Brake upgrade time
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
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What size are the rotors?
Banned
Joined: Dec 2018
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I don’t think the rotors are compatible either. Different (larger) bolt pattern for the 450/550 that use a 19.5” wheel. It’s 8x225 or something like that. Swapping a junkyard front axle with the right ratio and all the wheel end hardware included would probably be easiest way to do it on a 4x4.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: N.GA Mountains
on edit: that’s the point of this swap. Bigger rotors and bigger calipers. I’ll try to pull out some F450/550 calipers and rotors and F250/350 to compare.
The F450/550 have adapters for dually wheels that convert to the larger diameter bolt pattern.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: N.GA Mountains
All F450/550 will be 19.5” wheels and dually’s.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: N.GA Mountains
Look for these under ‘used’ on the amazon. Usually just returns and 40% or more off retail. Often not even damaged packaging OR opened.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2018
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Oh. Learn something new every day. That could be a worthwhile swap then for the 4x4 trucks. A lot of guys already have 19 or 20 inch wheels to fit over them. 2wd guys with the 1-piece hub/rotor units on the twin-I beam front are definitely out of luck since the 450/550 2wd didn't use those.
After looking around on the Rock auto catalog it looks like you jump from a 13" rotor on the front to a 14.5". What I can't seem to figure out is what the size difference is between the rear rotors on a 450/550 and 350 DRW like I have but that's getting a little beyond the scope.
After looking around on the Rock auto catalog it looks like you jump from a 13" rotor on the front to a 14.5". What I can't seem to figure out is what the size difference is between the rear rotors on a 450/550 and 350 DRW like I have but that's getting a little beyond the scope.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 13,106
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From: Henderson, NV
The factory rear brakes are probably adequate. The majority of the braking comes from the front wheels anyway.
If you are going to do 20” wheels, there’s an outfit that does a Wilwood upgrade. I’ll see if I can find it again.
If you are going to do 20” wheels, there’s an outfit that does a Wilwood upgrade. I’ll see if I can find it again.
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CNCFAB
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I feel like they would be a good, easy bolt on option for heavy towing. You have them? Happy so far?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
Oh. Learn something new every day. That could be a worthwhile swap then for the 4x4 trucks. A lot of guys already have 19 or 20 inch wheels to fit over them. 2wd guys with the 1-piece hub/rotor units on the twin-I beam front are definitely out of luck since the 450/550 2wd didn't use those.
After looking around on the Rock auto catalog it looks like you jump from a 13" rotor on the front to a 14.5". What I can't seem to figure out is what the size difference is between the rear rotors on a 450/550 and 350 DRW like I have but that's getting a little beyond the scope.
After looking around on the Rock auto catalog it looks like you jump from a 13" rotor on the front to a 14.5". What I can't seem to figure out is what the size difference is between the rear rotors on a 450/550 and 350 DRW like I have but that's getting a little beyond the scope.
Since we have a single reservoir MC, and no proportioning valve, our front and rear brakes receive equal pressure. The front brakes do more work because bigger caliper pistons and pads. This makes we wonder if only upgrading the front calipers would create more of a tendency to lock up the front brakes????
I can tell you with certainty that an F450/550 with EBC Yellowstuff pads that are fully broken in will stop a HEAVY truck with AUTHORITY. I have a few customers running those trucks around here (mountains) using them on service trucks and tree chipper trucks and they consider the ‘good pads’ a safety feature.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 367
Likes: 38
@SkySkiJason as usual, thank you for the great info. It sounds like a worthy upgrade.
I recently swapped my 99 to coil springs and went with 2015 parts from the knuckles out. That yielded me a 14.3" rotor. At the same time i went from a 285 to a 37" tire. The braking performance is amazing compared to the stock 99.5 braking with performance friction pads. I was able to use a 17" wheel.
Had i not done the above conversion, the F450 upgrade you describe seems like a no brainer for somebody after markedly better braking.
I recently swapped my 99 to coil springs and went with 2015 parts from the knuckles out. That yielded me a 14.3" rotor. At the same time i went from a 285 to a 37" tire. The braking performance is amazing compared to the stock 99.5 braking with performance friction pads. I was able to use a 17" wheel.
Had i not done the above conversion, the F450 upgrade you describe seems like a no brainer for somebody after markedly better braking.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2018
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Ive read that DRW F350 can bolt on the bigger F450/550 hubs and rotors and the bigger calipers bolt up??? But, I’ve never had a chance to check on that. I’ve got an F550 in the driveway right now, maybe I can attempt to measure caliper mounting points to compare to the smaller trucks.
Since we have a single reservoir MC, and no proportioning valve, our front and rear brakes receive equal pressure. The front brakes do more work because bigger caliper pistons and pads. This makes we wonder if only upgrading the front calipers would create more of a tendency to lock up the front brakes????
I can tell you with certainty that an F450/550 with EBC Yellowstuff pads that are fully broken in will stop a HEAVY truck with AUTHORITY. I have a few customers running those trucks around here (mountains) using them on service trucks and tree chipper trucks and they consider the ‘good pads’ a safety feature.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12,782
Likes: 2,142
From: N.GA Mountains
I'd be curious to compare the differences between a 350 DRW and 450 rear axle as far as the brake hardware and hub. (Same 8x170 bolt pattern on the rotor and hub with a wheel adapter like on the front or is it all 8x225?)
Does the 450/550 have a different type of MC with a proportioning valve? In stock form I can say the brakes were nothing impressive on this era of truck. Barely adequate on a 250/350. Never drove a 450/550 of this era to say if they were noticeably better.
So they do make pads for the 450/550 calipers also? Riff-Raff doesn't advertise them but it must be a different part number.
Does the 450/550 have a different type of MC with a proportioning valve? In stock form I can say the brakes were nothing impressive on this era of truck. Barely adequate on a 250/350. Never drove a 450/550 of this era to say if they were noticeably better.
So they do make pads for the 450/550 calipers also? Riff-Raff doesn't advertise them but it must be a different part number.
I think MC is the same, but larger calipers/rotors/pads increases stopping power.
Yes, different part number because they’re BIGGER/different pads.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,809
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From: Elk Grove, CA
I have the SSBC V8 calipers and count me as a fan. 
Functional improvement over stock.
But it's not equivalent to larger rotors. That's where major braking improvement happens. Granted my experience here is just a Subaru Forester, but I can tell you another inch of front disc is awesome. Swapped 2007 rotors/wheels/caliper brackets onto a 2001, too easy.
Hoping this F450 big brake swap happens just so I can be a fly on the wall. Wish it was easy as the Subie.
Functional improvement over stock.But it's not equivalent to larger rotors. That's where major braking improvement happens. Granted my experience here is just a Subaru Forester, but I can tell you another inch of front disc is awesome. Swapped 2007 rotors/wheels/caliper brackets onto a 2001, too easy.
Hoping this F450 big brake swap happens just so I can be a fly on the wall. Wish it was easy as the Subie.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,635
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I have a set on two of my trucks. They stop so much better than the factory calipers. When I put 35’s on one of the trucks, I lost confidence in its ability to stop quickly in an emergency. The SSBC’s fixed that.