Rebuilding rear drums on 99 C1500 Suburban, need advice on potential "upgrades"

Noticed a while back my rear drums making an odd noise when letting off the brake pedal. Turns out the axle seal was leaking a bit of gear lube into the drums, making the shoes stick to the drum. When I'd release the brake pedal, you'd hear them suddenly jerk away from the drums.


Anyhow, going to be putting new axle seals in soon as well some some new brake parts.

This truck is actually my wife's daily driver. I want to make sure it has the best stopping power I can reasonably give it. I know the main issue with these drums is keeping them adjusted, and I keep the adjusters clean enough to work, and when I get in the truck, I do some reverse maneuvers to get them adjusted.

Are there some brake shoe brands/materials that grip better than others?

I have read comments about upgrading to 13" drums but that was usually in connection with swapping the rear end for a 14 bolt. Is this a doable thing without swapping the rear end? I'm not even sure I can fit 13" drums behind these 15" stock wheels lol.

Anyhow, I'm open to suggestions. Front brakes are fine, currently, FWIW.

I've been told wheel cylinders from the single rear wheel 1 ton fit. I tried it on my c1500 pickup, but I basically needed to mount them upside down. I figured instead of messing with it, I'd just get the correct cylinders. I'd at least start with semi metallic shoes and new cylinders. Have the parts store pull a cylinder for your truck, then one for the single rear 1 ton. Compare them, make sure bleeder and mounting holes are correct, and there's the correct boot on the cylinder so the pads have something other than just rubber to push against.

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For shoe material I would stay with stock. I don't know what's in the back of my 1500, but when the weather gets wet the rears get real snappy and jerky. Neighbor had a similar issue, went back to stock shoes, and the issue went away.

Supercharged111 said:

For shoe material I would stay with stock. I don't know what's in the back of my 1500, but when the weather gets wet the rears get real snappy and jerky. Neighbor had a similar issue, went back to stock shoes, and the issue went away.

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Same here. When they're wet or damp, the first few stops are very sudden. They are low speed.... backing out of the driveway and the first stop sign which is one house away. The wheels lock up. Then the next stop is further away so I get more speed, and then they dry off. I have some stock shoes for a rebuild. I got an awesome deal on them from a local company that was cleaning house and the auction company showed the part number, but didn't state an application. I ended up with NOS shoes for less than $10.

You guys may have a point, I have noticed lately that the brakes on the Sub don't grab nearly as freaky when wet..... because there's gear lube on them lol. I didnt' realize it was the rear brakes doing that, we never had them totally lock up, and i thought it was the front discs.

redfishsc said:

You guys may have a point, I have noticed lately that the brakes on the Sub don't grab nearly as freaky when wet..... because there's gear lube on them lol. I didnt' realize it was the rear brakes doing that, we never had them totally lock up, and i thought it was the front discs.

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Yeah, being covered in oil, they won't stop well at all. That reminds me, I'm about to do a diff service, I should probably get seals and bearings too

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