Upgrading drum brakes
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: NOLA
Upgrading drum brakes
If I have 2.5" shoes on my rear brakes, can I upgrade them to the 3" size by replacing the drums and shoes to the 3"? Is that all I would have to do or there something else I must do? Also, is this going to give me better stopping power? I am already in the process of upgrading the front with premium pads and calipers but with larger tires and heavy trailers, I need to get better stopping power. To many crazies on the road, texting & talking on their phones and not paying attention to other people on the road. Thank you. Truck is a 250 with the Sterling 10.25 rear end. This year had a light duty and heavy duty version and mine is the light duty version so I am assuming I have the 2.5" drums...Thanks again.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
If I have 2.5" shoes on my rear brakes, can I upgrade them to the 3" size by replacing the drums and shoes to the 3"? Is that all I would have to do or there something else I must do? Also, is this going to give me better stopping power? I am already in the process of upgrading the front with premium pads and calipers but with larger tires and heavy trailers, I need to get better stopping power. To many crazies on the road, texting & talking on their phones and not paying attention to other people on the road. Thank you. Truck is a 250 with the Sterling 10.25 rear end. This year had a light duty and heavy duty version and mine is the light duty version so I am assuming I have the 2.5" drums...Thanks again.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
I am guessing you have the semi floater rear axle(no big hub)
The full floater(bug hub) has the 3" brakes.
If you have a hard time stopping your trailer, I would look into the TRAILER. Most of these modern brake controllers SUCK. either they make the truck stop the trailer or the trailer jerks the truck around. my recommendation is a MAXXBRAKE. It has a pressure sensor that reads ACTUAL brake pressure and sends voltage accordingly to the trailer. But you need good working brakes on the trailer for that to work
The full floater(bug hub) has the 3" brakes.
If you have a hard time stopping your trailer, I would look into the TRAILER. Most of these modern brake controllers SUCK. either they make the truck stop the trailer or the trailer jerks the truck around. my recommendation is a MAXXBRAKE. It has a pressure sensor that reads ACTUAL brake pressure and sends voltage accordingly to the trailer. But you need good working brakes on the trailer for that to work
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: NOLA
Sidewinder, it is a 302.
DieselBrad, it is the floating rear. As for trailer brakes, great idea but I pull three different trailers with my truck and none of them have brakes installed, so I am looking to upgrade one vehicle and be done with it...
DieselBrad, it is the floating rear. As for trailer brakes, great idea but I pull three different trailers with my truck and none of them have brakes installed, so I am looking to upgrade one vehicle and be done with it...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 11
From: Puyallup, WA
While upgrading your trucks brakes is a good start, it is only PART of the effort. I would suggest reading the owners manual, it gives Ford's recommendations / requirements for trailer brakes.
Then, visit your local DMV, there will also be state laws requiring trailer breaks on any trailer over a certain weight, used on public roads. This is the law, and must be followed to be legal AND safe.
Depending upon your trailers, brakes may HAVE to be added to abide by the law. Besides, look at it this way, if you rear end some one, and end up hurting / killing them, is it worth risking what you might or do own to save a little money on brake conversions?
That said,
Follow the most restrictive requirements and you will be golden and go to go. However, if you ignore the requirements, and exceed them, then you are just adding to "those" crazys on the road texting, phoning, not paying attention... or driving unsafe / defective equipment or OVERLOADED (brakes included) equipment...
... in my honest opinion.
David
Then, visit your local DMV, there will also be state laws requiring trailer breaks on any trailer over a certain weight, used on public roads. This is the law, and must be followed to be legal AND safe.
Depending upon your trailers, brakes may HAVE to be added to abide by the law. Besides, look at it this way, if you rear end some one, and end up hurting / killing them, is it worth risking what you might or do own to save a little money on brake conversions?
That said,
Follow the most restrictive requirements and you will be golden and go to go. However, if you ignore the requirements, and exceed them, then you are just adding to "those" crazys on the road texting, phoning, not paying attention... or driving unsafe / defective equipment or OVERLOADED (brakes included) equipment...
... in my honest opinion.
David
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 11
From: Puyallup, WA
David
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
