I've searched forums re: brake pads and rotors. Fans of Hawk and Powerslots here I see...mostly with 1500's. Was wondering what the verdict was for aftermarket brakes for the heavier trucks out there such as Mega Cabs and 3/4 or 1 tons.
I could really care less about brake dust, I just want this heavy truck to stop a bit quicker without dropping the $$$$ on huge calipers and larger rotors (heck, our rotors are pretty darn big to start with).
Would prefer a quiet brake though...as not to sound like the local garbage truck.
I've read alot about types, eg. ceramic, semi-metallic, organic and slotted, dimpled, and drilled rotors..etc...but there's always contradictions of good and bad. So I ask, heavy Ram owners who've upgraded brakes and/or rotors...what's your take on your purchase? What would you switch to if you did it again? Thanks for the help guys.

 

I did a small amount of research on this in the past (I have a 2500) and stopped as it seemed to be more minuses than pluses.

I would be interested in hearing if anyone here has done this.

 

i put ceramic on my quadcab.no dust.only complant was backing up they would squeal with light pressure,if u went ahead and stepped on them no noise was made.

 

One, there really isn't too many options for us 2500 owners, seems like there is a lot of ford and chevy upgrades, and just a few for the 1500's. Two, I believe that upgrading the rotor and brake assembly by increasing the size of the system (since it is surface to surface contact that slows down the vehicle) requires changing the wheel size. 17 inch rims are the smallest you can go with the 2500 because of the brake assembly, and that is the stock wheel size. Also, I am not sure how much differance all the differant types of materials make, that has to do more with brake fade and dissapating the heat caused during breaking, usually under extream braking or long decent braking, not during normal circumstances.

 

I'm not really wanting to get bigger wheels, I actually like the stock look of the 17" rims pretty good. So, your take is that upgrading the pads/rotors would more than likely only improve loaded stops or heavy repeated braking times. Any other opinions?

 

All the differant materials used in making brake pads and rotors are used to increase the life of the brake component and/or to absorb more heat. Slotted rotors are supposed to let gases created during braking to escape to that your pad doesn't "float" over the rotor. The only time you may notice a differance is during extream braking because you are able to absorb or disapate more heat, and heat causes brakes to fade. When you go down long mountain roads, notice those run away rams for tractor trailers? It is in case a tractor trailer "looses" its brakes, but it isn't usually a mechanical failure but that the brakes have absorbed all the heat they can and no longer can help you stop. This is the brake fade you may hear about. The only way to really increase the stopping ability of your brakes are to go larger for more surface area, so that there is more to grip and more material to absorb heat.

The reason most people think differant materials in the brakes or slotted rotors work so well all the time is that most people don't change their brakes until they are already worn, so anything will be better then what they had.

 

that makes sense...thanks for input FFmedic.