Alright...its time for rear brakes. I was down in Tehachapi over the weekend (or should I say up in Tehachapi?) and while flying down the mtns with 4 18 wheelers on my butt I noticed that my rear brakes started to squeal like a greased pig in a trap when I slowed down at the turnoff. I replaced the fronts last year: new rotors, calipers and pads. I had about 55% rear brakes back then and have been pulling trailers at least 4 times a month(5k lbs). I was wondering how much it would cost to have them replaced/rebuilt (drums/shoes/kit) since I do not have the time to do it myself. Also, what brand is good and will give me great stopping power and long wear? Any help is appreciated.
thanks.

 

Just buy a drag chute!It's alot more exiting.But really, I would recomend raybestos brakes.Sorry, I dont recall how much it all ran me when I did all that.

 

Now is a great time to up grade to the larger wheel cylinders and 3" wide rear shoes. I did this on mine and was amazed at the increase in stopping power. No nee to buy new drums if they are still in tolerance after turning. Just make sure they turn them the entire 3" width.

 

Hey Mudcat, that's the mod I want to do! do you have the part #'s that I'd need for my shop to convert over to 3" brakes? Is it a direct replacement? thanks for your time

 

All you need to do is look up brakes for a 1 ton, they came from the factory with them.

 

Here you go if you don't have a dealer that carries Raybestos they can cross reference the part #s easy enough.
*Raybestos 314PG - 3" rear shoes

*Raybestos WC36057/WC36058 - wheel cylinders for conversion to 3" brakes

*Timken 417158 - Rear axle seals

Happy wrenching and it is a great mod.

 

Mudcat: If I install the 3" brake shoes I imagine adding the 1 ton GM wheel cyclinders will fit also, has anyone tried this yet as to form, fit, and function. --Thanks Ray

 

Heck why not upgrade to rear disks? I'm thinking about it. The parts are around $700 if I recall.

 

just finished putting them in last night. and a new master. wow. i can't believe i even thought i had brakes before. the only difference i found was the angle of the fitting, straight out of the wheel instead of back at a 45* angle.

 

Swank,
What did you finish putting in last night, the 3" brake shoes or wheel cyclinders, or both? --Ray

 

ok, after all of that it was not the the brakes at all! the brakes are actually more than i originally thought was left. i guess it was just some dirt or something that got in there for the squeal. no damage done. great! now...i just had shocks installed!!!

 

The part #s I posted are for the larger wheel cylinders with the fittings angled the right way. They are all a bolt on replacement no rigging at all. Yes it gives you great brakes. I had around $100 in the whole deal by the time I was finished more or less.

 

There is some upgrade of installing larger wheel cylinders from a chevy 1 ton on the rear. I read it in another thread, I think the second generation trucks.

I'm wondering if it would work on the first and best generation. Has anyone else heard of this???

 

just cylinders. i've already got 3" brakes (1-ton).

 

This mod won't improve the 1-ton brakes sorry forgot about that. I've never heard about installing the cheby cylinders on a first gen. I would be worried it would make my truck rust if I put something like ahat on it.