ok i got them in today.. i was wondering if you had any problems with the posts that get jamed into each end of the cylinder. i ended up having to cut down a little less the a 1/4 inch to get them to fit between the nothces in the shoes. i tried for a good hour to get them to fit... hacksawed off a little less then a 1/4 inch and they fit pretty good. im gonna try them out... still waiting on parts .. so it will be a while to road test it.

 

You're talking about the pin that goes between the cylinder and the shoe, yes? I didn't have to mod them at all. Did you try this with new shoes? Are your new cylinders the type with the dust seals on the inside or over the end (like caps)?

What parts are you waiting on?

 

I was thinking that might be the route to go. That way you can back it off when you don't have a load and crank it up when you do. It would be much better than the RWAL deciding for you .

 

Sure, nice 6 position valve. Empty/Wet, Half/Wet, Loaded/Wet, Empty/Dry, Half/Dry, Loaded/Dry ... Least to Most ... only $75. Of course, I have trouble shaking less than half that out of the wife for ANYTHING. I usually just get the thing then try to explain to her what it does. You should hear THOSE discussions. [:@]

 

YA, as soon as I pull out the parts catalog or go on ebay I just get "the look".

Honest honey I'm only looking.

 

yea the pin thats chaneled at one end that contacts the shoes and the other end goes into the cylinder. i woulnt think new or old shoes would matter.. same style... the new cylinders have the dust seals on the inside,, that dont wrap around like the stockers do.

im waiting on front end parts.. originally i tore into the truck for axle joints ball joints and front brakes.. got the whole axle ripped apart... painted up a few peices too..

anyway.. lemme know what you think... after i test drive my current setup ill post back.. and ill get new "pusher" peices or watever you wann acall them.. the posts that i cut.. hopefully the dealer will have them

 

A little off topic,
but if there are any Ram owners willing to do more rear brake experiments
fitting the big aluminum drum 1980s GM brakes to the rear of a Ram
might slightly improve everything...braking, MPG and acceleration.

Many of the hot rod magazines have ads showing the big aluminum GM drums on Ford 9 inch equipped axles.

 

I guess ill throw my two cents in, about 2 years ago i upgraded my 95 1500 2wd to the larger 2500 master cylinder and also the 3500 rear wheel cylinders. i had no issues doing this even though the parts dude said it would never work, whatever. anyway my truck stops better and the pedal is like 2 inches higher now. i feel confident stoppping fast now that the pedal doesnt like almost touch the floor. i have had no issues with the cheesey rear wheel only antilock i think it come on twice in 136,00 miled stopping fast on rutted pavement. this was likw a total payout of like 70 bucks and i feel it was worth it. i will add i now only use stock GM (not durastop) replacement pads for a 95ish 1500 chevy 2wd truck. ive tried around no joke 6 different pads and found the GM jobs are the all around best and there not a whole lot of money. i am now curious about fitting those bigger GM dually cylinders in there now cause i still feel the brakes could use improvement. i tried to put the bigger calipers from a 2500 ram on my 1500 but they woulded fit unless i think the rotors and knuckles from the 2500 would fit and i never look into it farther cause i knew it would be pricey. i know brembo or one of them brake people make a front brake upgrade for the 2nd gen rams but its like near 2000 dollars!!!! has anyone tried those steel braided brake lines i heard they make i difference???

 

TTT

 

Hey HankL,

This all started with me asking about how hard it would be to refit the sleepy rears on my 1/2-ton with disks. I was chastized by The Rom and told that it was entirely unnecessary (and way to expensive compared to this 1-ton dually mod). For a little over $20 (compared to $900) I've now got rears that WORK ... and work well.

I suppose that one can install anything anywhere.

I am constantly amazed by how many people want to learn how tho say, "Giddy-up!" before they learn how to say, "Whoa!" They'll pour THOUSANDS of dollars into their drivetrain but not one penny into their brakes.