Upgrade Front Brake Calipers

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1998_K1500_Sub

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the srw 1 ton piston is 3.15" drw is 3.285" i don't think much gain if any came from the drw pads over srw but they are a bit thicker and designed different.

Thank you for pointing that out, I was not aware.

Oddly, on RockAuto, I find disparities in the specs. I'm looking at 1998 Chevy K3500 pickup, for brake calipers. I see...

CENTRIC 14266021, "Front Right; Dual Rear Wheels"
- specs say 3.386" piston diameter"

RAYBESTOS FRC10183N, "Front Right; With Dual Rear Wheels"
- specs say 3.000" piston diameter

RAYBESTOS FRC4414N "Front Left; with Single Rear Wheels (SRW)"
- specs say 79.9mm (3.15") diameter

I wonder what's up here, as the Raybestos dual rear wheel specs seem amiss. Maybe it's just a database error.

Regardless, for the GMT400 there ARE larger calipers than 3.0" (76.0mm), i.e., 3.15" (80.0mm) and 3.386" (86.0mm)
 
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offroadtahoe

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i think the info might be listed wrong?,i bought my caliper set from autozone

C540​

C541​

you can kind of tell a difference in piston sizes i was a little skeptical at first it's hard to tell but i can confirm i used a digital caliper to both,srw 3.15" drw 3.285"
 

454cid

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Oddly, on RockAuto, I find disparities in the specs.

I see that a lot on Rockauto. If I'm looking for a certain spec, I often check multiple companies. I did that when I was comparing threads for the DRW wheel cylinders. There's was at least one brand that listed the threads as being metric, and for awhile I was convinced that I would not be able to swap unless I changed the rear fittings on my truck. Someone else pointed it out that the metric thread was incorrect. I still haven't installed those.

I have the DRW calipers on my SRW K3500, along with the correspending pads, and rotors. The DRW rotors are 1/4" thicker, and at at least one of the pads is thicker. I wish the GMT-800 brakes were easier to bolt on, Though.
 

Fileguru

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I hope im not beating a dead horse here, but im upgrading brakes for my '98 C1500 Suburban 5.7

Im ordering new calipers, rotors and pads, so just to clarify; are those K3500 DRW calipers w/ biggest piston a direct bolt on to my C1500? Or are gmt400 calipers specific to drivetrain 4x4 K series and 2wd C series? And i can use stock 5 lug C1500 suburban rotors and pads with those or should i order the k3500 drw pads?

And does someone know what braided SS brake hoses to get, im now at stock height still but going to get the 4" spindle lift kit later, can i order those longer SS braided hoses for now and use them at stock height too, just route them differently?

Also buying the gmt800? MC for better brake feel, this stock brakes now freaking suck ass...

I would want to order from RockAuto, since im from Europe and rockauto delivery rocks for us non USA car guys ;)
 

Nad_Yvalhosert

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I hope im not beating a dead horse here, but im upgrading brakes for my '98 C1500 Suburban 5.7

Im ordering new calipers, rotors and pads, so just to clarify; are those K3500 DRW calipers w/ biggest piston a direct bolt on to my C1500? Or are gmt400 calipers specific to drivetrain 4x4 K series and 2wd C series? And i can use stock 5 lug C1500 suburban rotors and pads with those or should i order the k3500 drw pads?

And does someone know what braided SS brake hoses to get, im now at stock height still but going to get the 4" spindle lift kit later, can i order those longer SS braided hoses for now and use them at stock height too, just route them differently?

Also buying the gmt800? MC for better brake feel, this stock brakes now freaking suck ass...

I would want to order from RockAuto, since im from Europe and rockauto delivery rocks for us non USA car guys ;)

GMT800 master cyl ONLY if you have 4 wheel disc brakes...

Or have you deleted the ABS and installed some kind of adjustable porportioning valve?
 

Fileguru

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No, stock ABS still working. Good to know it wont work with gmt400 abs system, kinda sucks, would have wanted to keep abs, our winters are very icy up here in northern europe... Any other "better brake feel" MC alternatives to work with gmt400 abs system? Guess not..

Does it brake the abs unit or simply wont work with it? Brakes hanging on or some other type symptoms?

Thank you for your reply!
 

1998_K1500_Sub

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GMT800 master cyl ONLY if you have 4 wheel disc brakes...

Or have you deleted the ABS and installed some kind of adjustable porportioning valve?

I used the NBS MC w/o any changes to ABS or rear brakes (11” drums).

I retained the OE combination valve.

This is on a Suburban, which is always heavy on the rear unlike a pickup.
 

1998_K1500_Sub

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I hope im not beating a dead horse here, but im upgrading brakes for my '98 C1500 Suburban 5.7

Im ordering new calipers, rotors and pads, so just to clarify; are those K3500 DRW calipers w/ biggest piston a direct bolt on to my C1500?

@offroadtahoe reports they're direct bolt-on. I believe he's correct.


Or are gmt400 calipers specific to drivetrain 4x4 K series and 2wd C series?

Not to my knowledge. One quick check: See if RockAuto shows different calipers for C/K.

And i can use stock 5 lug C1500 suburban rotors and pads with those or should i order the k3500 drw pads?

Look back at @offroadtahoe's posts earlier in this thread, IIRC he mentions using them on 6-bolt rotors. Too, perhaps he'll see this post and comment. @454cid may have some comments as well, he also posted earlier on the topic of "pads".

And does someone know what braided SS brake hoses to get, im now at stock height still but going to get the 4" spindle lift kit later, can i order those longer SS braided hoses for now and use them at stock height too, just route them differently?

Hopefully someone else can comment.

Also buying the gmt800? MC for better brake feel, this stock brakes now freaking suck ass...

The NBS should help in that regard. I believe the 8600# OBS MC would as well.

Eliminating the "quick take up" feature, as either MC will do, is what *I* believe improves the brake feel, but that's probably debatable.
 

offroadtahoe

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I hope im not beating a dead horse here, but im upgrading brakes for my '98 C1500 Suburban 5.7

Im ordering new calipers, rotors and pads, so just to clarify; are those K3500 DRW calipers w/ biggest piston a direct bolt on to my C1500? Or are gmt400 calipers specific to drivetrain 4x4 K series and 2wd C series? And i can use stock 5 lug C1500 suburban rotors and pads with those or should i order the k3500 drw pads?

And does someone know what braided SS brake hoses to get, im now at stock height still but going to get the 4" spindle lift kit later, can i order those longer SS braided hoses for now and use them at stock height too, just route them differently?

Also buying the gmt800? MC for better brake feel, this stock brakes now freaking suck ass...

I would want to order from RockAuto, since im from Europe
I hope im not beating a dead horse here, but im upgrading brakes for my '98 C1500 Suburban 5.7

Im ordering new calipers, rotors and pads, so just to clarify; are those K3500 DRW calipers w/ biggest piston a direct bolt on to my C1500? Or are gmt400 calipers specific to drivetrain 4x4 K series and 2wd C series? And i can use stock 5 lug C1500 suburban rotors and pads with those or should i order the k3500 drw pads?

And does someone know what braided SS brake hoses to get, im now at stock height still but going to get the 4" spindle lift kit later, can i order those longer SS braided hoses for now and use them at stock height too, just route them differently?

Also buying the gmt800? MC for better brake feel, this stock brakes now freaking suck ass...

I would want to order from RockAuto, since im from Europe and rockauto delivery rocks for us non USA car guys ;)
https://www.gmt400.com/threads/c1500-front-brake-upgrade-to-c2500-caliper-rotor.41380/ drw upgrade caliper/pad should fit the 1" rotor or the later 1.25 inch rotor (2wd)
 

Fileguru

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I used the NBS MC w/o any changes to ABS or rear brakes (11” drums).

I retained the OE combination valve.

This is on a Suburban, which is always heavy on the rear unlike a pickup.
From this post i will make the nbs MC swap.

And now i feel safe to order the 3500drw caliper.

Ive read countless hours for regarding brake upgrades on this forum, and it feels no matter how much you read you still forget half what youve read earliel lol... I really cant thank you guys enough, this forum and community on these trucks are amazing value, really love my family wagon! Hope i can get brake feel better so my wife trusts to drive it too lol, way too squishy and spongy brake feel for this 250k miles driven truck haha.

Thanks a million guys for replying so fast.
 
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