jQuery not supported.



rear drum brakes wtf?

Moderator: Buckeye76

rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby dcmock [OP] » May 16 2012, 7:15am

I bought a new 2011 silverado lt 4x4 and just noticed it has rear drum brakes! I thought they stopped using drum brakes in the 90s. Now im going to do a conversion to rear discs, 37000 truck you would think it would at least have disc brakes!
Original Poster
dcmock
Firing on 1 cylinder [L1]
Firing on 1 cylinder [L1]
Posts: 12
Topics: 5
Blogs: 0
Joined: May 14 2012, 11:03am
Years of membership: 1 year of membership
Location: eureka springs,ar
Year: 2011
Make/Model: Chevrolet Silverado
Extra Info: 5.3 LT crewcab 4x4
Group Membership:
Registered users
Related Topics  rear drum brakes   Rear drum brakes on 2009 Silverado   2009 Silverado W/ Rear Drum Brakes Issue   2009 1500 LT 5.3l Non-Standard Brakes? WTF?   Any more difficult drum brakes to change?   Rear drum help   Rear Drum Issues   Rear Drum Squealing Until Warm   UPDATED w/pics - Rear brake drum squeak!   2007 NBS 1/2 ton R. Rear Drum grinding   need new rear brakes   Rear brakes grabbing   Rear Brakes Dragging   Convert rear brakes? 
Brakes Sponsor
Advertise Here

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby GMCFanatic2010 » May 16 2012, 7:53am

I agree that disc's would be good all around but im ok with drums personally... had them on my jeeps and never had issues with them so Im ok with them for now. The additional stopping power from the discs would be nice... but im mostly highway so for now ill take the extra $ i didnt spend for discs and put it somewhere else. On a side note... let us know how the conversion goes if you do that ... id like to see how it works out and what kit you go with.
User avatar
GMCFanatic2010
Combustion on 2 pistons [L2]
Combustion on 2 pistons [L2]
Posts: 277
Topics: 18
Images: 13
Blogs: 0
Joined: Apr 30 2011, 8:24am
Years of membership: 2 years of membership2 years of membership
Location: texas
Year: 2011
Make/Model: GMC Sierra
Group Membership:
Registered users

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby dcmock [OP] » May 16 2012, 9:50am

Ya probably wont buy a kit, ill just go to the junk yard and pull the discs, backing plates, and calipers off one like mine.
Original Poster
dcmock
Firing on 1 cylinder [L1]
Firing on 1 cylinder [L1]
Posts: 12
Topics: 5
Blogs: 0
Joined: May 14 2012, 11:03am
Years of membership: 1 year of membership
Location: eureka springs,ar
Year: 2011
Make/Model: Chevrolet Silverado
Extra Info: 5.3 LT crewcab 4x4
Group Membership:
Registered users

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby rdss » May 16 2012, 11:25am

It might be easier just to pull the whole rear end than trying to retrofit parts from something that wasn't designed to except the parts in the first place. I do know that a few companies have conversion kits though, they are not cheap though (I think SSBC maybe?).
2010 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Crewcab:
K&N Aircharger
Blastin Bob's muffler back w/ Magnaflow muffler
BedRug BedTred
Extang Revolution Tonneau
Diablo Sport inTune....DiabLew tuned!
Black Rampage sidesteps.
User avatar
rdss
Armed Forces
Armed Forces
Shifting into Fifth Gear [L3]
Shifting into Fifth Gear [L3]
Posts: 1588
Topics: 16
Images: 0
Blogs: 0
Joined: Nov 13 2010, 1:46am
Years of membership: 2 years of membership2 years of membership
Location: Fl
Year: 2010
Make/Model: GMC Sierra
Extra Info: SLT 1500 CC 5.3
Group Membership:
Registered users
Servicemen

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby deathphoenix99 » May 16 2012, 12:37pm

Yea, Sadly the 1/2 tons have drums again, I really like my dad's 99 with 4 wheel disc. If you think bolting on the hardware will work, you might want to verify the mounting flange's width. I know on S10's, the disc rears are slightly wider 1" (just for reference, dimension isn't correct) which means you need a 1/2" spacer to mount the caliper and center it over the disc. The full-sizes are probably the same in respects to disc vs drum, so I'd check into that.
deathphoenix99
Shifting into Second Gear [L3]
Shifting into Second Gear [L3]
Posts: 1228
Topics: 23
Images: 0
Blogs: 1
Joined: Aug 22 2011, 1:55pm
Years of membership: 1 year of membership
Location: Houston, TX
Year: 2011
Make/Model: Chevrolet Silverado
Extra Info: SCLB 4.3L LS
Group Membership:
Registered users

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby T-Rex 2500HD » May 16 2012, 12:38pm

dcmock wrote:I bought a new 2011 silverado lt 4x4 and just noticed it has rear drum brakes! I thought they stopped using drum brakes in the 90s. Now im going to do a conversion to rear discs, 37000 truck you would think it would at least have disc brakes!


This was another reason why we chose the 2500HD. 14" Discs on all four.

Sorry you didn't see that before purchase, it was something that caught my eye on the 1500's, and that was the rear drums.
2011 Silverado 2500HD 4WD LT Crew Cab
Vortec 6.0L SFI 6L90E
Locking Rear Differential
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
Taupe Gray Metallic
User avatar
T-Rex 2500HD
Combustion on 2 pistons [L2]
Combustion on 2 pistons [L2]
Posts: 273
Topics: 13
Images: 9
Blogs: 0
Joined: May 07 2012, 12:49am
Years of membership: 1 year of membership
Location: L.I. New York
Year: 2011
Make/Model: Chevrolet Silverado
Extra Info: 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4
Group Membership:
Registered users

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby Z15 » May 16 2012, 12:54pm

Not all 1500 have rear drums. You can get rear disc brakes in certain option pkg's.

JD9 Brakes, 4-wheel antilock, 4-wheel disc
1 - Included and only available with (NHT) Max Trailering Package
or (L9H) Vortec 6.2L V8 SFI engine.
Mike
Image Direct Jobber
Image
Image
User avatar
Z15
Recognized Supplier
Recognized Supplier
4x4 Low Mode [L3]
4x4 Low Mode [L3]
Posts: 1745
Topics: 95
Images: 8
Blogs: 0
Joined: Jun 02 2010, 7:24pm
Years of membership: 2 years of membership2 years of membership
Location: Hubbell, Michigan 'da U.P.'
Year: 2012
Make/Model: GMC Sierra
Variant: Denali
Extra Info: AWD
Group Membership:
Vendors
Registered users
Servicemen

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby 01dually6.0 » May 16 2012, 1:34pm

From what i gather rear drums have less issues and stop better in the rear for GM.
User avatar
01dually6.0
Combustion on 2 pistons [L2]
Combustion on 2 pistons [L2]
Posts: 204
Topics: 6
Images: 11
Blogs: 0
Joined: Mar 30 2012, 1:40pm
Years of membership: 1 year of membership
Location: Pa
Year: 2001
Make/Model: Chevrolet Silverado
Extra Info: 6.0 4x4 extented cab
Group Membership:
Registered users

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby allterrainjoe » May 16 2012, 1:38pm

^^ Yeah I thought the same that rear drums were better than discs on a truck....
Image
User avatar
allterrainjoe
Shifting into Fifth Gear [L3]
Shifting into Fifth Gear [L3]
Posts: 1500
Topics: 70
Images: 69
Blogs: 4
Joined: Dec 11 2011, 4:59pm
Years of membership: 1 year of membership
Location: ontario canada
Year: 2011
Make/Model: GMC Sierra
Extra Info: all terrain z71 slt
Group Membership:
TOTM Winner
Forum Moderator
Registered users

Re: rear drum brakes wtf?

Postby ASTE25 » May 16 2012, 1:52pm

I've had two different 1500's and I can say that the one with the drum brakes in the rear stops much better and has a much better feel than the one with the 4 wheel disk brakes. One advantage to drum brakes is they take a little longer to heat up/overheat than disk brakes do. The disadvantage is, they also take longer to cool than disks do. I personally would not change to the diusk brake set up. From my experience you will not be happy.
Jordan
2012 Victory Red Silverado 4X4 regular cab
4.8 / 4L60E
Image
Signature by #32
User avatar
ASTE25
Automotive Technician
Automotive Technician
Shifting into Sixth Gear! [L3]
Shifting into Sixth Gear! [L3]
Posts: 7837
Topics: 13
Images: 20
Blogs: 0
Joined: Jan 03 2011, 6:37am
Years of membership: 2 years of membership2 years of membership
Location: New Market, Alabama
Year: 2012
Make/Model: Chevrolet Silverado
Extra Info: Regular cab 4X4
Group Membership:
Automotive Technicians
Registered users
Next

Return to Brakes

 

  • Similar topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Common search terms

rear think same brakes drum work

It is currently May 25 2013, 12:15pm

Login  •  Register
SHOP TALK (Live Chat)
Brakes Forum
BrakesLets talk about brakes and brake performance. Disc, drum, anti-lock brakes(abs). Discuss brake components like the pads, rotors, calipers, shoes. Pads can be ceramic, metallic, or other. Rotors can be standard, cross-drilled, or slotted.
To create a new topic in Brakes, click this button:
Previous topic Next topic
Sitewide News Sitemaps & Feeds

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests