The caliper question gets complicated. All the light duty 3/4 tons got the single piston calipers, but, the piston was larger diameter than the half ton calipers. It's my understanding that the dual piston calipers will NOT fit the single piston brackets. If you have different information on that, I would love to hear it.

I am not sure that the larger rear wheel cylinders are such a good idea, especially if the truck is empty most of the time. The rears, when empty, are already quite capable of locking the tires.... anti-lock brakes notwithstanding...... If you tow/haul regularly though, then it may be a good idea.

 

I'm liking the 2500 swao idea, I have a '99 though. Sound like the most economical way to get a brake upgrade without the trouble and cost of a custom upgrade. I'm not going to mess with the Chevy whell ctlinder though. I'm empty almost all the time so it would be a waste, the extra umph is needed up front.
I asume I should order 2500 calipers and rotors/pads for a '99 Ram, or are they all the same through the 2nd generation?

You just want the calipers from the earlier year truck. Rotors won't fit. Pads should be the same as the half ton guys, as the only difference in the calipers is piston size. This is a cheap, easy, bolt-on upgrade. They stopped making the LD 3/4 tons in 95 or 96.... so my guess is, you won't find them on later years.

 

Heyyou, is that really necessary?

 

Thanks! I'll get it done as soon as can and let you know how it turned out.

 

Is what necessary? I be confuzeled.

 

Pretty sure you just replied to this guy's post in his post It says last edited by heyyou on the bottom, was that an accident? haha

 

oh..... quite right. Ooops?

 

No big deal...LOL!! I saw it too. Took me a minute but I got it.

 

Some info on the brake specs/parts:

Ram 1500 1994-1999

Front:
Rotor 11.6x1.25, fixed, vented, 538.8 in2 swept area
Calliper 2.95"/75mm single piston
Pad: minimum 5/16"

Rear:
Drum 11x2"
Wheel Cylinder 0.937"/23.8mm bore
Shoe: minimum 1/16"

Ram 2500/3500 1994-1999
*Common Specifications:

Front:
Rotor 12.5x1.5" fixed, vented disk
Pad: minimum 5/16"

Rear:
Shoe: minimum 1/16

*Variations 2500-3500 1994-1999

Power Assist:
Dual Diaphragm 1994-1995 all; 1996-1999 Gas
Hydraulic 1996-1999 Diesel [note: to 2001]

Front:
Rotor: swept area 676.4 in2 2500; 761.8 in2 3500
Caliper: 3.14/80mm 2500 2wd; 3.38"/86mm 2500 4x4, 3500

Rear:
Drum: 13x2.5 2500 all 1994-1999; 13x3.5" 3500 all 1994-1999
Wheel Cylinder: 0.937"/23.8mm 2500 1994-1996; 1.06"/27mm 2500 1997-1999 and 3500 all 1994-1999

*Variations: 2000-2001 2500 and 3500 all, with build date before 1 January 2001

Front:
Calliper: 2.205"/56mm

Rear:
Drum: 12.125x3.5"
Wheel Cylinder: 1.00"/25.4mm

* Variations: 2001 2500 and 3500 all, built after 1 January 2001

Front:
Caliper: Dual 2.205"/56mm

Some of the above conflicts a bit with other info I've seen, but not critically. In particular I've seen other info that said some 2500's had the bigger 86mm callipers, while 7500 GVW 2 and 4wd and some Cummins diesels had the 80mm.

Probably not important unless you're digging in the boneyard for your parts. Note also that the 2-pisotn calliper change uses smaller 56mm pistons, so the big 86mm singles are probably a decent swap/upgrade candidate despite the simpler design.

Rear wheel cylinders for GM 1-ton dually 1995 model are 1 3/16 diameter, and bolt in.

 

Good info to know...
Wish I had the 12.5 inch rotors, that would be nice.