71 k20 needs to stop - dual piston calipers

[mattfrediani]

If I upgrade my calipers on my 71 K20 to wilwood dual piston calipers will it improve my stopping power? These trucks are heavy, does it make sense to do the rear as well?

[truckster]

Are you having problems with stopping power now? What kind of maintenance has been done on the brake systems so far?

In answer to your question, dual piston caliper should increase your stopping power, but I would check everything else before going that route. If the rest of your system isn't up to par, just bolting on dual piston calipers won't help much.

As far as the rear brakes, if your drum brakes are in good shape there's really not a need to switch to disc brakes. Most of the stopping power is up front.

[RustyBucket]

Originally Posted by truckster

In answer to your question, dual piston caliper should increase your stopping power, but I would check everything else before going that route. If the rest of your system isn't up to par, just bolting on dual piston calipers won't help much.

X2... both my trucks are stock disc/drum. Last year I did a pretty complete brake job on the '71 GMC .... and I still need to on the Blazer. Every now 'n then in a lonesome place I'll make a stand on the brakes, smoke the tires, PANIC STOP. Amazing difference in the stopping performance between the two trucks.

[weq92f]

Originally Posted by RustyBucket

X2... Every now 'n then in a lonesome place I'll make a stand on the brakes, smoke the tires, PANIC STOP. Amazing difference in the stopping performance between the two trucks.

This should be standard maintenance for all brake systems. Beat the h3ll out of them every now 'n then to keep them working properly.

Most folks don't even do what they should after getting new hardware ( pads and rotors ), which is "season" the rotors and "bed" the pads. The seasoning is done with the first few heat cycles of the new rotors. The bedding occurs when the pads deposit material on the rotor.

The procedure involves some light braking followed by some heaver braking followed with very heavy braking ( 65 to almost 0 as hard as you can 3 to 5 times in a row ) and finally a cooling period ( hours ). After this procedure it is often noted that the driver can smell brake pad burning and see smoke rising from the front brakes. Totally normal, that's what you want.

Once that is done, the pads and rotors will perform far better with more predictable response to rapid heating events ( rotors less likely to become warped ).

Hth,

-klb

[mike16]

two seals? twoo many leaks.

[cleszkie]

If you want stopping power, go Hydro-boost. Nuff said. Probably cheaper than a set of dual piston calipers too.

[Marine-58]

Just curious but what tires do you have? The best brakes in the world will still be limited by the traction of the tire with the road. Why spend big $$ upgrading when a well serviced factory system will allow you "lock them up"?

Personally I have been thinking of doing the research on what it would take to install ABS... Probably more money than the wife will let me spend...

[DarkFlounder]

When was the last time the brake system was fully flushed? Old brake fluid can absorb a lot of moisture, and in a panic stop, that moisture can flash to steam and make a bad situation even worse.

[kwmech]

If you are having problems stopping your truck, you've got problems with the braking system. I've never had issues stopping my trucks...even over loaded. My current driver is a 4 wheel drum system, stops just fine with 3000#s in the bed

[jocko]

Concur, factory 71 and up disks are more than sufficient for an otherwise stock truck when properly set up.

As for standing on the brakes as hard as you can at 65 mph as proper maintenance... well, a properly put together system will simply lock up with full pressure at that speed - and once you're skidding, you're not breaking in the brakes anymore, you're just skidding. There is a break-in procedure that involves heavier than normal braking, but that's not it. Hopefully nobody goes sailing off the road trying this in the meantime.

[mattfrediani]

Thanks guys, My entire system is new, 1" bore booster and new master cyl, proportioning valve, heavy duty lines, calipers, the whole 9 yards. the truck stops fine. I just want it to stop better.