Front caliper/rotor upgrades for 2WD Trucks?

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Supercharged111

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If you're in that deep I wholly implore you to start with a hydroboost swap. You'll get far more out of any downstream hardware this way. They never should have come with vacu brakes IMO when you feel the difference in force between the 2.
 

wiscomick

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Fair enough. Looks like an easy enough swap, and I'll be under the dash to swap in a tilt column anyway. I'll also be deleting that huge ABS mess as well.
 

Schurkey

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You have JB6 brakes now.

Far as I'm concerned, you're done. My truck started with JN3, I upgraded TO JB6--which is what you have now.

There's nothing wrong with the 11.x rear drums, if they're in good shape. There's no reason to "upgrade" to discs except bragging rights. MOST cheap-junk disc conversions will be a DOWN-grade.

There's really nothing wrong with the front brakes, either--again, if they're working PROPERLY. They're not weak, they don't have a squishy brake pedal. You'd want to assure that the pistons aren't getting sticky, and the calipers "float" on the rubber mounts like they should. The rotors shouldn't be excessively scored.

Be sure your ABS unit is properly bled, which requires a scan tool. Again, IF it's working like it's supposed to, you'd never know it was there until you need it.

Now, if you want bragging rights, you can add multi-piston calipers, enormous aftermarket rotors, or swap brakes from a newer truck. But there's not a thing wrong with the brakes you have--they'll stop the truck just fine even with a trailer attached. They'll have fine pedal "feel"--IF everything works like it's supposed to. But lots and lots of trucks--especially 1500s with the shittty leading/trailing rear drums--do not have brakes that work like they're supposed to, and that's created a reputation for poor braking on GMT400-series trucks.

Keep in mind that your truck does have low-drag front calipers, you NEED the stock Quick Take-Up master cylinder that has the third, high-volume, low-pressure chamber.

Hydroboost? Yeah...I suppose. I don't think it's as big an advantage as has been stated. But then, I've only got experience with ONE vehicle having hydroboost, and the brake "feel" takes getting used-to.
 
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wiscomick

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Well, to be fair, I have no brakes right now. Everything has been removed and is being replaced. What you see in the pics is what I have. I have to buy all new stuff. So whatever I'm buying I want to be the best that I can get, within reason. Old calipers are in the garage and will be sent back as cores, as they're not in great shape.

Rear axle has nothing on it, the entire drum system back there was extra crusty so it was removed. I'd like to delete the ABS system completely to clean up under the hood.
 
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AuroraGirl

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This is a car caliper but im showing it to show that stock brakes with red paint can look fine(ignore the pads being gone, I just isntalled these at this point.

Anyway.
I'd like to delete the ABS system completely to clean up under the hood.
Im sorry, but no
What do I mean?

No. would you explain to me how you are finding your abs module to be ini the way?

And you can replace the rear drums+parts

See what im gathering from this thread is you want 2wd truck mods to the brake system more than you want upgrades
 

wiscomick

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Yes, you got me. That's the whole reason for my post.- To figure out what shade of red I can paint my calipers. :rolleyes:

I'm not interested in rice-a-roni nonsense. I'm here to learn what to use, from people that know what they're talking about.
 

454cid

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I've always hated the ABS on my truck.... hit a bump while stopping and it's like the ABS was asleep and wakes up when the bump is over, activates any way, and even though the wheels are back down on the pavement I have less brakes when I really need them.
 

Stephen

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Anything out there for front caliper upgrades on the 2WD trucks? Seems like the 4WD trucks can upgrade to GMT900 or newer stuff, but the 2WD trucks don't have as much info. Looking for something better than what's there as I'm replacing absolutely everything up front on my truck and don't want to waste money on OEM stuff if there's better out there at a similar cost.
IMO the easiest sawp is to go with PowerStop. I did on my 96 C3500 SRW CC LB. Stops better since I bought it in 2000. Now has 260K, Did the swap 3 years ago after having the rotors warp om numerous occasions previously.
 
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