It is time for new rotors on my truck. I'm going to do this myself and want to put the money saved on install towards better rotors (ie cross-drilled/slotted). I want to be able to stop better than with the stockers. I have had some close calls lately on the highway in rush hour traffic (puckered parts of my body, but the truck was fine).
What brands are out there for HD trucks? After doing some cursory looking, a lot of places offer upgrades for the 1/2 tons, but not the 3/4 and 1 tons (ie: Brembo). Like I said, I don't mind spending extra coin. I want to be able to stop quicker than I currently can.
Also, if I do not upgrade the pistons, will spending money on the rotors be worth it?

Thanks
~Rob

 

I think performance rotors are worth the money, as long as quality pads are used. I don't think much is offered in the way of performance calipers. The brakes on your 02 are already much improved from 94-99 brakes.

 

Well, I stand corrected. Looked at this site and found Brembo rotors for our HD trucks: Click Here . The Brembo site did not even list a 2500/3500 on their drop down selectable list of vehicles when searching by model, just the 1500. (Note: these Brembos are vented disc, not cross-drilled or slotted).


~Rob

 

Also found these slotted ones: Powerslot.


~Rob

 

Slotted rotors and blueprinted calipers.
http://www.egrbrakes.com/index-main.htm

 

I only use Brembo replacement rotors, very high quality and great price.
I've been getting mine from www.tirerack.com

 

Bwaa haaa haaa,
I just called the Dodge dealership out of curiousity for a price on their rotors:

Fronts: $230 EACH!!!
(Rears: $131 EACH!!!)

What a joke.


The Brembo fronts at tirerack.com are $66 each
The PowerSlot fronts at tirerack.com are $113 each

~wowRob

 

I'm definately going with the brembos my next brake change. Only problem now is getting the caliper bracket off. Stripped the 12 pt heads pretty good.

 

Blue,
Did that job require a hex head at any point? I have to buy a 17 mm hex socket to change the oil in my 6 speed, I might as well buy the set from Sears if I have to, as its cheaper that way.

~Rob

 

A 12 pt socket is required to get the caliper brackets off and a torx bit (don't remember the size) is needed to get the caliper off. Your gonna need a big hex head socket to get the hub off.

 

Stopping quicker with less pedal effort would be helped mostly by putting better pads on - performance friction, etc. Slotted rotors & pf pads work nice

 

Paid $93 each for Power Slots at 4WPW, got free Hawk perormance pads. $206 out the door. They work pretty good, haven't come near as close to runnin over things as I did with the OEM replacements.....

 

what about just upgrading your front axle assembly to the 2001/02 setup, i seem to recall some guy selling his 97 dana 60 front for $800 and picking up a 2002 for $600 from a wrecking yard? then you have the good brakes minus the fact that the 4ABS thing wouldnt be there anymore but youd still have massive calipers.

 

Better stopping power during normal street driving by replacing rotors with crossdrilled/slotted models is a myth!

These types of rotors only benifit braking abilities when the brakes have heated to the point of brake fade. Outgassing from the super heated pads create a barrier between the pad and the rotor surface reducing braking friction, the sloted/crossdrilled rotors vent this gas away allowing better pad to rotor surface contact. This may only happen to us while trying to stop a load traveling down a long steep grade, not while making a quick break check in rush hour traffic.

There are only three things that will increase your braking torque,

1- Larger diameter rotor

2- Larger displacement caliper

3- Brake pad with high friction coefficient

I don't think company's like Brembo or Baer Racing brakes are going to start making big brake conversions for are trucks anytime soon so the only thing we can do for now is find some good performance brake pads.

<stepping off the soapbox>