Why rear Drums for 2005?

[mcmonroe]

So what makes rear drums brakes something to banner as a "new" feature with the 2005 trucks?

So what are they going to do next -- yank the ABS, perhaps remove the power booster, maybe drums up front would be nice?

Maybe crank windows and a 2-speed powerglide tanny will be the new additions for next year?

Someone please tell me what they are thinking?

Mark Monroe
Harrisburg NC

[ 09-07-2004, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Mark Monroe ]

[txguppy]

I heard that they were just for the 1500's, not the 2500HD's

[lineman]

Maybe it's so you don't have to listen to 4 sets of brake pads squealing. Just 2 again. Lineman

[More Power]

Page 106 of the September 2004 issue of Truckin magazine shows a 2003 Chevy 2500HD Duramax powered truck being fitted with aftermarket tires/wheels. On page 108, it shows the rear drums on this truck.....

So it appears at least in 2003, GM began using rear drums on at least some of its 2500HD trucks....

I had heard a rumor a while ago that suggested that some E-brake components in the rear disk brakes were becoming a problem for their owners due to rust/corrosion in harsh environments. I suspect the midwest rust belt or a coastal area could contribute to rusting of the rear emergency brake components due to a lack of use. Unlike the emergency brake components in a drum brake equipped truck that are part of the regular brake system, the disk brake setups utilize a separate small drum and shoe components inside the rotors for the E-brake. Since many owners don't use the E-brake on a regular basis, the related components become less reliable over time.

I think there's a lesson here for those owners who have a rear disk brake equipped truck... That being to use the E-brake more often.

MP

[ 09-08-2004, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: More Power ]

[Dewey Faircloth]

Bought a 2005 Chevy 2500HD 4th Sept. and it had disc brakes on the back.Also front.

Dewey

[BassinRVer]

I heard they were going to drums in the rear due to rocks and debris damaging the surface of the rear rotors.

[ 09-10-2004, 11:35 AM: Message edited by: BassinRVer ]

[JoeyD]

I can't see it as a cost saving swap for GM. Rear drums are very expensive. Maybe they work better. I know the trend was disk is best but maybe they found something out.

[Jorday]

All the 05 2500HD trucks at the dealer around here are disc in the rear still. The 1500s are rear drum, though.

[DmaxMaverick]

$$

Disc brakes cost nearly double that of drum systems. This is from a manufacturers stand point, not a repair. The initial cost is the difference. Compare the price difference between a slave cylinder and a caliper. Drums/rotors are relatively similar in price, as are pads/shoes.

Rear discs are overkill on a 1/2 ton, although I would rather have the disc over drum. They will never see the loads (legally) that really make rear discs shine. Could be GM saw it this way, too.
Naw. It's the $$. Same price, less product.

[dieseldealer]

The reason GM went to rear drums for the 1500 was for 2 reasons, cheaper to produce and cost of warranty repairs. For some reason the rear rotors rusted severely on the 1500 trucks. This rust problem was supposedly caused by the rear brakes not needing to work very hard because most 1500 trucks never tow or haul anything heavy. Our dealership has had MANY 1500 rear brake issues. GM has issued a 7 page brake service bulletin stating how these repairs should be handled. Besides the drums brakes, the 1500`s have a new master cylinder and brake booster.

[mcmonroe]

Originally posted by dieseldealer:
The reason GM went to rear drums for the 1500 was for 2 reasons, cheaper to produce and cost of warranty repairs. For some reason the rear rotors rusted severely on the 1500 trucks. This rust problem was supposedly caused by the rear brakes not needing to work very hard because most 1500 trucks never tow or haul anything heavy. Our dealership has had MANY 1500 rear brake issues. GM has issued a 7 page brake service bulletin stating how these repairs should be handled. Besides the drums brakes, the 1500`s have a new master cylinder and brake booster. That really doesn't make any sense. Most all of todays cars come with 4-wheel disc brakes and some only see daily usage by little old ladies with very little hard usage.

Lets not forget that some cars like Corvettes and especially ZO6 Corvettes have brakes designed for track/high performance usage. Daily driven Corvettes by secretaries would only use a fraction of their brakes true capacities -- yet we dont see GM putting drum brakes on base Corvettes or any Corvette for that manner.

I have a feeling that there is more to the story that is being told by GM. Sounds like they are trying to avoid explaining what is most likely some design problems or cost problems and turn them around and somehow make the customer look like the problem.

Not only that - but - they making the change back to drum brakes look like something "new and improved" for 2005. Go figure.

Random thoughts..

Mark

[n3qik]

The company I work for has about 30 1500 trucks that needed new E-brake work. Started this thread 2 years ago on this, http://forum.thedieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=004126#000014
We will be happy with this change smile.gif .
Also, most of our trucks are manual, so the E-brake get used alot.

[millerliteliker]

This is nothing more than crap from GM - all that is behind this is so that GM can save money. What other OEM in the WORLD is moving FROM disc brakes to drums?! GM has a problem with the parking brake and so their solution is to revert back to drum brakes? How about fixing the problem with the discs?!

Thank goodness I don't drive 1/2 pickups because it would not be a GM. BTW, my brakes on my 2003 GMC 2500HD CC work great - and they are 4 wheel discs.

[HDV-rod]

Mine worked great too, untill they rotted out....

I wish they would fix it right, this is not new ground for a OEM to have to deal with.

[quadrunner500]

Originally posted by millerliteliker:
This is nothing more than crap from GM - all that is behind this is so that GM can save money. What other OEM in the WORLD is moving FROM disc brakes to drums?! GM has a problem with the parking brake and so their solution is to revert back to drum brakes? How about fixing the problem with the discs?!

Thank goodness I don't drive 1/2 pickups because it would not be a GM. BTW, my brakes on my 2003 GMC 2500HD CC work great - and they are 4 wheel discs. I agree. Anybody who knew the reputation of the pre '99 Silverados with drums knew that brakes were not a strong point. The 4 wheel discs on my '99 1500 Siverado and '01 2500HD Dmax were wonderful, not a single problem either one.

[JoeyD]

The problem with the older trucks brakes were not the fact that they used drums it was a combo of master cylinder, ABS, brake bias and drum and rotor size.
Toyota uses drums on the rear of the Tundra and they have excellent braking systems.

[quadrunner500]

Originally posted by Joey D:
Toyota uses drums on the rear of the Tundra and they have excellent braking systems. Noooo...hoh...hoh they don't! Tundra has multitudinous woes caused by its brakes, warping rotors, steering wheel shakes and shimmies, out of round drums, brake TSBs and NHTSA brake complaints through the roof.

[staley52]

cars can get away with the rear disks because they have disks sized for stopping the car, the trucks have to be able to stop the rated load and with thousands of the trucks being soccer mobiles and office worker transport they don't build up enough heat to properly burn off the rust and varnish causing problems.
if more of these drivers would use the truck for a truck and not a comuter lazy chair we would not have such soft wimpy trucks that cost 50k

[HDV-rod]

Yeah, its the drivers fault GM can't source out quality metal for their rotors..... :rolleyes:

Ford and Dodge don't seem to have these issues. I guess GM is the only brand that attracts the "soccer mom" types...

Hi, I'm earth, have we met?

[Cliffee]

I picked up an 05 2500HD yesturday. It has rear disc brakes. Not drums.

[B-Rad502]

My 2500HD 4x4 cc was just built in Flint, Michigan 3 weeks ago and has discs front and rear. smile.gif

[RdTxTd]

The specs on the Chevy web site show that only the 1500 has drums. 1500HD, 2500HD, and 3500 have discs.

What's weird is the 1500HD has larger (13.0 x 1.4 in) discs than the 3500 (12.8 x 1.2 in) according to the Chevy web site.

Dave

[62dog]

Both front and rear rotors of my 02 are rusting.

Take a look at some of the stuff the big 3 are up to when it come to brake technology.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/procut02.htm

[GMC Dealer]

The 2005's 1/2 tons stop much better and have way better brake feel that the 2004's. I don't care what they use, as long as it stops quicker.