ATTN GMCBLU: Showing off my 21,000 mile DRUM Brakes...hehe - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68 Suburban · 07-30-2002, 04:34 PM

GMCBLU, You ask for more proof? I just got done taking pitures of my Kevlar Shoes and the Drum at 21,000 miles. I would still say there is at least 90% of the front shoes left! The back ones look like new! And not one grove in the drum!!!! What do other peoples shoes and pads look like at 20K miles ?

By the way, that is with a lot of towing miles too.

**ThreeQuarter** · 07-30-2002, 04:49 PM

Cool. Are those the upgraded drums? Or just the Kevlar shoes? (Does he even sell shoes only?) Everything I see about PraiseDyno's products is good, and I'll try to drop in on Mr. Ambrose on Friday on my way to the folks'.

Long shoe life is good, but I'm really more concerned about that one stop I may need to make to save my life (and saving my truck would be good, too), and an article by Muscle Car Review that PraiseDyno posted on their website gave me a good idea of their performance. I'm in no big hurry though, I won't be in the market for several more months.

Chris, thanks for the pics and the testimonial. This product has obviously proven itself to you. I'll be very happy if this setup can help me justify keeping the front drums (my decisions take time) because I'd like to keep the original setup, and I don't want the low-slung front end that disks would give it.

Ben

68 Suburban · 07-30-2002, 04:56 PM

gmcblu, if I could post a picture on how well my burb stops with these brakes, I would

Believe me, if they did not stop my burb (while towing 4500 lbs), I would not be happy with them. Those are normal $24 drums in the pictures. They have a process you can do to your brake parts that is suppose to really help disapate heat, but I don't know if it is really benificial. Besides, unless you are doing a lot of towing or autocross, I don't think you need it.

These are the new Kevlar shoes. They are suppose to be an even better material and no rivets! These are the new ones that Mr Ambrose sent me to replace the ones in the top picture. I have been lazy doing it, because of the 110 degree heat outside and I feel the old ones are just fine for now

**ThreeQuarter** · 07-30-2002, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Those are normal $24 drums in the pictures.

You mean they're the same ones you can buy at any parts store? Or they're PraiseDyno's "normal" drums? (As opposed to the cryogenically frozen ones.) I read about the cryogenics process on the website and have heard of doing that to metal products before, like shaving razors.

I'm not clear on whether he sells shoes only, without his drums, or if they only come in kits with shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, springs, etc.

So which kit did you get and exactly what parts did it include? If you got new springs, explain to me how these much heavier ones are not any harder to install than factory springs (as he claims on the website).

68 Suburban · 07-30-2002, 05:27 PM

Quote:

I'm not clear on whether he sells shoes only, without his drums, or if they only come in kits with shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, springs, etc.

The kit I got comes with the front and back shoes, and the heavy duty spring kit. The drums I used are cheap auto parts store type. The cryogenically frozen drums are a lot more than $24

You can also have your own drums treated. Im not possitive, but I think I was quoted $25 a drum here in Phoenix.

I understand that he has a newly designed wheel cylinders that apply more preasure and will make your manual brakes feel more like power brakes, but I don't know much about them.

The heavy duty spring kit didn't seem any harder to install than stock springs. The idea behind the heavier springs is so the return of the shoes is much better and there isno hang up.

68 Suburban · 07-30-2002, 07:42 PM

I was just looking at my picture and I think I need to clean off my tie rod ends!

**Palf70Step** · 07-30-2002, 09:26 PM

I'm still new to this group...and especially out of practice with drums...I need to redo my 70's real soon. Where do you get these Kevlar shoes? I'd sure like to use them on my truck. If they do hal of what you say, I'll be real happy with the stopping of mine

Thanks

68 Suburban · 07-30-2002, 09:34 PM

Welcome, and you can check out www.praisedynobrake.com

**Palf70Step** · 07-30-2002, 10:10 PM

Thanks mucho!!

67 SS · 07-30-2002, 10:27 PM

Brake pads will last forever when you don't use the brake pedal!!!

:p

**MikeB** · 08-02-2002, 07:12 PM

O.K. So how $much are their shoes and pads?

mikep · 08-02-2002, 07:55 PM

My truck is a 3/4 ton and has power drum brakes. It has 34 years and 180,000 miles on it. It has never been wrecked. It tows a very heavy boat right now fairly often in mountainous terrain. I drive it too fast most of the time and have never experienced anything that I would consider dangerous having to do with the way it stops even in wet weather which we get quite often where I live. Unless I just get really bored and feel like blowing a few hundred bucks I am not going to install disk brakes . My wheels stay clean . My brakes work fine. The self adjusters work the way their supposed to.

PanelDeland · 08-04-2002, 07:10 AM

I saw an article a while back on drilling brake drums.The holes were drilled in the contact area of the drums and spaced to keep the drum balanced.According to the article the drums and shoes heat and form a gas that gets trapped between them and reduces stopping power.The holes supposedly let these gases escape and help to reduce fade by keeping the drum/shoe cooler. They were advocating this as a way to improve brakes on mid-fifties cars that did not have disc kits available,but also claimed it would help any drum brake.Fading was also a factor in the authors decision to drill his drums.
I don't remember which mag I saw it in but I would venture a guess it was Custom Rodder.

**MikeB** · 08-04-2002, 10:57 AM

I spent lots of money on various front shoes and drums and never could make them work well. When I lived in the Colorado mountains, I felt like I needed to throw out an anchor after a twisting and turning 5-mile downhill drive. I had a new master cylinder and high-dollar brake fluid, but it was matter of the brakes just not being able to dissipate the heat fast enough. Maybe finned front drums and Praise Dyno shoes would have made a difference, but the 86 front disc setup that I finally installed solved my problems, and I'm only using 1" thick standard duty rotors. If your drum brakes work well, I envy you because the conversion job is expensive and a pain.

68 Suburban · 08-04-2002, 01:14 PM

PanelDeland, Here is an idea instead of drilling the drums.

http://forums.vmag.com/suvsuburban09...ages/2295.html

Longhorn Man · 08-04-2002, 01:25 PM

mikep, something to remember, the 3/4 and one ton trucks have monster brakes compaired to the 1/2 ton ones. The 1/2 ton is dinky in comparison.
When i had the old 3/4 ton, once I rebuilt the front brakes, it stopped straight and true, however, I did get brake fade in the freeway durring panic stops.
i have spoken to an owner of a '68 3/4 ton Longhorn out in Cali who runs these kevlar shoes, and he swears by them.
I have actually been wondering if i should install the discs I have for the Longhorn, or just get these shoes. The disc set up is pretty fugly and rusted...pretty much everything needs replaced on them.

07-30-2002, 04:34 PM	#1
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	ATTN GMCBLU: Showing off my 21,000 mile DRUM Brakes...hehe GMCBLU, You ask for more proof? I just got done taking pitures of my Kevlar Shoes and the Drum at 21,000 miles. I would still say there is at least 90% of the front shoes left! The back ones look like new! And not one grove in the drum!!!! What do other peoples shoes and pads look like at 20K miles ? By the way, that is with a lot of towing miles too. __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation. Last edited by 68 Suburban; 07-30-2002 at 04:48 PM.

07-30-2002, 04:49 PM	#2
ThreeQuarter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texan in Iowa Posts: 2,522	Cool. Are those the upgraded drums? Or just the Kevlar shoes? (Does he even sell shoes only?) Everything I see about PraiseDyno's products is good, and I'll try to drop in on Mr. Ambrose on Friday on my way to the folks'. Long shoe life is good, but I'm really more concerned about that one stop I may need to make to save my life (and saving my truck would be good, too), and an article by Muscle Car Review that PraiseDyno posted on their website gave me a good idea of their performance. I'm in no big hurry though, I won't be in the market for several more months. Chris, thanks for the pics and the testimonial. This product has obviously proven itself to you. I'll be very happy if this setup can help me justify keeping the front drums (my decisions take time) because I'd like to keep the original setup, and I don't want the low-slung front end that disks would give it. Ben __________________ Ben '68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner '16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3

07-30-2002, 04:56 PM	#3
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	gmcblu, if I could post a picture on how well my burb stops with these brakes, I would Believe me, if they did not stop my burb (while towing 4500 lbs), I would not be happy with them. Those are normal $24 drums in the pictures. They have a process you can do to your brake parts that is suppose to really help disapate heat, but I don't know if it is really benificial. Besides, unless you are doing a lot of towing or autocross, I don't think you need it. These are the new Kevlar shoes. They are suppose to be an even better material and no rivets! These are the new ones that Mr Ambrose sent me to replace the ones in the top picture. I have been lazy doing it, because of the 110 degree heat outside and I feel the old ones are just fine for now __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation. Last edited by 68 Suburban; 08-04-2002 at 02:01 PM.

07-30-2002, 07:42 PM	#6
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	I was just looking at my picture and I think I need to clean off my tie rod ends! __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation.

07-30-2002, 09:26 PM	#7
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,762	I'm still new to this group...and especially out of practice with drums...I need to redo my 70's real soon. Where do you get these Kevlar shoes? I'd sure like to use them on my truck. If they do hal of what you say, I'll be real happy with the stopping of mine Thanks __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

07-30-2002, 09:34 PM	#8
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	Welcome, and you can check out www.praisedynobrake.com __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation.

07-30-2002, 10:10 PM	#9
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,762	Thanks mucho!! __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

07-30-2002, 10:27 PM	#10
67 SS Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: NW ARKANSAS Posts: 258	Brake pads will last forever when you don't use the brake pedal!!! :p :p

08-02-2002, 07:12 PM	#11
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,470	O.K. So how $much are their shoes and pads? __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; 08-02-2002 at 07:15 PM.

08-02-2002, 07:55 PM	#12
mikep Used to have a truck Join Date: May 2002 Location: port orchard WA Posts: 1,552	My truck is a 3/4 ton and has power drum brakes. It has 34 years and 180,000 miles on it. It has never been wrecked. It tows a very heavy boat right now fairly often in mountainous terrain. I drive it too fast most of the time and have never experienced anything that I would consider dangerous having to do with the way it stops even in wet weather which we get quite often where I live. Unless I just get really bored and feel like blowing a few hundred bucks I am not going to install disk brakes . My wheels stay clean . My brakes work fine. The self adjusters work the way their supposed to. __________________ No truck :-(

08-04-2002, 07:10 AM	#13
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	I saw an article a while back on drilling brake drums.The holes were drilled in the contact area of the drums and spaced to keep the drum balanced.According to the article the drums and shoes heat and form a gas that gets trapped between them and reduces stopping power.The holes supposedly let these gases escape and help to reduce fade by keeping the drum/shoe cooler. They were advocating this as a way to improve brakes on mid-fifties cars that did not have disc kits available,but also claimed it would help any drum brake.Fading was also a factor in the authors decision to drill his drums. I don't remember which mag I saw it in but I would venture a guess it was Custom Rodder. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

08-04-2002, 10:57 AM	#14
MikeB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,470	I spent lots of money on various front shoes and drums and never could make them work well. When I lived in the Colorado mountains, I felt like I needed to throw out an anchor after a twisting and turning 5-mile downhill drive. I had a new master cylinder and high-dollar brake fluid, but it was matter of the brakes just not being able to dissipate the heat fast enough. Maybe finned front drums and Praise Dyno shoes would have made a difference, but the 86 front disc setup that I finally installed solved my problems, and I'm only using 1" thick standard duty rotors. If your drum brakes work well, I envy you because the conversion job is expensive and a pain. __________________ Mike 1969 C10 LWB -- owned for 35 years. 350/TH350, 3.08 posi, 1st Gen Vintage Air, AAW wiring harness, 5-lug conversion, 1985 spindles and brakes. 1982 C10 SWB -- sold 1981 C10 Silverado LWB -- sold, but wish I still had it! 1969 C10 (not the current one) that I bought in the early 1980s. Paid $1200; sold for $1500 a few years later. Just a hint at the appreciation that was coming. Retired as a factory automation products salesman. Worked part-time over the years for an engine builder and a classic car repair shop. Member here for 24 years! This is the very first car/truck Internet forum I joined. I still used a dial-up modem back then! Last edited by MikeB; 08-04-2002 at 11:03 AM.

08-04-2002, 01:14 PM	#15
68 Suburban Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,802	PanelDeland, Here is an idea instead of drilling the drums. http://forums.vmag.com/suvsuburban09...ages/2295.html __________________ Just sitting here contemplating contemplation.

08-04-2002, 01:25 PM	#16
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	mikep, something to remember, the 3/4 and one ton trucks have monster brakes compaired to the 1/2 ton ones. The 1/2 ton is dinky in comparison. When i had the old 3/4 ton, once I rebuilt the front brakes, it stopped straight and true, however, I did get brake fade in the freeway durring panic stops. i have spoken to an owner of a '68 3/4 ton Longhorn out in Cali who runs these kevlar shoes, and he swears by them. I have actually been wondering if i should install the discs I have for the Longhorn, or just get these shoes. The disc set up is pretty fugly and rusted...pretty much everything needs replaced on them.



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