replacing brakes what brand?

[jstrong394]

replacing rotors calipers and pads. rockauto has beat everyone on prices with all the front end parts. All moog. Looking at brakes and there a lot more expensive than oreilly. Are the brake equipment that oreilly sales junk? Just figured rock auto would be cheaper but not this time. Just curious what you guys recommend

[Shugalou]

I got a pair of Delco remanned calipers and the pads didn't fit properly....don't make the same mistake I did and try to make them fit.

[Ski-me]

Any core charges from Rockauto? I got new calipers, rotors and pads from O'Reilly's and have been happy with them. I got the rotors with the hubs all inclusive. Be sure to get new bearings and perhaps new locking nuts (with locking ring). One has a nub, the other does not and usually people end up mixing those up. Nub may be gone from previous owner....

Also find out about shipping costs. All those add up.

If you buy locally and something doesn't line up, at least you can go back to them and get the right one.

[hatzie]

I usually use Raybestos or Wagner friction linings, wheel cylinders and, hardware kits.
I use whatever the mid priced remans are for calipers and Master Cylinders.
It's been a long time since I put drums and rotors on one of these trucks. Raybestos was pretty reasonable the last time I bought a set for the trucks.
I used EBC rotors on my LS4 Impala but they're outrageously expensive for these trucks.

[Ski-me]

I think I used mid-grade semi-metallic pads on the blazer and doing great.

I used Wagner ThermoQuiet on my suburban (04') and no issues as well. If you can get a deal on the Wagners, great. Coupon, online discount, etc.

[tucsonjwt]

I am surprised to hear that Delco parts were a bad fit. Personally, I would do everything with AC Delco parts, especially moving parts. The price won't be much more than aftermarket if you go to the OEM online sellers:

www.oewarehouse.com
www.oehq.com
www.gmpartsdirect.com
www.davesauto.com
www.rockauto.com

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

I am surprised to hear that Delco parts were a bad fit. Personally, I would do everything with AC Delco parts, especially moving parts. The price won't be much more than aftermarket if you go to the OEM online sellers:

www.oewarehouse.com
www.oehq.com
www.gmpartsdirect.com
www.davesauto.com
www.rockauto.com

One thing I've learned is not all AC Delco's are the same. Basically there are suppliers that get to use the AC Delco name but there are different levels and different grades of quality.

Good - AC Delco Advantage
Better - AC Delco Professional
Best - AC Delco GM OE Replacement

[tucsonjwt]

Correct. There are different ACD grades. I look for OE replacement or professional in the description of the part. You can tell by the difference in part numbers and cost of the parts when you see more than one listing for an ACD part.

I have received good ACD parts from the suppliers listed, but that is no guarantee of future quality. For a part like a wheel cylinder I want the best, because a leaking wheel cylinder can ruin a set of drums and shoes. For drums, shoes, pads, etc., I am not so particular.

[enaberif]

Because of how finicky I am I would be rebuilding my calipers if they were the originals the truck than buying new.

Rebuild kits are cheap and rebuilding a caliper is dead simple.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by Shugalou

I got a pair of Delco remanned calipers and the pads didn't fit properly....don't make the same mistake I did and try to make them fit.

My question would be; what didn't fit and why?

I've gotten on more than once occasion a caliper that had a chisel mark in the pad area deforming it so a new pad wouldn't fit in. Whoever installed pads on that thought deforming the caliper to hold the pad was a better idea than deforming the tabs on the pad. A file fixed the deformation and that caliper is still riding on my truck.
Rebuilders fault for not catching it? Yeah, but it wasn't a functional/rebuild problem. Stupid DIY'er or lazy tech fixing a pad rsattle noise complaint.

Doesn't matter whose name is on it, comes down to how thorough the guy doing the rebuild is. These days though, I'm not so sure I'd think higher of acdelco remans or a1cardones. Everybodys cost cutting and 'hurry up' is everywhere.

Alex.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by enaberif

Because of how finicky I am I would be rebuilding my calipers if they were the originals the truck than buying new.

Rebuild kits are cheap and rebuilding a caliper is dead simple.

As long as the pistons aren't pitted or damaged and the casting isn't flaking large chunks of rust then I agree with you.
Push out the piston and find out...

Originally Posted by Axle

My question would be; what didn't fit and why?

I've gotten on more than once occasion a caliper that had a chisel mark in the pad area deforming it so a new pad wouldn't fit in. Whoever installed pads on that thought deforming the caliper to hold the pad was a better idea than deforming the tabs on the pad. A file fixed the deformation and that caliper is still riding on my truck.
Rebuilders fault for not catching it? Yeah, but it wasn't a functional/rebuild problem. Stupid DIY'er or lazy tech fixing a pad rsattle noise complaint.

Doesn't matter whose name is on it, comes down to how thorough the guy doing the rebuild is. These days though, I'm not so sure I'd think higher of acdelco remans or a1cardones. Everybodys cost cutting and 'hurry up' is everywhere.

Alex.

Ship it quick. It doesn't matter if it works. The price point competition is so far behind them in quality they can get away with it.

[Shugalou]

The problem with the caliper was it looks like material was added where the tabs of the pad should be flush and it wasn't seating because of the excess.

I was able to return no problem at all and was told "this is the first time I've seen this". Lucky me a lot of firsts with the brake system rebuild.