Brake upgrades for a 3/4 Ton?

[Nodnarb76]

I am in the process of slowly rebuilding my 87 R20 Suburban. I have the JB7 upgraded brakes. I have the motor/trans swap done. Now my bakes could use some attention to slow down this beast from all the new power from the motor swap.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve braking without spending big bucks on a big brake kit? Would changing the rears to discs be worth it?

[nonstop]

Do you have hydroboost?
If not, that would be my first upgrade (but that's just me)!

[Tom]

Neither hydroboost nor disk rear's would increase the braking ability of the truck. Some nice pads and fluid is about all I can think of with a 3/4ton before shelling out the big money for aftermarket. With a 1/2ton you put 3/4ton stuff on to upgrade but you already have it stock.

[Half Assed]

Get a hydro booster from a '80?-'91 diesel or 1 ton squarebody at the junkyard. You'll have to google it to make sure, but sometime around 1980 is when the hose fittings went to metric threads. Then buy new power steering hoses for a '85 1 ton c30. Also buy some power steering hose for the return line and a brass T-fitting.

You can't buy a rebuilt hydrobooster from the auto parts store it will be missing parts like the bracket. You will have to get one from a junkyard or here on the forums. I used one from a '99 g3500 van with minor modifications and I think the hydro swap cost me about $150.


After that I would get a set of good semi-metallic brake pads.

[Alex V.]

Does your Suburban have the Bendix front brakes and one piece hub/rotors? Not saying it's the easiest setup to service, but my 5,300 pound C3500 has that type fronts with Hydroboost and stops pretty darn well even with the load-sensing rear proportioning valve. I think if that setup doesn't give you the stopping power you want you've exceeded the stock speed/handling capability of your truck far enough you need to except the necessity of the cost of aftermarket brakes.

[nonstop]

Going to 4 wheel discs, I was disappointed with the lack of braking with the vacuum booster. I added hydroboost and could lock up 36 inch tires very quickly!

[68post]

What size are your rear drums ? Best brakes on any truck I've owned were on my '85 C30 cab/chassis (it carried a 14' box and heavily loaded), that includes ton pickups.

Make sure what you have is at it's very best. I couldn't see rear discs adding anything, ( less braking surface).Heavy trucks use drums beyond the steering axle (and very large drums at that).