About time to tear into the brakes on my POS again... However, this thing has never stopped well, and is somewhat frightening with a load. Any input into low-dollar, decent output upgrades for my binders? (88 K1500, old school beater DD.)

I use NAPA chassis parts, if available, have the system bled right, keep things adjusted, etc, but it stops hard - lift your heel and push with your thigh hard - just driving empty.

Just fishing for advice.

Thanks, Nate

Upgrade to the bigger rear axle in a light K2500 (6-lug). They have 11x2.5" drums or something like that.

I also think there was a thick and thin rotor for the 88-90 span. See if you can use the thicker rotor - the corresponding caliper is likely bigger too.

3/4 ton calipers have bigger pistons then the 1/2 ton calipers. More force?

there is a difference in the K1500 and K1500 Z71 in the brakes department....including larger calipers and possibly different rotors...but they are all stock parts you can get at napa....for the same price or close as regular K1500 parts so that would be a simple cheep way to upgrade.....the rear axle swap could work if the gears and width matched but i'm not sure that it would really be that effective since most of the stopping is done with the front anyways and the 3/4ton calipers wont fit on the 1/2ton as far as i know

and the 3/4ton calipers wont fit on the 1/2ton as far as i know
I am using the 3/4 ton heavy duty calipers on my 3/4 ton light duty. As I understand it the 3/4 ton light duty is basicly a 1/2 ton with different suspension.

is yours the 6lug light duty 3/4ton? if so that's cool if the heavy duty 3/4ton ones will work on them, might have to look into that upgrade for my 1/2ton DD

I'm going to do a little digging into the 3/4 ton front binders. I'll report back on how it goes. No dice on swapping the rear till I grenade the one I've got (shouldn't be long anyway...)

Thanks for the input.

-Nate

is yours the 6lug light duty 3/4ton? if so that's cool if the heavy duty 3/4ton ones will work on them, might have to look into that upgrade for my 1/2ton DD

yes.

Alright, one trip to Silver Lake totally forced me into it - drained the reservoir (mystery leak...) and found that my driver's front is doing basically ALL the stopping. So, took a tape to NAPA, did some countertop measuring, and yes, the 3/4 ton rotors slide on, with more depth, and the 3/4 ton calipers fit the bolt pattern for the slides. Picked up new slaves for the rear, that oughta bring that in line for now.

However, the rotors are too deep for the spindles/ knuckles, because of some casting bulges & the dust covers. They are gone, and I'm working on final fitment now, but have about 1/16" at least too much depth in the upper slide bolt, it'll go away.

The piston area is greater (how much, I haven't put a caliper on it) and the rotor is thicker (1/4" by straightedge & eyeball) so I've got that going for me. The part that remains is whether I can get it to fit with some subtle die grinder work or whether I'll get nervous, go back to the 1/2 ton rotors & stick with the 3/4 calipers. Point of this rambling - it's not a direct bolt on, duh.

I'm taking pictures, documenting part numbers, and being hampered by pointless bickering with the girlfriend. Results in a day or two.

Later, Nate

just to clearify, im running the stock rotors, with the heavy 3/4 calipers.

I'm trying to get the 3/4 ton rotors to work, just because I'm already tearing things apart... it's not straightforward, and I just spent a weekend boozing and being assaulted by pay-for-play boobies in South Carolina, so that set me back time and more money than the brakes are going to cost, by a lot. So I'm late with final details, my fault.

Anyway, got the 3/4 ton rotors on, but needed to fab up a 3/32 spacer & peen the edges of the rotor to get it centered & tight. Not sure I like it, definitely booty fab. Regardless, everything else is going alright. Gotta go with jays68yak - use the 1/2 ton rotors, then it'd be super simple. All else failing, which it might, that's where I'll end up.

More hacking tomorrow? Probably. Conclusion by the end of the week, yes, deadline. Gotta haul my unbusted-by-friday trailer across the state to pick up my buddy's CJ that's even more of a pain. Ah well.

-Nate

Late update: project finished, as planned. 1/2 ton spindles, 3/4 ton rotors & binders.

To do this: carve spindle to remove casting bulges (4 1/2" or die grinder.) Remove dust covers, discard. Use 3/32 spacer on rotor unless you really want to carve the threads right out of the spindles. Cut 1/8+" off caliper bolts (the end that used to stick out the outside of the spindle) and clean the threads. Everything fits now, though I haven't checked with a dial indicator, and don't want to...

Part numbers, NAPA:
Pads: AE-7256B-M
Rotors: 85962
Calipers: 242-2139, 242-2138

Prior to testimonial: also replaced rear lines & wheel cylinders, & master cylinder, might add to personal bias.

Testimonial: works awesome so far, way better stopping power, improved pedal feel.

TBD: premature wear & misalignment potential.

-Nate