Suburban brake upgrade help?
 

Time to do the brakes on my 99 Burb diesel, old style body, 3/4 ton. I use it for towing, and running over the mountains to my cabin.

I've never felt comfortable with the brakes...always felt like I was going to plow into someone when I was in anything close to a "panic braking" situation, particularly when I'm pulling.

So, can anyone give me suggestions on what has worked? Stillen, Brembo, Praise Dyno, ??? Any links, or boards that they can send me to?

thanks,
Eric

You might check over at thedieselpage.com. I am a member over there and this comes up often. I have a couple of suburbans and spent right at 1000.00 to put disk on the rear. Not much help. I have also gone the slotted or drilled rotor route. My experience is that the best you can do is to 1. make sure the power steering pump is good. You have a diesel and with that a hydraboost that is powered off of the power steering. 2. When you get new pads get the most aggressive pads you can. Napa not going to have these. They don't last as long and are harder on the rotors but help. On the rear, keep the pads adjusted, but not by backing up and hitting the brake. Do it the old way with a lever or screw driver. Adjust them up then back off 33 clicks. I know it sounds like a lot but thats the manual. That lets all of the brake shoe come in contact with the drum not just the leading edge. 3. Make sure your master cylinder is good, fresh brake fluid etc. Chevy should have been made to fix these things. They just don't stop. If you figure out how to put 15 inch rotors on one let me know. You would then need at least 17 inch wheels and tires. Good luck. Spencer

Drag chute from any of the 25 series LearJets. Is a PITA repacking after a panic stop, but works.

The Coast Guard Guys borrow two JATO bottles from their supply, and mount them facing forward in the lower headlight bay. Set the ignitor to the High Beam wiring from the switch on the turn signal stock. BE REALLY CAREFUL that you do not flash to pass somebody at night. Also, remember to not count on them again once fired, they are a one shot deal. If you have to fire them when moving at less than 25MPH, use the reverse speed that results to stomp on the regular brake pedal, and adjust the rear shoes.

YMMV.

I've never looked into it, but can you upgrade to the four wheel discs from a 2001-up 'new-body-style' 3/4 ton Sub or Pickup?

I've driven quite a few of the new ones and I think the brakes are more than adequate, even with a big trailer.

E

I needed that laugh for the weekend! And I remember repacking the 'chute from the old 25 series many times. It worked very well when needed.

Berlin Tegel in the winter of '88, glare ice everywhere and the airplane going sideways on landing, the chute brought us straight again and saved our bacon.

My grey hair started that winter...wonder why?

JA

I got a really good deal on a late 70's vintage Suburban. Discovered why when I went to fill it up. (This was in the '80's). I cannot imagine that gulper now.

Second surprise came when trying to panic stop it on the freeway once.

Sold it the very next day.

I had no access to JATO bottles back then.

Because you stopped flying equiptment that had a drag chute.

Mine started about the same time.

my dad's 95 GMC 3500 ex L.A.F.D. 6.2L diesel has a engine compression release brake setup thats works very well, but I dont know if this was stock or added for the fire department. Not that you really need it. If you downshift into second from third, and let the clutch out just slowly, it will throw you forward. Truck weighs 4 tons, so i guess the extra braking is a good thing

I would just start calling heavy industry truck fabricators (cabs, beds, etc..) in the area and see if there is something available. I would imagine there all kinds of options for a GM truck. If anything, there have to be bigger GM calipers that bolt on.

Like the idea of a chute. Think that would be awesome to dump the compression and fire the chute when slowing, although the truck will only hit 75MPH.

singpilot :D thanks.

What sucks is; In the last 1.5 year my TWO of my wifes cars have been totaled by Chevy Tahoes . . . which couldn't stop in time.

I'm glad Eric reailzes the limitations of SUV braking . .. many don't. :(

Why they suck so bad ?. . . tires?
I imagine that a tire soft enough to get some good grip would not last long on those heavies.

Now if you have a 1500 Suburban you can get an upgrade kit. The kit was requested by FBI, Secret Service, and other agencies which use these things. Usually black. They wanted better brakes and got them. I purchased on of these kits. About 1000.00. New bigger calipers with better pads, better rotors. Made my 96 Chevy Suburban stop like a sports car.

I currently have a 2001 Chev 3/4 ton. The biggest improvement over the old 1989 is having four-wheel disc brakes. The rear drums were the only part of the '89 that were inadequate.

I would think that there are several parts-bin options; maybe something off a full-ton cab-chassis? Most GM truck parts are easy bolt-in swaps.

Stop-tech may offer a brake upgrade. Also EBC and Performance friction make better pads for tow vehicles