Good front brake upgrade kit?

[PHOENIX]

I will need to do the front brakes soon and its about time to replace this crap.
I like Stainless Steel Brake Co. (SSBC) products and have been looking at their stuff.
I want a kit with new rotors, calipers, and pads w/ hoses and bearings if possible.
I know they offer a rotor and pad kit for around $280.00, but I want a kit that includes the calipers. I see they do have a pricy kit that includes spindles, but I dont need those. I could have sworn that someone posted about this SSBC kit before. I sent SSBC an email about this and waiting for their reply, I figured with all the rotor talk Id ask about a whole kit.

I am willing to consider other good brands (Brembo, Wilwood, etc.).

Eventually I will do the rear end disc conversion kit, but will not have the money this go around.

[Captkaos]

Those are the Force 10 kit, the calipers they use require the spindle for mounting.

7T7 got the Baer brake kit.

[BaggedC10]

I purchased the "Big Brake Upgrade Kit" from SSBC. It includes rotors, pads, calipers + hardware, bearings, seals, and everything else you need for a complete front brake rebuild/upgrade. It's only for 1-1/4" trucks though.

Swervin Ervin has this same kit and I'm very happy I took his recommendation. Add a pair of Goodridge stainless steel braided hoses and you'll be set!

[swervin ervin]

Here you go.

Front Big Brake Disc Brake Kit

Not cheap by any means, but it is nice and I would buy it again for sure. Everything you need except for hoses. But, you must have 1.25" spindles though.

Mike

[ElGracho]

Isn't the SSBC kit just using stock size rotors that have been slotted with 1 ton calipers and pads? Seems like you could get those parts locally cheaper.

[PHOENIX]

I believe my truck has standard brakes, not heavy duty but Im not sure.
Where do you measure the spindle to determine if I have the 1.25" spindle?
What would the other size spindle be?

Mike, did you change spindles to use this kit?

I have 15" wheels and dont plan on changing them anytime soon, so the kit needs to be able to fit stock size wheels.

I will look into the baer kit.

Edit:
WOW I didnt know this, but Baer is just a few miles away from my house.
They happen to be a few miles away from Performance Suspension and the UPS hub. Looking at a map online its a little hidden in some industrial buildings in that area. Ill have to go by there and check them out. Maybe they have a store in there or something.

[ocbaud]

Originally Posted by PHOENIX

I believe my truck has standard brakes, not heavy duty but Im not sure.
Where do you measure the spindle to determine if I have the 1.25" spindle?
What would the other size spindle be?

Mike, did you change spindles to use this kit?

I have 15" wheels and dont plan on changing them anytime soon, so the kit needs to be able to fit stock size wheels.

I will look into the baer kit.

the girth, of the umm.... shaft is either 1" or 1.25"

[PHOENIX]

So this is at the largest part of the spindle shaft?

[DCRANER]

I am considering a front / rear conversion, from Aerospace Components, buddy of mine has set on a drag car and quality looks very good and a reasonable price.

Go to www.aerospacecomponents.com and look at the Pro Street set up, 4 piston caliper, vented rotors, hardware ,etc., good quality stuff.

I think you can do front and plan on rear later with them.

[beaterC10]

Originally Posted by ocbaud

the girth, of the umm.... shaft is either 1" or 1.25"

Actually it is the width of the rotor.

[bigblock73]

Originally Posted by beaterC10

Actually it is the width of the rotor.

That is correct. Rotors came in either 1" or 1 1/4" thickness. I believe a majority of our trucks had the thicker rotors...at least that has been my experience so far.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

That is correct. Rotors came in either 1" or 1 1/4" thickness. I believe a majority of our trucks had the thicker rotors...at least that has been my experience so far.

Its the exact opposite for me. BTW, Blazers and Burbs default with the larger rotors.

[RockHQ]

So do diesel powered trucks.

[swervin ervin]

Eddie,

no I didn't change spindles. My truck came with 1.25" spindles stock. I have 2.5" drop Western Chassis spindles now. The Big Brake kit is basically the same as stock 1.25" spindle stuff, except for the slotted rotors. The calipers look the same as stock 1.25" calipers. One big difference in buying this kit and buying local stuff is everything is new. No rebuilt junk here. It all looks like first class stuff to me. If you price all the stuff local I think you would be hard pressed to get it much cheaper. Have you ever found any new (not rebuilt) calipers anywhere local? I looked everywhere and could not find any. Have you priced slotted rotors, bearings and seals?

$625 clams is nothing to sneeze at I agree. I guess it's all a matter of how much leg work you want to do. I always did love to do one stop shopping. Even if you do find everything local and in new condition, by the time you get through you might save a few bucks but my time is worth something. I would not ever buy brake parts for my truck from Advance or Autozone again. I've had it with the junk they sell. Been there, done that. With the money I have in my heap, I for sure want to be able to stop it just as good as it takes off.

Mike

[PHOENIX]

Yeah Mike I hear ya.
I priced some stuff from the local dealers and when you look at rotors and calipers the price starts to rise pretty quick.
$625 doesnt sound too bad for the kit.
Would be nice if it came with hoses though .
Im sure the stuff could be found cheaper, but I do agree the hunting and running around can take some time.
Plus its nice to know all the stuff came from blank blank and not have to figure out where you bought a part.
I know I can find new calipers local, Baer is just a few miles away
I sent them an email about kits they offer and have not received a reply yet.

1. Did you notice any improvement in stopping or noise?
2. Does that kit come with any hardware for mounting the calipers?
3. Does everything bolt right up (if you have 1-1/4" spindles) without modification?
-- I read on one site that you have to cut stuff, drill and tap for a different kit (not SSBC).
4. Are the pads the same dimensions as stock?

[swervin ervin]

Eddie,

it comes with everything you need, except for hoses. New caliper bolts included. No drilling or cutting. It fits like a glove. You will have to install the bearings and seals of course and don't forget to grease the bearings. Pads are the same size as the stock pads made for JB5 brakes, which is what came on my truck. I talked to SSBC about the kit before buying it. I asked him what pads I needed to buy for replacement when needed. He said the same pads as used on 3/4 ton trucks. After getting the kit, they are the same as what I already had. So JB5 pads is what you would need to buy when needed.

Since I already had big brakes anyway, I didn't really notice a difference in stopping but I've not driven it real hard or stopped real hard with it. As a matter of fact, I don't drive it much at all lately. I've been so busy with other stuff and haven't had the time. It's not a daily driver anyway and just sits quietly in the shop. I imagine it might be getting pretty lonely too.

[PHOENIX]

Also those with this SSBC kit, are the calipers the same as stock?
The piston on these stock calipers doesnt look like it can get any bigger
and still work with the pad.

[ElGracho]

Measure the rotor width, not the spindle. Its somewhat misleading to call them 1.25" spindles they are really 'the spindles that fit 1.25" rotors'

[PHOENIX]

thanks Joe
I wasnt reading well enough above.
The rotor thickness is close to 1".

[ocbaud]

Originally Posted by ElGracho

Measure the rotor width, not the spindle. Its somewhat misleading to call them 1.25" spindles they are really 'the spindles that fit 1.25" rotors'

haha , i screwed everyone up