I need better stopping power. Stopping my trailer in a hurry really sucks. I've got a 99 2500 that I converted to DRW, it has drum brakes on the rear and discs on the front. Still have the factory axles, 3.55 gears, etc. Thought about swapping the rear axle for one from a dually with disc brakes, what other options have I got? Anyone know if I can just convert my axle to discs? Also, what would be the best brake system I could install, pads, calipers, etc?

 

Personally I'd look more into the trailer brakes than the pickup.

 

It is a common misconception that disc brakes will stop you better than drum brakes. Your tire traction stops you, bottom line. Disk brakes won't heat up and fade as fast, but under normal driving conditions a properly operating drum brake will work fine. You need to look at the brake controller and trailer brakes if you want better response.

 

Well, that simplifies things. I'll adjust my rear brakes then, and replace my trailer brake shoes. It never seems like my rear truck brakes help me much, feels like the front does all the work. Are there any certain brand of brake shoes that perform better than the others?

 

Check out your trailer brake system . . .
bet they are not doing much . . .

 

Can you lock up your trailer brakes if you apply them manually?

 

They'll lock up when its empty, but with a load on it won't.

 

Have you put the larger brake cylinders on the rear drums?

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...brake+cylinder

 

I did the above conversion a couple of weeks ago and it really does make a differance but after reading many post on the brake subject it seams that the auto-adjusters on the rear brakes do not work too good. So maybe they need to be looked at. I also gravity bleed the whole system and now have better brakes than I ever have.

 

Make sure your trailer brakes are in good shape and adjusted properly , couple years ago mine had grease on 2 of them from bearings seals gone bad. Also when I put a new brake controller on it made a big differance. I used Prodigy but there are others available , your choice.

 

I take mine up a couple clicks every so often. It not only stops better but improves the cold/wet weather sensitivity when I first fire the rig up..

 

I did put the GM one ton cylinders on there a few years ago. It did improve it, but I think you have to adjust the rear brakes every so often, because they've never needed to be replaced in the 6 years I've owned the truck. Must not be doing much. I might get a different controller too, I've had a prodigy for a long time, but might try something else, there was one that had a cable that went to the brake pedal, I might look into that.

 

In addition to the 1ton cylinders you can swap out the 2.5" wide shoes for 3" wide shoes. Just buy shoes for a 1 ton and get your drums turned.

BTW discs do stop better than drum as they can apply more pressure without locking up. Drums get to a certain point and then lock up. Discs can exert more stopping force without locking up.

 

HUH??? Explain that to me the next time you jam on the brakes on a slick road. Tire traction stops you, period.

 

I like the stopping power of a properly adjusted set of drums with the 1 ton GM cylinders much better than any disc brake truck I've driven. There's no comparison.