I have a new-to-me 98 1500 standard cab long bed, stockish tires (265s?). Using it as a daily driver and a short-lived tow rig for my Jeep (flat tow). Been tinkering on it, fixing little stuff, and went out tonight to test the brakes. Hammered on it, cold, warm, couldn't get my front brakes to lock, and the brakes generally suck. Looked under the hood, only one line from the master goes through the ABS, so I'm thinking it's only rear ABS. Also no wires going to the front hub bearings.

I understand there are mods for the rear brakes, but they won't do much for me if I can't lock the front brakes up. Been thinking of going with EBS Yellows or a new Black Magic pad a friend is selling that is considerably better than the EBCs. Also been thinking of doing the 2500 caliper swap.

Question is, has any of these mods worked well for anyone? My wife's Jeep has incredible brakes on it and can easily lock all four up, even with larger tires, but it's all custom. I don;t mind custom, I just want to get close to the same city of that ballpark.

Thanks!

 

I have a 95 reg cab short bed and the same problem. I recently replaced my calipers, pads, rotors and my master cylinder due to a small leak. They seem to be a little better but still no lock up. So if you try anything and it works please let me know. I am a mechanic and In a side by side comparison of the 2500 and 1500 calipers, there is a slight difference in size but didn't think it would make that much of a difference. Hope that helps at all

 

The larger piston size will give more clamping pressure for a given master cylinder pressure (pedal pressure), but I'd like to know if it's enough.

I'm contemplating pulling the knuckles, grabbing a rotor application catalog, and fabbing a big brake upgrade with larger dual-piston calipers, like what Vanco does for Jeeps.

These brakes SUCK.

 

my abs light came on...had no abs, but light went out after a while, and i didnt do anything to it.....but with no abs, my tires will lock up no problem....but dont lock up unless i really hit the brakes.....happened the other night when i was zoned out, and almost ran a red light..stompped the brakes and my tires locked right up comming to a screeching hault...and then the look of embaressment on my face as people who saw drove by me lol.


also our rear brakes suck, and need to be adjusted pretty much every 3-5K...if the rears dont generate enough stopping power then the fronts wont activate (or so ive been told) So try adjusting the rear brakes and see if it helps.

 

You should be able to lock your front brakes without too much trouble. If you are standing on the pedal, and they DON'T lock, something is awry. Did you replace the soft lines as well, when you did the brakes? What fluid are you using? Did you bleed them REALLY well?

The rear ABS in these trucks is pretty much worthless. Mine doesn't work worth a damn, even the the system thinks it is working 'properly'......

 

The rear drum brakes use a star self-adjusting mechanism.

 

That doesn't work as well as it should.

 

When I replaced my calipers, I completely flushed all the lines. I'm using dot4. Before I changed the calipers I even flushed the system with fresh dot3 and it didn't do anything so I fugured it can't hurt

 

How does your pedal feel? Nice and firm? No excessive travel?

 

Hey, was this resolved? What fixed it?