So a few months ago I had a caliper lock up on me while I was driving. Fortunantely I was able to tap it with a hammer and keep going. I hate working on things in the cold! I do not suggest ever running a vehicle after having an incident like that but oh well I survived. Also my rear drums were replaced with all OEM parts back in august when I had my entire rear end replaced.

Finaly decided it was time to do somthing and since I already have an 05 the next best budget upgrade I could find was the NNBS (13in rotor) swap. Since I already needed new calipers it didnt really cost me any extra.

Part were ordered for a 2008 1500 4x4
-Calipers (Napa reman) ($90 - $35 core)
-Pads are ceramic summit racing cheapo specials. ($40 total)
-Rotors are NAPA OEM replacments ($50 ea) no need for slotted or drilled blah blah blah...
-Russel stainless brake lines (all 4 corners) $80ish


I decided I wanted to see some actual results of my hard work so before I did anything I grabbed a can of pray paint and headed to a long straight deserted road about 5min from my house. I painted a line on the side of the road even with a teliphone pole so I knew where to mash the brakes. I did 5 tests.

First was a control so I could get myself to man up and actual stomp the brakes like an emergency.

Next 2 were from 40mph with a 1 miles drive after each test to cool them back down atleast a little.

I measured in heal to toe steps and I have a size 11 boot.

40mph
1st)- 56steps
2nd)- 57steps

50mph
1st)-87steps
2nd) 94steps (I think I may have hit the brakes a little late on this one)

The brakes seemed to stop pretty good but the pedal seemed soft and it certinaly didnt jar my teeth out of my head.

I almost finished with the brake install but got to cold. Everything bolted up great had no problems whatso ever. Tomorrow I need to replace the rear lines and bleed them all and ill do another set of tests!

 

After only about 20miles of driving (so not fully broken in) here are the results.

40MPH tests
1st) 54steps
2nd) 56steps

50MPH
1st) 73steps
2nd) 80 steps


So it seems that 40ft breaking really hasnt improved at all. but 50mph has improved a little. I am hoping after a couple weeks when I do it again they will have gotten better.

Wether they get better or not atleast Im no longer scared of a caliper locking up randomly. Next will be hydro boost conversion for sure and then I will do the same tests!

 

You have an 05 with rear drums right?? Was there a difference in the pads and rotors, thought they were the same...

 

Yes mine is an 05 with rear drums. The difference is the rotors are 13in rather then 12. The pads and rotors seemed about the same size. So not really a huge upgrade but better then nothing.

 

I thought they started using the nnbs pads/rotors in 04 or 05 when they went back to rear drums.. I know the part numbers come up the same on my yukon as they do on my buddy's 06 ccsb, thought the 12 fronts were on the rear disc trucks

 

Maybe my truck was a hodge podge then because when I set them side by side there was a noticable difference. or maybe I'm retarded lol

 

No tellin what they did before you got the truck...

 

well with your 33s (guessing 8-ply), i wouldn't expect the brakes to put you into the windshield. even going from my 265 LTXs (4ply) to the 285 8ply all terrains, mine was a noticeable difference. pedal should still feel firm, though - maybe some air still in there. i'd recommend getting the speed bleeder screws - got mine for the car off Jegs real cheap & they made bleeding the lines SO much easier.

i feel ya on the cold. remember how last winter was? i had to replace my rears when one of the calipers started sticking. i sure was a grumpy, angry individual for a couple days! i almost went ahead & swapped in the suburban rear brakes, but when i had free replacement on my Wagner rotors & i also just wanted to get it done, i decided to just go stock again.

 

True I can tell it was beat pretty good by the second owner. With little to no maintenance done. But thats what you get when you buy a truck from over 1000 miles away after only seeing it on pictures hahaha.

 

Yeah the 33s are 8ply I actually think the truck brakes pretty good idk what a good stopping distance for a 4800* vehical is but I think im doing pretty good. From what I have read most people say swaping to the hydro boost really helps the pedal feel snappier and stiffer. Plus eventually I will swap in a 6.0 with an aggresive cam and then ill need it.

Im so tired of working in the cold luckily this winter hasnt been to bad so far *fingers crossed*.