Front brakes - Need brake job help - 1990 w250

[Ironforger]

When you are ordering from that website. How do you find out what size your rear brake drums are?

You have to measure your drums to be absolutely sure. Don't rely upon the dealer based on vin#. My dealer told me my truck had 11 in drums and a 3500lb front axle. WRONG! I have 12 inch rear drums and 4500lb axle.

[Ironforger]

By the way, I'm a little disapointed with brakeperformance.com

I purchased front calipers from them & paid extra for powder coating. They ASSURED me that the calipers were NEW and manufactured by them in USA. WRONG! I got my calipers last week after waiting a full month! and wouldn't you know it, they are NOT new! They remanufactured them from old cores. They both have old visible casting stampings. One is bosch, and the other is bendix. OK, so yea they look good all powder coated, but I had MULTIPLE conversations with them to verify if new and not remanufactured. So once I received, I called them out on it, and they said "yes, we made them from new parts but we re-use old cores, so yes they are new" That's bull if you ask me. Bait and switch. I purchased these specifically thinking I was getting new ones. Ok, so I'm stuck with them now because I just can't wait any longer to get this truck back on the road. I'll take my chances but being that brakes are the single most important component of the vehicle, I typically never use remanufactured or chineese ching chow imported crap.

Oh yea I got new rotors from them too, I can't help wondering if they were made in usa or not, and it looks to me like they just painted them. (they said the rotors are zinc coated)

[93DodgeCummins]

Do i need to take the tire off and measure or can i measure it without taking the tire off? I know this sounds dumb, but i just want to make sure.

[Ironforger]

Do i need to take the tire off and measure or can i measure it without taking the tire off? I know this sounds dumb, but i just want to make sure.

Unless you have a big measuring caliper, you need to take the wheel off.

I still have my brake drums off so I'll measure the outside diameter (on the bolt side facing the tire) and get back to you.

[93DodgeCummins]

What do you think of the brake rotors? Do they perform well?

[Ironforger]

Do i need to take the tire off and measure or can i measure it without taking the tire off? I know this sounds dumb, but i just want to make sure.

Unless you have a big measuring caliper, you need to take the wheel off.

I still have my brake drums off so I'll measure the outside diameter (on the bolt side facing the tire) and get back to you.

Outside diameter of the 12" drum is about 12 1/2 inches give or take. (bolt side facing the tire).

The 11 inch drum will definetly be smaller than this, so this should be enough info for you.

I still have not put the truck back together yet. Crappy weather and busy etc. Hoping to get some time on it this weekend.

[93DodgeCummins]

Did you get your truck back together yet? Im still curious to see how the brakes turned out.

[BILTIT]

Everything you need to know about a front dana 60:

http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/60 ... index.html

[Ironforger]

Did you get your truck back together yet? Im still curious to see how the brakes turned out.

Yes, it's all back together, been driving it for a while. I had to bleed the brakes many times to get the sponginess out of it (at least 5 times I think?)

OK so it brakes real nice, but I still have too much pedal travel before the brakes engage. I have NOT yet attempted to adjust the pedal to master cyl push rod yet.

One caveat: I feel it has too much brake power in the rear. Locking up too easily, esp when wet or on corners. At some point I'm going to take it apart, remove the 1 ton wheel cylinders and install 3/4 ton wheel cylinders.

[93DodgeCummins]

Well i know its been awhile but what is your opinion on your brakes now that they have been on for awhile? Its finally about time to do mine.

[Ironforger]

Thanks for asking.

Brakes overall are working real good. excellent stopping power, but still to much brake power in the rear. I like to hit my brakes hard sometimes, but the rear locks up to easily. I still intend to change to the 3/4 ton wheel cyls. The powder coating on the front calipers is crap. all flaked off & rusty. What a waste of money. I tried hopelessly to find new made in usa front calipers, but could not.

I still have to much pedal travel, have not yet had the chance to adjust the pushrod to see if that helps.

As far as the front rotors go, they look good, but personally I'm not sure if the dimpled/slotted thing is worth it. also, was unable to verify the country of origin for certain.

[KurtzN1]

I've tried hopelessly to find affordable, US made calipers. Unless you go custom or a big brake kit, it's going to be a fruitless mission.

I have a pair of loaded calipers from brakeperformance coming and I may just coat them with a coat of hi-heat paint.