control. Always seemed unfair to me but I did not make the laws. Sometimes a sudden situation will create the need for a panic stop. I am prepared as best I can be as far as I know.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Vaughn,



I wonder if the 1-3/16 Chevy piston is overpowering the size of your brakes. I think the '98 uses 13x2. 5" brakes, the Chevy uses 13x3. 5". Have you checked your brake lining for anything abnormal?



I am interested in what you determine as I am in the process of this upgrade. I did go with the 1st gen. dually cylinders tho, 1-1/8". The dually uses 12x3" brakes and my '01 uses 12-1/8' x 3. 5" so it is close. Napa only had the left side in stock so I have installed it and notice at slow speed in the soft dirt I can lock up that side now, the right does not. My stock piston size is 1".



Nick

Nick I ended up selling the truck but the brake shoes looked OK, I replaced those about 5k miles ago and just inspected them the other day.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Vaughn MacKenzie. My upgrade was from drum and shoe to disc on the rear axle. All the parts I got from EGR. My Brother in law did the job. It turned out excellent. Wish I had done it sooner.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Yeah I looked into doing that, might do that with the next truck. I'm looking at a '99 club cab. Did you get the optional parking brake (that uses '78 DeVille components if I remember right)?

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Vaughn MacKenzie. I did get the 79 DeVille parking break option. It does not work well and needs constant adjustment. I got it because it was the only kit available at the time and I did not want to wait. I know if I am ever checked it will not pass. With an auto tran it is not necessary, in my opinion. As far as regular driving goes the rear disc gives you the ability to stop in what seems to be 1/2 the distance. Expensive but well worth it.