My winter project will be new brakes all around and I'm wondering what recommendations you might have.

I assume I need larger than stock rotors and more than the stock number of pistons. I assume that going bigger will provide better stopping power but the price is dramatically higher and I can't help but wonder where the point of diminishing returns might be re regarding rotor size and number of caliper pistons.

What size rotors do you personally recommend? (I have 18" wheels) What calipers do you recommend? What experiences regarding brakes have you had? What are your recommendations regarding brand or seller.

Thanks for your help. Jim

(Cody... glad to see you are getting close to being on the road. Sounds like it should be a great engine.)

 

ive done a couple different combos on my truck and the factory braking system is the best that ive used. aftermarket rotors are ****, aftermarket pads dust like a mother(and dont stop you any better).

my recomendation is to get your factory rotors turned and buy new ac delco CERAMIC pads. delco sells non ceeramic pads for our trucks that suck *****. spend the extra for ceramic. this is assuming you dont have 22+" wheels. if you upgrade send me your rotors my aftermarket **** needs to be turned about every 12,000 miles and i chunked my factory rotors

 

Baer Alumasports are the best bang for the buck in aftermarket brakes right now. They give you 14" rotors and 4 pistons calipers. You may have to shave the back side of the caliper a little to fit them in 18s but nothing bad at all. Stainless braided lines will make a big difference in pedal feel too.

 

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=400466

Just saw these for sale!

 

Thanks but I have 18" wheels.

What about the post stating the aftermarket brakes are not significantly better than stock and that I'd be better off staying with stock rotors and getting higher quality pads. I'd also add SS lines.

 

My buddy put the eradispeed kit on his truck which uses stock calipers but larger rotors and that thing will damn near throw you through the windshield Jim, they are about half as much as the alumasports and they DO fit inside 18s. Eradispeeds, hawk pads, some good fluid and and stainless lines will make a huge difference. There are a few guys who have fit alumasports in 18s with just grinding a little on the back side of the caliper.

 

im not saying that some aftermarket kits arent better...its just that most people dont need it. lets face it. 99% of us arent out doing obsticle tracks where were slamming on the brakes every 10 seconds. the factory brakes are good for most of us who need them in traffic, or at the end of the track. upgrading the lines and pads is plenty for most of us until we start adding huge wheels, very large offroad tires, or pulling heavy equipment on a trailer without its own brakes. its just my opinion anyways. i can think of plenty things i would rather spend 1000+ on. my factory brakes will stop on a dime and give you change haha.

 

[QUOTE=TXsilverado]im not saying that some aftermarket kits arent better...its just that most people dont need it. lets face it. 99% of us arent out doing obsticle tracks where were slamming on the brakes every 10 seconds. the factory brakes are good for most of us who need them in traffic, or at the end of the track. upgrading the lines and pads is plenty for most of us until we start adding huge wheels, very large offroad tires, or pulling heavy equipment on a trailer without its own brakes. its just my opinion anyways. i can think of plenty things i would rather spend 1000+ on. my factory brakes will stop on a dime and give you change haha.[/QUOTmy E]

Thanks. I appreciate your efforts to keep me out of the poor house I won't be adding huge wheels or large offroad tires and I won't be pulling anything so maybe the way to go is to refurbish the stock rotors, upgrade the pads and go to SS lines.

Anybody else have any experience they'd like to offer?

 

I say getting a quality brand of rotor blanks like brembos, ceramic pads and stainless braided lines will be a nice improvement and not cut into your funds much. A lot of people seem to like the Hawk pads and I have heard the factory ceramic pads work well and last a long time. I like the ceramic Wagoner pads that can be picked up at any O'riellys.

My brakes were crap this spring, didn't stop well and pulsing. Not wanting to spend too much money at the time I just had my front rotors turned, installed braided lines and flushed the system with DOT4 fluid. It was a wonderful improvement. Next time around I plan on replacing the rotors as they are on their last turn.

 

I see that the Eradispeed rotors will run about $1400. That's hard to justify but Bryne also shows a statistic that they stop a truck 20ft shorter than stock on 20" wheels. That could save a bunch of bucks or a life. I hate to spend $1400 if it don't make it go faster or look a helluva lot better ... and then there's still the calipers, pads and brake lines.

Part of me wants to go w/turning my stock rotors, Hawk pads, flush the fluid and get SS lines. Another part of me says to get 14" rotors, new calipers.. the whole nine yards.. so to speak, and throw about $3k at it.