Author Topic: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front  (Read 8830 times)

Offline pcguysam

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Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« on: March 07, 2014, 12:35:16 PM »
In a perfect world, I would do both at the same time, but I wonder whether I would get better results from doing the rear disc conversion or by upgrading the front brakes. 
81 C10 Custom Deluxe Stepside Purchased 2/2013

Offline skinu

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2014, 06:14:42 PM »
rear 1st cheaply done without a kit and 10x's improvement,you wont be sorry

Offline bake74

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2014, 07:38:50 AM »
     If you think about how vehicles operate and use brakes.  The fronts are always being used more and wear out faster because the fronts are designed to be used more than the rear to stop a vehicle.  That is why the put disk in the front and drums in the rear on most of our trucks.
     Now they just put disk on both, they both could use an upgrade, but I would think if you only want to do 1 and which ever would be cheaper it would be the front since they are already disk.  But hey it early and I could be half asleep when I am typing this.   :-\
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2014, 08:53:52 AM »
What are you trying to accomplish?
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2014, 01:41:48 PM »
You will get more improvements with the front as stated by bake, but as Vile said, what are you trying to do?

Offline zieg85

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2014, 04:18:48 PM »
I've had close to 50 of these and as stated before the brakes work excellent if up to par.  I really can't believe you can get better braking than stock shy of antilock.  If you can't stand on the brake pedal and lock up all 4 at once you have something wrong.  I may get some argument here but I know how proper brakes should be and even the lightest duty on a C10 will stop the truck very well.  If you are overloaded or modified otherwise all bets are off.  Let us know why and maybe we can shed some light on your concerns.
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Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2014, 06:09:01 PM »
I will argue by saying antilock is no upgrade! LOL


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Offline zieg85

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2014, 09:38:08 PM »
I will argue by saying antilock is no upgrade! LOL


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No arguments here, just trying to make a point.  If your ride don't lock em up, there is something wrong.  Then your at the mercy of controlling that with knowing how to brake, good set of tires and shocks.  A truck is a lot to stop...
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
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Offline bake74

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2014, 12:19:53 PM »
I will argue by saying antilock is no upgrade! LOL


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     I agree with that too.  You slam on the brakes with anti-lock and the pedal actually will fight with you by pulsating.  It is disconcerting when you need to stop fast and the brake pedal is up and down on you even though you have it mashed.
     I really hate it on my bikes when it happens, scary more like it.
#1: The easiest and most obvious solution to any problem is 99% of the time correct.
#2: There is no such thing as impossible, it just takes longer.
  74 k10, 77k10    Tom

Offline pcguysam

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2014, 01:21:05 PM »
Thanks for the conversation guys.  All I am trying to accomplish is better, smoother braking.  I know that in newer, heavier vehicles with 4wheel disc, they stop faster but also because they have bigger brakes.  I was just trying to figure out which would be better bang for the buck, bigger front brakes or the rear disc swap.  The truck is a daily driver.  It stops like it weighs 10 tons when I know that a new Chevy is much heavier and stops better.  New suspension would probably help out the way it 'feels' on the stop as well.
81 C10 Custom Deluxe Stepside Purchased 2/2013

Offline VileZambonie

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Re: Rear Disc Brake Conversion OR Upgrade Front
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2014, 06:32:13 PM »
Fully functioning drum brakes on these trucks are duo-servo which are self energizing. The stopping power is fabulous however they are more prone to lock up, brake fade and require more periodic maintenance to ensure they continue to operate at maximum. Disc brakes require less maintenance and have their advantages too. The best bang for your buck is to go through your factory braking system and bring it up to snuff.

As far as the anti-lock goes, I disable mine every winter as I do like to stop and know how to drive. ABS causes more accidents then they prevent most of which are rear end collisions. More modern system have improvements but let's face it, when you're standing on your brake pedal your goal is to stop, not to be able to gently steer without worrying about a skid.
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠ŻŻŻŻŻ'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10