I have a 98 ram 1500 with a 6" lift on 35s. As you can imagine, braking is HORRIBLE with the stock braking system. The truck is my daily and it scares me how bad the braking is. The pads, rotors, wheel cylinders, and shoes are all nearly new but they are still horrible. I'm wanting to either go with the power stop Z36 kit with everything or do the 2500 caliper swap with performance pads and rotors but I have a few questions.
1. Would you recommend the powerstop kit or the 2500 calipers? I dont care about cost when it comes to brake parts, I dont want to die.
2. Will the 2500 calipers fit in my 15" rims?
3. If i go with the 2500 calipers, should I get 1500 or 2500 pads?
4. What are the best pads on the market for these trucks? (again, dont care about price or longevity, just performance and not dying.)
5. What are the best rotors on the market for these trucks? Im thinking about the Summit Racing drilled and slotted rotors but if there is something better I will get those instead.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

2500 calipers (light duty, single piston fellers) and 1500 pads. Problem is, I doubt they will fit with your 15 inch rims..... anything is possible though. Worth giving it a shot.

Also install 3/4 ton wheel cylinders in the rear. Yeah, I know, yours are new...... Oh well.

 

Whell cylinders arent that expensive anyway. But if they dont fit in my 15s thats a deal breaker. Are they physically bigger than the 1500 calipers?

 

Yes, they are bigger, but not as big as the dual pistons that came in 2000. I did replacement calipers not long ago but stayed with stock because the rest of the parts were still okay and didn't want to buy rotors and pads.

Get 1500 rotors, 2500LD calipers (94-5) and pads for those. Your 1500 smaller pads won't fit I believe.

I remember looking at both at Napa and deciding then. They'll let you check things out.

 

The only difference in the 1500 calipers, and the 2500 LD calipers, is piston diameter. The caliper body might be a bit larger, but, I can't confirm that.

 

I'm surprised you don't have 16 inch rims. Swapping to 1 1/16" wheel cylinders made a huge difference on our 95. I'd try that first as it'll be less than $20. Does your truck have a valve in the rear brake line connected to the suspension? It's supposed to adjust braking according to the load. If you have it, I'd remove it.

 

2. Yes, many threads on this.
3. 2500 LIGHT DUTY (7500 GVW) pads. There is a thickness difference between the HD (8800 GVW) and LD (7500 GVW) 2500 pads and HD will NOT fit.
4. Powerstop, EBC, anything name brand that costs a couple bucks.
5. Standard rotors not slotted or drilled. Dumbest idea around for daily driven vehicles (esp in areas with winter /salt) as the slots / holes just promote rust growth and prematurely screw up the pads and braking surface.

Do the rear cylinders as well.

 

I had the 8800 gvw calipers and pads on my 98 1500. They were ordered by vin through the local dealer for a 1998 2500 v10 with the 8800 gvw that I had owned.

 

At some point, the "heavy" 3/4 tons went to dual piston calipers..... that's what they tried to sell me when I needed calipers for my 96. They showed me the calipers for the light duty, and those were correct. I suspect a lot of it depends on whose parts catalog you are looking at.

 

Yes they did, after 99. I should clarify you need calipers from the 8800 GVW in a 99 or older. Believe me I wish I had the Dual pistons on my v10, isn't an easy conversion either. The dual pistons will not fit in a single piston bracket.