damork
11-21-2003, 07:42
A while back I started searching for an answer to improved brakes on my truck. I had many parts personnel make the comment that they had customers asking how to improve their 90's GM light truck brakes, as they felt the oem system was marginal. I don't tow much, but had pads worn and an unnamed local parts store botched a rotor refinishing job so I needed to do some upgrading. What I found was an eye opener.
My 95 has rotors on the front and rear drums. For pads and shoes I researched EPS, Pagid, Bendix, Wagner, Raybestos, Performance Friction, Hawk Performance, Carbotech, and Praise Dyno.
I ended up going with Superstop shoes from Raybestos and Hawk Superduty compound in the front pads. Not many options out there for drums, but I felt the $40-45 I paid for the shoes was reasonable. Praise Dyno was attractive from a technical viewpoint, but the rear kit was over $200.
The Hawk Superduty pads were installed along with Powerslot rotors. It appears that the Hawk Superduty, Performance Friction Z compound, and the Raybestos Brute Force pads were likely to be similar, and would all be good choices. The Powerslot folks recommend the Hawk pads, so that's why I chose them. Pads came from RaceShopper.com (talk to Edwin) and Powerslots came from www.brakewarehouse.com (http://www.brakewarehouse.com) (talk to Robert). Pads were about $60/set, rotors $200/set. My total cost was about $300 to the door, and I'm sure my stopping capability is similar to much higher priced packages.
When ordering - make sure the front rotors are shipped in pairs. My first set were mismatched as they used different castings from time to time. If you have a 1/2 ton Tahoe or Yukon with a diesel - order the pads and rotors for the gas version. Otherwise you will be grinding pads or returning them for the right ones to fit the caliper. Hawks catalog thinks all Tahoes/Yukons are 3/4 ton, and there is very little difference in the pads. The studs for the rotor are just long enough to allow full engagement of the nuts with the new rotors as the new rotors have a thicker hub.
I didn't do any high tech testing, but the results were nothing short of phenomenal. The amount of pedal force is reduced to do the same stopping as before. It seems like I could lock up the wheels if I wanted to.
A company named Carbotech is close to releasing a pad for use in SUV's/light trucks that claims to be even better than the Hawk/PF/Raybestos pads and gives good rotor life. The owner of the company says you will have to accept some noise (squeaks), but braking performance is great.
I don't have any problems with brake dust yet and from what I have learned, these pads are supposed to be quite rotor friendly.
My 95 has rotors on the front and rear drums. For pads and shoes I researched EPS, Pagid, Bendix, Wagner, Raybestos, Performance Friction, Hawk Performance, Carbotech, and Praise Dyno.
I ended up going with Superstop shoes from Raybestos and Hawk Superduty compound in the front pads. Not many options out there for drums, but I felt the $40-45 I paid for the shoes was reasonable. Praise Dyno was attractive from a technical viewpoint, but the rear kit was over $200.
The Hawk Superduty pads were installed along with Powerslot rotors. It appears that the Hawk Superduty, Performance Friction Z compound, and the Raybestos Brute Force pads were likely to be similar, and would all be good choices. The Powerslot folks recommend the Hawk pads, so that's why I chose them. Pads came from RaceShopper.com (talk to Edwin) and Powerslots came from www.brakewarehouse.com (http://www.brakewarehouse.com) (talk to Robert). Pads were about $60/set, rotors $200/set. My total cost was about $300 to the door, and I'm sure my stopping capability is similar to much higher priced packages.
When ordering - make sure the front rotors are shipped in pairs. My first set were mismatched as they used different castings from time to time. If you have a 1/2 ton Tahoe or Yukon with a diesel - order the pads and rotors for the gas version. Otherwise you will be grinding pads or returning them for the right ones to fit the caliper. Hawks catalog thinks all Tahoes/Yukons are 3/4 ton, and there is very little difference in the pads. The studs for the rotor are just long enough to allow full engagement of the nuts with the new rotors as the new rotors have a thicker hub.
I didn't do any high tech testing, but the results were nothing short of phenomenal. The amount of pedal force is reduced to do the same stopping as before. It seems like I could lock up the wheels if I wanted to.
A company named Carbotech is close to releasing a pad for use in SUV's/light trucks that claims to be even better than the Hawk/PF/Raybestos pads and gives good rotor life. The owner of the company says you will have to accept some noise (squeaks), but braking performance is great.
I don't have any problems with brake dust yet and from what I have learned, these pads are supposed to be quite rotor friendly.