Drum Brakes

[dkjbama]

I noticed last night that my NNBS has drum brakes in the back. Maybe I'm losing it, but I could have sworn that the NBS trucks went to rear discs. The only reason I can think of for them going back to drums would be for longevity, for example if the NBS trucks were warping rotors too often?

 

Any thoughts?

[2000DV4.8]

I noticed last night that my NNBS has drum brakes in the back. Maybe I'm losing it, but I could have sworn that the NBS trucks went to rear discs. The only reason I can think of for them going back to drums would be for longevity, for example if the NBS trucks were warping rotors too often?

 

Any thoughts?

 

Do a search on here, it's been covered before. I think they switched back over in either '05 or '06.

[pm26]

I noticed last night that my NNBS has drum brakes in the back. Maybe I'm losing it, but I could have sworn that the NBS trucks went to rear discs. The only reason I can think of for them going back to drums would be for longevity, for example if the NBS trucks were warping rotors too often?

 

Any thoughts?

 

Look again, you may have drum brakes in the front too.

 

All 1500 series trucks starting with 2005 models, have rear drum brakes. The only exception is the Stablitrac equipped VortecMax 1500 GTM900 series, which have rear disc brakes.

 

All 2500 and 3500 series trucks have rear disc brakes.

 

AS for the real reason why GM went to drum brakes on the 1500 series trucks, I believe that the rear calipers were undersized and they had serious rear pad wear problems with them. The 2004 crew cab with all wheel disc brakes which I test drove back in 2004, had very weak brakes.

[xGMCx]

1/2-ton 6.0's have `em.

[dlstewart01]

They went back to drums in 05. My 05 stops great.

 

Don

[98 Z71 SLT]

Before VMax2007 blasts you out of here, NBS is all that's needed to get your point across. To be safe, you can also call the series "900" and everybody knows what you mean.

 

As far as going back to DRUMS, which GM did back in 2005...was a VERY wise move. Why?? Because the rear disc brake system they incorporated into the '99-'04 1500 trucks (800 series) were absolute junk. Really. The right rear inner pad always wore out quicker, the emergency brake was never strong enough to really hold the truck, and the normal brake pedal "feel" was abysmal.

 

OF COURSE, you're going to have members on here that SWEAR BY rear disc brakes. So get ready for that.

 

BUT, the MAIN reason GM went to drums?? Would ya think COST EFFECTIVE? Certainly, The cheaper they can mass-produce something, it will get incorporated.

 

Nothing at all wrong with these rear drums...they stop good. Alot more dependable and lasting than the rear discs from 99 to 04.

[Kodiak450]

I read stuff about how the rear discs were prone to premature wear, meaning they had rotting issues. IDK about that, I have discs in the rear and love them. Big difference when towing I noticed, only down side to them, keep an eye on the pad wear, you don't want to wind up shelling out $250 a disc.

[pm26]

I must agree that the brake pedal feel on my truck is great and the brakes are very responsive. Compared to the 2004 crew cab with all wheel disc brakes, it is a difference between night and day.

 

Experts claim that all wheel disc brakes respond quicker to the ABS pressure modulation when the ABS is activated than rear drum brakes. And properly sized and designed all wheel disc brakes will stop you better. No argument about that. Why else would they use them on 2500 and 3500 series?

[dkjbama]

Wow fast replies. Thanks yall. I have no problem with it having drums. It stops fine so far. The main advantage I saw when they switched back in '99 is that the discs don't get so packed with mud offroad. That isn't really a concern for me with this truck; its' too long for the trails around here and I wouldn't take a brand new truck into the woods anyway. I've got a Rover if I want to do that.

[tobias]

1/2-ton 6.0's have `em.

 

Not all of them.

[pm26]

My first car was a 1970 Chrysler Newport with drum brakes on all four wheels and no power brake booster. Imagine how much pedal pressure was required to stop this large heavy car with a 383 cu in V8 from high speed! Whatever new car or truck you buy today is eons ahead of this car in the braking department.

[dkjbama]

...you don't want to wind up shelling out $250 a disc.

 

Are you serious? $250 a rotor is highway robbery.

[ATL Z71]

I too was a little disappointed when I saw drums on the back of my truck, but it really does stop remarkably well. The only negative is that its starting to get that annoying super sensitivity the first couple of times you hit the brakes when its been sitting over night. I've never had a vehicle with rear disks that did that...

 

Doesn't do it every time, but it does it fairly regularly now. Probably when moisture gets in there.

[tobias]

Before VMax2007 blasts you out of here, NBS is all that's needed to get your point across. To be safe, you can also call the series "900" and everybody knows what you mean.

 

As far as going back to DRUMS, which GM did back in 2005...was a VERY wise move. Why?? Because the rear disc brake system they incorporated into the '99-'04 1500 trucks (800 series) were absolute junk. Really. The right rear inner pad always wore out quicker, the emergency brake was never strong enough to really hold the truck, and the normal brake pedal "feel" was abysmal.

 

OF COURSE, you're going to have members on here that SWEAR BY rear disc brakes. So get ready for that.

 

BUT, the MAIN reason GM went to drums?? Would ya think COST EFFECTIVE? Certainly, The cheaper they can mass-produce something, it will get incorporated.

 

Nothing at all wrong with these rear drums...they stop good. Alot more dependable and lasting than the rear discs from 99 to 04.

 

Actually, NBS doesn't even work for him. NBS and Classic, or OBS, are only used in years that two body styles exist. His 2008 is a GMT900.

[pm26]

Are you serious? $250 a rotor is highway robbery.

 

Actually, it is a brake robbery.