1st Gen Brake Upgrade Megathread

StupidFish

Need Bigger Tires
Location
The moon
Even though I gain nothing from any of this, it's still a very interesting thread. I'm anxiously awaiting the conclusion!
As am I. Curious to see if there is any noticeable improvement over the stock setup. Never had any complaints about it before but hey, when stuff breaks its your chance to build back stronger.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
That's one of the reasons I'm doing this now. The the truck is in desperate need for a brake job. And why do maintenance when you can make things better.
 

Silver dude

Sliders
Founding Member
If getting a Harbor freight press get the 20 ton. It's fully welded not bolted like the other ones and has been very useful around the shop. Distributer bearings, transmission bearings or even just bending steel.

Good to see the project rolling right along. The savaged parts even look quite useable haven't been sitting for to long.

I don't know what the nut looks like but maybe a special tool can be fabricated from a cut socket welded to a pipe. It's the first I've heard of such nut being a problem.

It's a shame we all can't feel or witness the difference after.

Looks like a fun project.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I'm going to swing by the dealership and find out if they had any traction on that nut tool. I'll take some better pictures of it once I get there. I looked up the Harbor Freight 20 ton and it's on sale for 150. So I'll get that this week.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Update. Pathy axles are all stripped down and ready to remove the backing plates. Once removed I'm going to clean the entire assembly, cut off the rusted to crap dust shields and paint everything.

b152781ebafcee187b0705966f231235.jpg


I totally scored on the tool front. The shop manager at the dealership is super excited for this swap and has agreed to let me borrow the complete axle disassembly kit. Complete with the proper wrench for the nut and puller for the ABS ring and axle shaft.

Also, managed to shoot brake fluid into my left eye. So that was fun.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Also going to buy new parking brake cables for the X so that I can bench assemble everything on the X axles. I don't feel like messing with the parking brake and putting together a drum brake assembly behind the axle shaft while it's on the truck.

There's not a lot of room to work here.

c7b4c552d9f3489218aa7d38f6563ebb.jpg
 

NismoFire

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Smyrna, TN
Tag.


I chew through brake pads like nobody's business for some reason. Could be because I can't keep my foot out of it so downshifting isn't enough, could also be because I can't afford EBC brakes.





Oh haaaaaaaiiiiii.

That could be because your drums are not properly adjusted. If they're not doing their share of the stopping the fronts will wear faster.

Also, haii


...or the 3 of 4 caliper pins were seized. New brackets, pins, boots, and pads FTW. 200k miles, lots of PB and a hefty cheater bar because the impact wouldn't fit.



I'm curious why we never had rear discs to begin with. If the Pathy had it, why couldn't we?
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
...or the 3 of 4 caliper pins were seized. New brackets, pins, boots, and pads FTW. 200k miles, lots of PB and a hefty cheater bar because the impact wouldn't fit.



I'm curious why we never had rear discs to begin with. If the Pathy had it, why couldn't we?

Nice! New brakes always feel good.

And I don't know why we never got the disc brakes. Drums were still standard kit on the Pathy, but the SE 4x4 got discs.
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I'm going to make a new thread just for the Pathy swap and link it back to here as a primary reference. There's just way too much going on with this swap to muddy up this thread with it.
 

Jbat

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Utah
'99 Dodge Ram 1500 master cylinder, larger bore, pushes and holds more fluid, bolts right to the stock mount and hooks the pedal the same one. Just a couple simple line adapters needed, on the front brake line you will need a m10x1.0 bubble flare to m10x1.0 inverted flare adapter and on the rear brake line you will need a m12x1.0 bubble flare to m10x1.0 inverted flare adapter. I haven't driven mine with it but other SAS guys have and prefer it over the stocker.
 
Last edited:

Jbat

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Utah
updated post with necessary adapters, you may be able to get away without the bubble to inverted flare on the front line as it will screw in but it may not seal. I used an adapter just to be on the safe side.
 
Top