Hi everyone, my stock brakes have worn out, and I am debating if I wanna put the money into a killer brake system... I was wondering if you guys that do have nice Brake systems. Could tell me how you like them, and what the feel is like compared to stock brakes. If you guys could give me some info on what kits to buy, and some prices, and webpages. I would be very greatful! Thx

 

I have the AP Racing kit from Stillen, and I can tell you there are no comparison to the stock brakes. You can get kits from Stillen, TCE, Stoptech, and Brembo has an eight-piston kit out now.

Personally, I prefer the AP kit to the Brembo kit, but I think you will find that the TCE kit is the most bang for the buck.

 

I have Brembos on my truck. I plan on removing them soon to install new wheels. They worked good.

 

http://www.stillen.com/brakepros_det...id=5681&main=1
http://www.brembo.com/
http://www.tceperformanceproducts.co...Lightning.html
http://www.stoptech.com/

 

Thx Ayrton, I really like those brakes. Did you install them yourself, and are they pretty easy to install? Is it really practical to have 6 pistons over 4 or 8 over 6. Would you really notice a differance with more pistons?

Easter, how much was your kit, and what spacific kit did you get?

 

The kit was a “no brainer” to install. The whole thing took less than two hours, and that included fabricating the line brackets.

As far as the number of pistons, I choose the AP kit due to the fact that it had 6 pistons and the caliper was better suited for trucks. Brembo did not have the 8-piston kit available at the time, and I don’t think 2 more pistons are worth an additional $1000.

Anything will be a great improvement over stock, and you do not even have to get new calipers. You may want to look into getting some good aftermarket rotors and pads.

Keep in mind some of these kits will not fit under stock wheels, so you may have to consider new wheels as well.

 

Will not fit 18s?! ....Jeeezzz, we have 13's in the back and they seem to fit fine to me. How much bigger do you really need...

 

The biggest rotor that will fit under the wheels is the best.

 

I gotta know what wheels are so special that you would sacrifice the Brembo$.

 

I have the Stop-Tech's and love them. Most anything will be an improvement over stock. I am surprised to see how many people are willing to dump big $$ into going faster and how few spend any to be safer. Throw in 20"-24" wheels on your stock brake system and watch your stopping distance increase.

As to the question of wheel fit, you will need at least an 18" wheel to run the 14"+ rotors. 99-00 L wheels require a 5mm spacer. 01-02 wheels do not 9direct bolt on). 03 wheels ????

Check my gallery for several photos. Very easy conversion to do.

 

does anyone make ceramic rotors for our trucks?

 

I agree 100%. My engine is still stock, down to the paper filter, and the first thing I did was upgrade the brakes.

18’ wheels will clear diameter wise, however the caliper is too wide for some wheels. That is the reason the 99-00 Lightning wheels require either a 5mm spacer or the calipers need to be filed on.

 

Does anyone notice significant improvement from aftermarket rear (rotors, pads, or systems) brakes?

 

Like your namesake knew well, "Slow in, fast out."

The brakes are my one real complaint--SVT must have known that a 5,000 truck needs stellar brakes, yet chose to save a few hundred bucks in the wrong place, forcing us to spend thousand$ to cure the deficiency.

 

I went w/Ruslows slotted and dippled Rotors all around. $490 I sprayed a few coats of 1200 degree silver paint to them, then I barely resurfaced the rotors to take off paint on rotor face. leaving paint in slots, dipples hub etc.

I used Raybestos QS pads:

PGD702QS Pad Set List 73.95 Net 48.81

PGD711QS Pad Set List 59.50 Net 39.27

For Street .........I find these to be an improvement over stock.

They're clean quiet and look Good, IMO.