fishbait:


find you a PepBoys and ask them for the lime green pads they sell, can't remember what they were called. i believe they're mostly kevlar, been a good pad for me , will definately stop all six wheels, don't know how hard they are but they're holding up good and it's been a year. !!!

 

Replace the rear wheel cylinders with GMC 1 ton cylinders (Napa #4637337) and see if your impression of stopping power changes. I guarantee it will. For $12 each and an hour of your time it's one of the best modifications going. Don't tell the Napa guys what the part is or what it's going on or you will confuse them. Just a part number is enough. You can even order online by clicking here

The mod is described in more detail here-
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=43854

Switching from a 27mm (stock Ram 3500) to a 30mm cylinder increases applied force area from 572.55mm^2 to 706.85mm^2.

That's over a 23% increase, on a pre '97 2500 the increase is over 50%.
This mod works on all drum brake Rams.

 

The very best pads you can run are the cheapest Hawks, HPS Street brake pads. Perfect match for our rotors, good life and little squeak. Buy them here > http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/hawk/index.jsp

The more pricey pads usually squeak and wear out your rotors.
Ceramics are great for little cars but are notorious for ruining the rotors on our trucks.

 

TireRack website states "no Hawk brakes for my truck" This can't be correct...

 

They appear to have changed something in 2000, not sure what. No listing on Tire Rack or on Hawk's website for my '02, either. I ended up going with Performance Friction carbon metallic pads on mine.

 

Somethings on tirerack's website aren't up to date, give them a call.

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...Rear+Cylinders

It's really simple to do. And it helps a lot. It's cheap to.

I ran the cheapest pads on my truck once and I'll never do it again. They destroyed my rotors. I mean DESTROYED my rotors. They look like the freaking ocean they are so grooved and wavy. So now I'm running the really expensive ones. Those haven't ground my rotors down nor have they ground my roommates rotors down.

 

"el cheapo" pads ussually contain a higher concentrate of metallic material in them, in turn creating more heat, which isn't good for any rotor. Plus the squealing and the dust are enough to drive you bonkers. I've had great luck with Bendix FleetLok Metallics, have them on 3 trucks now, and had them on a Caprice I used to have. Never had them eat up a rotor and they deal with heavy braking very well. Granted, they aren't available for all vehicles but I don't know why they wouldn't be for any of our trucks.