Its time to replace my brakes...plus i am about to make a 2000+ mile trip with trailer from Memphis to Seattle (threw the mountains). I am looking at getting rotors,calipers, and pads. I have been doing some research for these and found a few but dont really know much about brakes. I am looking in the range of no more then $300 or so. Any suggestions

Thanks

 

are you looking for oversized ones or same size , factory stuff or aftermarket...? for rotors, calipers, and pads. you are looking at more then 300 in my opinion. let me know what you find, i know for my sti stoptech front calip,rotor,and pads were 1390 oversized 4 pistion calipers stop on a dime! my truck well thats a different story!

 

Maybe just rotors and pads then. If i go that way i would assume i would have to stay the standard size?

 

Well I am pretty impressed with the stock brake system. I just had stock pads done with the rotars turned.

 

You will have to stay with the standard size. That's why there are 17" wheels on our trucks now - the large brakes. I have read a number of posts here and elsewhere that all say you are hard pressed to find better brakes than OEM. Unless you are going to spend big dollars, I would suggest staying with stock. My 2cents.

 

the OEM brakes are just as good as drilled/slotted rotors and aftermarket pads? I am looking for the upgrade becuase i am moving to Washington state (just took a trip out there) and there are alot more hills and steep grades then here in Tennessee. I was in a rental car and some of those hill i went down i didnt i would stop in time. I dont want my 4ton truck having that problem with a 15k trailer behind it.

 

I put a good set of pads and slotted rotors on mine (03 4x4) and it stops great. I haul heavy quite a bit, and they haven't failed me yet. Only thing I changed really was to chop the rubber off and replace it with stainless braided lines. If you can flare a hose its a simple thing to set up.

 

I think the factory brakes on a newer truck are already pretty decent. If it was me, I'd focus on making sure the trailer's brakes were working perfectly, and I'd consider an exhaust brake instead of having to rely on the vehicle brakes to control your speed on hills.

 

I'm sure there are aftermarket pad and rotor combo's out there that if you lined them up with a stock setup with your trailer behind both trucks you would save yourself a few feet in stopping distance. That being said, I agree with torquefan, for the small improvement you are going to get with a brake upgrade, the money would be better spent on an exhaust brake.

 

i live in the northwest. the hills here can get your brakes very hot. when i go to redo my brakes i definitly will get the cool rotors. i have over heated my brakes 3 times with good trailer brakes,trailer tiers almosted locked. but when there cool enugh thay stop me great.---caibge hill in eastern oregon with 20,000pd youll need cool rotors for shur, i do (BUT DID NOT) that got a little hairy for 5 miles or so. when i can aford it ill get exhaust brake.

 

an exhaust brake might serve you better. i installed a pac brake and i am pleased with the product.