Well I did the upgrade to the rear brakes using the 12"X3" shoes and 1 1/8th wheel cylinders.

Not quite what I was looking for, the backs lock up WAY too easy. If I try to do a hard stop with the truck unloaded the rear brakes lock up way before the front are anywhere near fully applied. This is on dry pavement, if it was icy out I'm sure that I would be doing 180s. Pedal feels about the same as it did before when the rear adjusters were properly adjusted. Was hoping for a bit firmer pedal but I have noticed that most ABS equipped vehicles have strange feeling pedals so I'll just have to live with it..

For now I have hooked the ABS back up and with it on its not so bad. I'll try it for a while and see if it settles down. If it doesn't I will either have to put smaller wheel cylinders in or perhaps an adjustable porportioning valve. I'm sure with a load it will be great but I run empty most of the winter.

I would recommend that if you are doing this swap to try the 1" bore wheel cylinders. Stock is 7/8ths and at the parts store I went to they had an option of 7/8", 1" and 1 1/8". I think that the 1" might be a better comprmise.

 

bout how long did the job take you? jiMMy

 

3-4hrs with interuptions, running the drums in to get turned, then picking them and taking them to a different store to get turned because they were too big for the machine at the first store. Bleeding the brakes cleaning up.

Also I really took my time with the wheel cylinders as the brake lines were old and rusted and I didn't want to risk breaking them.