Raise your hand if you hate mushy brakes ...

J-rod · May 16, 2005

Ok, I can't stand the marshmallow that is my brake pedal. I haven't liked the way the brakes feel since I got the truck, but it's been something I've lived with (wasn't very high on the upgrade list). Well, I've been considering a stainless steel brake line kit for sometime now. I've found a few online but I would like to hear someone else's experience and/or recommendations before I make any purchases. Nothing in my search of the forums turned up any advice though. They've been recommended in several cases, but I didn't find where anyone has said "I have these and I love / hate em!"

Also, for those that would advise that I get a set of Praise Dyno brakes, trust me, I'd love to, but the dollaz just ain't there right now and I *think* the lines would be a worthwhile investment even if I were to get an aftermarket brake kit like Praise Dyno.

fastdrvr23 · May 16, 2005

Speak on brotha J-rod!!!

/me *raises hand*

I think I'll be getting the lines regardless, just from experience on past cars. As crappy and sloshy as the pedal feel is on my truck, anything would be an improvement.

Here's a link to one of the stainless kits I'm interested in. I had to email the place to check on the exact application, and hopefully they'll get back to me pretty quick.

http://www.hrpworld.com/index.cfm?form_pro...&action=product

MS3DALE · May 16, 2005

I raise both of my hands

Bish · May 16, 2005

SS brake lines will definitely improve the mushy feel although it won't go away.

Personally, I am a big fan of Praise (just put my 2nd full set a few months ago). I think upgrading thto Praise would help but I also think the SS lines will help WITHOUT a brake upgrade. Swapping both would help the most IMO.

I got my SS lines off ebay. I think they were Goodridge and they were around $120 and they fit perfectly.

BRZ71 · May 16, 2005

I'll raise both of my hands and both of my wife's too, and everyone else I know with GM trucks!!!!

RyanZ71 · May 16, 2005

mine are both raised.

AirForceAngler · May 16, 2005

Count my hands up!

kdm101 · May 17, 2005

Classic Tube (www.classictube.com) makes kits for our trucks.

NBS - SBH6056, $159.80 (5 piece kit)

OBS (1/2, 3/4) - SBH6053, $119.85 (3 piece kit)

I haven't gotten them yet, as I've had quite a few other projects demanding my time. However, when the next brake flush comes up, this kit (or similar) will be going on at that time.

black&grayHD · May 17, 2005

x 2

elgineddie · May 17, 2005

Yep, hate that mush too!

Aside from the brake lines, try changing out the fluid for the Ate racing blue fluid.

I did and it was a good choice. Check here for some.

Later,

Ed

J-rod · May 17, 2005

I got my SS lines off ebay. I think they were Goodridge and they were around $120 and they fit perfectly.

Coolness! I'll look into those and I'm glad to hear from someone who has first-hand experience with em! I've seen the Goodridge lines somewhere other than Ebay too ... Jegs perhaps??? I dunno, but I'm pretty sure they were higher than $120 wherever it was. And I definitely hope to be calling Praise Dyno one day, but like you said, this will help for now and be a good addition to the Praise Dyno kit when I get it!

Classic Tube (www.classictube.com) makes kits for our trucks.

NBS - SBH6056, $159.80 (5 piece kit)

OBS (1/2, 3/4) - SBH6053, $119.85 (3 piece kit)

Awesome ... I'm trying to keep track of most of the ones I find so I can find the best kit for the money so thanks for the linky.

Yep, hate that mush too!

Aside from the brake lines, try changing out the fluid for the Ate racing blue fluid.

I did and it was a good choice. Check here for some.

Later,

Ed

Hmmm, I never would have even considered the fluid as being part of the problem. Is the regular DOT3 fluid slightly compressible or something? What's the difference between it and the Ate fluid?

asepgrad98 · May 18, 2005

if you think your pedal is bad, try driving a 88-98OBS truck

bosssho · February 10, 2006

Just a general follow up to this thread...

I have an 03 GMC Sierra K1500...the brakes are plain awful. The pedal feel sucks, but so do the brakes.

I have gone ahead and purchased the fluid mentioned above on Ebay and I will be getting some stainless lines from http://www.classictube.com/prodview.asp?id...&partno=SBH6056 but what conerns me is the lack of braking upgrades for our trucks.

I have wasted the last 72 hrs on line and on the phone with the likes of Stainless Steel Brake Co, Baer, Wilwood, Brembo, and Praise Dyno.

Praise dyno, unless I am missing something only does pads and rotors, but they come right out and tell you on the phone the pedal feeling will still suck. That is next to useless if you ask me for the money. They blame GM for changing the anti lock systems every year b/c, even though they won't admit it, they know the brakes suck ass and after going back to rear drums and now back to rear discs they still don't know up from down, but in any case their constant changing makes it every hard to adapt a kit I guess.

I talke to SSBC yesterday and they at least have a Force 10 3 piston aluminum caliper kit with rotors and pads, but at about 1500+ to do both the front and rear it's a lot of money...but compared to the ridonkulous money Baer, Wilwood and Brembo want it's not bad...

The frustrating as hell part is no one can tell me 100% why the pedal feel sucks so bad...No one has a different Master Cylinder or proportioning valve and up until I saw this thread neither Praise Dyno or SSBC offer stainless steel lines which is just odd to me.

Anyway...enough ranting...I hate the brakes like everyone else and I will probably do the SSBC upgrae...but I am hoping to hear from someone who has already done it and hear what they have to say.

Thanks for thie info, and any follow up would be appreciated too.

Mr. Smith · February 10, 2006

if you think your pedal is bad, try driving a 88-98OBS truck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Funny as my 97 is hard and I fixed my buddies 91 and it went from rotten banana to hard as a rock. My dads 96 is just like mine. Sounds like a maintenace problem to me.

bosssho · February 10, 2006

if you think your pedal is bad, try driving a 88-98OBS truck

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Funny as my 97 is hard and I fixed my buddies 91 and it went from rotten banana to hard as a rock. My dads 96 is just like mine. Sounds like a maintenace problem to me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hey, here's an idea for this forum...rather than post a one sentence zinger...why don't you actually take 30 seconds and tell us what Magic you performed on your buddy's 91 and why your 97 is hard????

Telling someone they must have a maintenance issue and then not telling them what it is is useless and not why forums like this are supposed to be around....

I had a 97 with awful brakes and my 03 is the same...both were like that from the get go so maintenance is not the issue. I had the 97 brakes adjusted by 3 different shops to the max w/no better pedal feel...had the praise dyno pads put on and they did nothing either....my 03 is as bad if not worse and the dealer says there are no adjustments to do and that this is normal...yeah normal if you're a $&^$&$ GM dealer spewing lies and BS to your customers.