Brakes ! ! !

[Bama40]

Today I test drove a very nice looking, nice running, nice shifting Dodge 3/4 ton truck with thoughts of purchasing a tow vehicle.

My only real problem with the vehicle is that I found it hard to stop. I really had to lay to the brakes to get the big rig to slow enough. More than once I 'almost' overran the turn I was slowing to make.

Owner said it was 'normal' and due to the vehicle being so heavy. Admittedly, I'm more used to driving/stopping a much lighter weighted Ford Ranger (10+ years). He said the brakes feel no different to him now than they did when he purchased it new.

Personally I found it a little scary. I felt as if I was on the brink of locking up the brakes a couple times just to get it stopped quick enough, and that's without testing any 'panic stops'. I can't imagine how scary it would feel heading down a steep downgrade towing my trailered rig (especially since the trailer has no brakes of it's own).

Any Dodge 2500 owners care to tell me about how well (or how badly) their vehicle stops? Is it me or ???? I've heard Dodges had 'brake' problems, but never anything specific about what the problems were.

(And no, I don't want to hear anything about diesels, discussing brakes, not engines)

[TR]

we have a 97 dodge 2500 regular cab at work that i sometimes drive and it stops no problem. it could just need new brake pads and or rear shoes.

[Oxjockey]

What year was it? The 98.5s started with rear discs, I believe. I had a 95, and if yours is an 8800 lb truck like mine, you should be experiencing decent braking.

As for the diesel thing, it actually makes a difference, the Dodge diesel's have a hydroboost system (at least in 2002) due to the lack of vacuum, I assume. My 2002 diesel with rear discs stops better than my 95 gasser with rear drums. (take it for what it's worth, IE same front end, but new vs old, etc)

Bryan

[Bama40]

It was a '96 model.

I'm guessing standard weight, it was a 4x4, extended cab, long bed and had a fiberglass shell on it.

All I meant by the diesel comment was I didn't want everyone to start talking the old diesel vs. gas arguement again since this was one of the V-10s. Hoping to keep the conversation centered on BRAKES.

I hope to test drive a co-workers 2500HD Chevy tomorrow and see if there is a difference. I need to find another 2500 4x4 Dodge though to be certian if it's just me or if it was the truck.

[Oxjockey]

I'm willing to bet it was the truck. Braking in my 95 was not a scary experience at all.

Bryan

[pcorssmit]

V10s had the 8800 lb GVW (ie 2500 HD).
Hydroboost started in '97, not sure if it was only Diesels, or all HDs (I know Chevy's heavier trucks have all had them for years, not sure on Dodge).
Rear disks (at least on 2500 HDs) started 2001.5.
I would think twice about pulling a heavy trailer w/no brakes w/a '96, it will tend to wear out brakes pretty quick. The front brakes were upgraded somewhere around 2000 to larger ones. Its not a bolt on deal, either, the knuckles and everything else are different (you can't even swap knuckles out). Also, I believe the 2002 front end is full time (no CAD).
As far as stopping power when driving around town, my '97 seems fine. Also, its pretty common for these trucks to pull to one side, many of them (mine included) have a small wheel spacer on one side on the front as a half-assed crutch-type fix for the problem (not that I'm bitter or anything ).

Pete

[Oxjockey]

Rear disks (at least on 2500 HDs) started 2001.5

I knew it was something.5

Yah, the 2002s have no vacuum disconnect, also the last year of the Dana axles in the Dodges.

Bryan

[mike]

I have a 96 1 ton ecab long bed with a fiberglass cab. It stops fine, even with the diesel and lack of engine vacuum (theres a vacuum pump ya know ) So I donno what to say, I've been driving trucks for several years, and full sizes at that. It's definatley NOT scary at all with a trailer behind me without brakes. Including down steep grades.

[Eskimo]

Both of our (the fire dept's) "Brush trucks" are Dodge's, '99's. One is a 2500, one is a 3500. Both gas motors. The 3500 has hydroboost for sure, can't remember about the 2500. They never roll out of the station with less than 1500lbs in the bed, and they stop OK, aside for the lack of good brake maintenance. But we do run 'em HARD.