Rear Disc Brake Conversion For Nbs?

Doomsday · October 9, 2007

I'm have'nt had the chance to look under a truck with 4 wheel discs and see what the set up is like but I'm curious. I wan't to try and toss the rear disc brakes on my new silvy but I'm not sure whats involved. Anyone know? I need to find a place to order everything as well.

dreman · October 9, 2007

Why do you want to do that? I like the rear disks, and prefer rear disks, but the difference between the two on a truck really isn't all that great.

jnpaddison · October 9, 2007

http://www.ssbrakes.com/products/detail/61...9&year=2007

ThoseDarnKids · October 9, 2007

I hate drums. That's my big gripe with this truck. Even though the performance gains from rear discs might not be significant, disc brakes are way easier to service and maintain. I've never even worked on drums, but I imagine that they can get packed full of sand and dirt.

Would '06 rear discs work on the new body styles, perhaps?

redvett · October 9, 2007

Actually one of the reasons that GM discontinued the rear disc's on #1500 series is the gravel lodged in the rotors caused lots of failures.

SupadaveGMC · October 9, 2007

My 2007 Vortecmax came with 4 wheel discs, so it shouldnt be too much of a changeover for you

asilverblazer · October 9, 2007

I imagine that would be the first source to look in to, swapping the brake components from a vortec maxx.

Doomsday · October 9, 2007

As far as I know vortexmax trucks just have the 6.0L, I have the vortecmax but have no rear discs. 4 wheel disc brakes are standard for trucks with stabilitrack, stabiltrack is standard on crew cabs so all crews have discs. Ext cab's like mine, stabilitrac is an option, therefore if you do not opt for it you get rear drums instead of discs.

Like it or not drum brakes are outdated technology, they still work but have lots of disavantages that discs do not have. In any case my idea is to just see how things are bolted on, if its easy I'm gonna do it, if its complicated, well have to see. If anyone with rear discs could take a look or take some pics on how its mounted that would be great.

VMax2007 · October 9, 2007

As far as I know vortexmax trucks just have the 6.0L, I have the vortecmax but have no rear discs. 4 wheel disc brakes are standard for trucks with stabilitrack, stabiltrack is standard on crew cabs so all crews have discs. Ext cab's like mine, stabilitrac is an option, therefore if you do not opt for it you get rear drums instead of discs.

Like it or not drum brakes are outdated technology, they still work but have lots of disavantages that discs do not have. In any case my idea is to just see how things are bolted on, if its easy I'm gonna do it, if its complicated, well have to see. If anyone with rear discs could take a look or take some pics on how its mounted that would be great.

Not quite correct...let me clarify...again.

In order to get 4 wheel discs, you MUST get the 6.0 (with or without NHT) and Stabilitrak. So, all crewcab Vmax's get them and ext cab Vmax's with Stabilitrak get them (Crewcabs have Stabilitrak std).

SierraLeone · October 9, 2007

As far as I know vortexmax trucks just have the 6.0L, I have the vortecmax but have no rear discs. 4 wheel disc brakes are standard for trucks with stabilitrack, stabiltrack is standard on crew cabs so all crews have discs. Ext cab's like mine, stabilitrac is an option, therefore if you do not opt for it you get rear drums instead of discs.

Like it or not drum brakes are outdated technology, they still work but have lots of disavantages that discs do not have. In any case my idea is to just see how things are bolted on, if its easy I'm gonna do it, if its complicated, well have to see. If anyone with rear discs could take a look or take some pics on how its mounted that would be great.

This is wrong on a couple of levels. 1) Stabilitrak does not require disk brakes and 2) they are not outdated.

The following is the conclusion of an article by Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief at Edmunds.com:

In today's automotive pantheon, it's not uncommon to find four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment on medium-priced, non performance-oriented models. The majority of new vehicles, however, continue to utilize a front-disc/rear-drum brake setup. What does this say about the current state of braking systems? Are these manufacturers sacrificing vehicle safety in order to save a few bucks by installing disc brakes on only the front wheels?

While a "yes" answer would certainly be great for increasing Town Hall traffic, the truth is that today's disc/drum setups are completely adequate for the majority of new cars. Remember that both disc and drum brake design has been vastly improved in the last 20 years. In fact, the current rear drum brake systems on today's cars would provide better stopping performance then the front disc setups of the '70s. And today's front disc brakes are truly exceptional in terms of stopping power. Combined with the fact that between 60 and 90 percent of a vehicle's stopping power comes from the front wheels, it's clear that a well-designed, modern drum brake is all that's required for most rear wheel brake duty.

High performance cars like the Viper, 911 and Corvette can justify a four-wheel disc brake system, especially if their owners participate in some form of sanctioned racing activity on the weekends. The rest of us get more of a benefit from the lower cost of drum brakes. Expecting every vehicle built today to come with four-wheel disc brakes would require an across-the-board increase in purchase price, and that could stop new car buyers much quicker than any brake system.

Doomsday · October 10, 2007

Couple things about drum brakes that will never change.

1. Drum brakes get hotter much quicker than discs and have a much more difficult time getting rid of that heat.

2. Drum brakes get dirt and debree inside the drum and has a very diffucult time getting out.

3. In order to inspect shoe life the drum must be fully removed.

I'm not sure who wrote that report or when it is written but I do not agree with it, especially when all the other trucks in the same class as our GM's, have 4 wheel discs standard.

Schlogster · October 10, 2007

Actually one of the reasons that GM discontinued the rear disc's on #1500 series is the gravel lodged in the rotors caused lots of failures.

Top that off with parking brake issues. Just look at any truck forum with rear wheel disc brakes and you will find that owners have allot of issues with the parking brake mechanism due to lack of movement and seizure.

Sure wish someone would come up with a great re-design. I like disc's front and rear.

2017HD · October 10, 2007

I think that you have to have the Max Tow pkg to get the larger rear axle and disk brakes.

SinisterSS · October 10, 2007

...and '07/08 Sierra Denalis have rear discs.

Had rear discs on my '03 Silverado SS with zero issues and parking brake worked perfectly. I refuse to buy a truck with rear drums.

hodo78 · October 10, 2007

As far as I know vortexmax trucks just have the 6.0L, I have the vortecmax but have no rear discs. 4 wheel disc brakes are standard for trucks with stabilitrack, stabiltrack is standard on crew cabs so all crews have discs. Ext cab's like mine, stabilitrac is an option, therefore if you do not opt for it you get rear drums instead of discs.

Like it or not drum brakes are outdated technology, they still work but have lots of disavantages that discs do not have. In any case my idea is to just see how things are bolted on, if its easy I'm gonna do it, if its complicated, well have to see. If anyone with rear discs could take a look or take some pics on how its mounted that would be great.

I just purchased a new 2007 model GMC 4x4 Crew Cab SLT and I have rear drums. So I can tell you from my experience, that all Crew Cabs do not have rear disc brakes. FYI....my truck is not a VMAX, it just has the 5.3 liter.

just my 2 cents.