I've got good brakes. They are as good as anything else that I have owned. Here's how:

I replaced everything in the rear except the drums and bearings. I upgraded to the larger bore wheel cylinders for the Chevy one ton. I replaced all hardware including automatic adjusters. I flushed lots of fluid through the brake lines, wheel cylinders, RWAL module and calipers. I even replaced the brake booster and the master cylinder. It wasn't until I replaced the front pads and turned the front rotors that all this came togerther. Oh, I had to bleed the system the old fashion way. The one man brake bleeder didn't work. Don't forget to bench bleed the master cylinder before you install it. All in all, the best $450.00 I have spent on the truck. Piece of mind........... priceless.

 

Good brakes are a good thing.

 

I'm betting the master had as much to do with it as anything, but like you said--piece of mind Plus, a 1st gen with good brakes---you've got a rare truck, right there!

 

Everyone says that, but mines had great brakes since I had it.

 

IMHO I think a lot of brake issues comes from too much sitting. Machinery needs to be run to prevent the build up of corrosion products and hardening of seals.
A periodic fluid replacement goes a long way towards healthy brakes. DOT 3 and 4 brake fluid absorbs moisture and that causes rusting of the internals. The corrosion seems to concentrate where the elastomers are in contact with the cast iron and steel causing a rough sealing surface and a short seal life.