Brakes Upgrade

[TREYR8D]

Hey all,

During the installation of the leveling kit on the wife's hoe, i noticed the front rotors had some grooving. There was still plenty of pad left, so i'm not really sure how they got the grooves, but I want to replace them. So the question is, what is the recommendation for new rotors. I've seen a couple people with EBC and Google searching led me to StopTech and some other random brands. I'm looking for somewhat of a performance upgrade, so i'm thinking slotted or drilled or both and i want zinc coated. of course with new rotors, i'll be getting new pads as well. Recommendations there would be great as well. Ceramic, semi-metallic....again, looking for a little performance upgrade, but i dont want to break the bank as i'm saving up for rims and tires in the near future. I'll be doing front and rear just to keep everything consistent and up to date.

Thanks!

[Punisher66]

Just be careful with slotted and drilled. I was having issues in my old car in the rain. If I was on the highway in wet weather for a long period of time, then hit the brakes, it took a second or so for them to react. A bit scary. Not sure if it was the brand I got, or if it was the holes and slots, but it was not good.

[Conor]

I highly recommend the EBC slotted and dimpled rotors. The OEM rotors are terrible and should be swapped out for sure before they start to warp.

[Zed 71]

^ +1. R1 Concepts has also been used with good results. IMO go with slotted not drilled.

Punisher, slotted rotors should not have any issues in the rain, in fact there should be better performance. What brand/type rotors and pads did you use?

[SmallXL]

If it takes a second or two for your brakes to grab- that is typical of a perf. pad, not a characteristic of your rotor. The pads you had on were probably "hot pads". Takes a second to heat up a work properly. Great for track car, terrible for street use.

[vinnyray]

A few years back I tried a set of Power Stop rotors and Evolution Pads on my 05 Silverado. They made a world of difference over stock, the only problem I had was getting them to stop squealing in the beginning. I got them on ebay from Brakemotive really cheap, they are also on summitracing.com. Installed them 3 years ago, rotors are still in excellent shape but I did replace the pads 4 months ago.

[Punisher66]

^ +1. R1 Concepts has also been used with good results. IMO go with slotted not drilled.

Punisher, slotted rotors should not have any issues in the rain, in fact there should be better performance. What brand/type rotors and pads did you use?

R1 Concepts (Eline Cross-Drilled - Slotted) and pads......Yeah you would think that the slots are in place to help wisk water away, not sure what was causeing the issues, car is gone but not sure I would buy slotted and drilled again, nervous

---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 PM ----------

If it takes a second or two for your brakes to grab- that is typical of a perf. pad, not a characteristic of your rotor. The pads you had on were probably "hot pads". Takes a second to heat up a work properly. Great for track car, terrible for street use.


It would actually only happen in the rain and I don't believe they were perf pads. They were pretty much stock from R1 Concepts, metallic, from what i remember

[Zed 71]

I have slotted (no drilled holes) and they have been great (all weather conditions). From the reviews I have seen regarding Tahoes with R1 Concept rotors with Hawk pads, the comments have always been positive. I wonder if it was the pads - metallic...

[InTruckDesign]

I run SSBC big brake kit, it upgrades your rotors to 14" slotted, relocates stock caliper. I put Hawk ceramic pads on, they do squeek/squeal a bit but that is inherant to ceramic pads in general, next set I buy will be their LTS pads. I noticed a big improvement in stopping distances and overall pedal feel(very linear) much better than stock even with my 33's.

[TREYR8D]

Thank you all for the responses. So far this is what i'm debating between.
Rotors:
R1 Concepts Eline Slotted/drilled - $316 F & R
or
R1 Concepts Premium Drilled/slotted - $455 F & R
or
EBC USR Slotted - $440 F & R

Pads:
I really dont know whether to go with ceramic or not...so maybe some suggestions would help, but this is what im looking at. Hawk sounds pretty popular, and they're reasonably priced, so its between these:
Hawk Performance LTS - $165
Hawk Performance HPS - $165
Hawk Performance Ceramic - $170
EBC Green Stuff 7000 ~ $240
R1 Concepts Posi Quiet Ceramic - $120

So from a monetary stand point, the R1 rotors with the Hawk pads makes sense and would still provide a nice upgrade from stock. If there was large feedback that the EBC rotors are better, I would probably fork the extra $130 for them. I thought i read ceramic were supposed to be the quietest, but based on InTruck's post, i think the Hawk LTS's are the best option for pads.

If money were no problem i would definitely go with a big brake kit, but i can't afford 3-5K for new brakes right now.

Thanks!

[Modded]

I get what you are saying on affording all that moey on a big brake kit.
But I can tell you what I think the best setup is the Hawk Performance Cermics and a pair of slotted rotors.
I plan on that setup, just don't know what rotor brand to go with yet.

[Conor]

You do not want drilled rotors unless you are doing a big $$$ Baer upgrade. Go with the EBC's, they are slotted and dimpled, so you get that same heat disapation as you would a drilled

[BlackedoutLT3]

I have the big rotor kit from SSBC and really pissed at it basically they were warped from he go. City stoping is not bad but man highway stoping shakes he whole damn car. I have maybee 8,000 miles since I put them on. Plus they squeek a lot. I think I am going to change pads to see if that helps but doubt.

[Conor]

I have the big rotor kit from SSBC and really pissed at it basically they were warped from he go. City stoping is not bad but man highway stoping shakes he whole damn car. I have maybee 8,000 miles since I put them on. Plus they squeek a lot. I think I am going to change pads to see if that helps but doubt.

Thats not the first time I have heard that.

[Fast55]

Baer Eradispeed. No problems.

[bryanfeelsgood]

I've got the EBC slotted rotors and Green Stuff pads in the garage, slapping them on this weekend.

Just doing the fronts for now, that's where most of the braking happens anyway.

Hoping for a big upgrade -- stock brakes are crap.

[SabrToothSqrl]

stock are crap? what did you drive before?

my 09 tahoe stops on a DIME compared to my 1995 tahoe...

[TREYR8D]

I ended up ordering the EBC USR Slotted rotors and Hawk LTS pads for all 4 corners. $600 shipped for everything.

UPS says pads will be here on friday.
Fedex wont tell me when the rotors will get here, but i know they were shipped yesterday.

Really hoping for them before this weekend so i can put everything on. Got some HID kits for Lows and fogs in yesterday and need to install those too!!!! Should be a good weekend if the rotors get here :)

[Conor]

stock are crap? what did you drive before?

my 09 tahoe stops on a DIME compared to my 1995 tahoe...

The problem with the stock brakes is that the rotors are prone to over heat which causes premature warping. Many times, the pads will even outlast the rotors which goes to show that the weak link in the braking system is the front rotors.
As far as stopping power goes, the OEM brakes stop pretty well. My EBC brakes don't make the truck stop any sooner. The reason for the slotted and dimpled rotors is to disapate heat from them so you don't have to worry about over heating the rotors and warping them.

[Zed 71]

My EBCs pretty much eliminated brake fade which was a big problem with the OEMs (camping load while driving in the mountains).

[Modded]

I ended up ordering the EBC USR Slotted rotors and Hawk LTS pads for all 4 corners. $600 shipped for everything.

UPS says pads will be here on friday.
Fedex wont tell me when the rotors will get here, but i know they were shipped yesterday.

Really hoping for them before this weekend so i can put everything on. Got some HID kits for Lows and fogs in yesterday and need to install those too!!!! Should be a good weekend if the rotors get here :)

You sound ready to go.

For all the EBC guys, the only thing I have against them is the BS 1 year/10000 mile warranty on slotted or slotted/dimpled rotors. 10000 miles is less than the average American drives yearly, so most would hit 10000 miles in 3/4 year and I feel that EBC should be able to honor a product they feel is quality for longer.
Especially when www.brakeperformance.com sells rotors that look to be the exact same as the EBC ones, except they have a lifetime warranty.:shocked:

[TREYR8D]

Got everything installed on Sunday! Thank God i didnt need the old rotors, i had to beat one of the rear ones loose with a hammer (PB Blaster is my friend). Took the hoe out that night to find a dark parking lot and adjust the headlights and bed the brakes per Hawk's recommendations. Lights look freaking awesome! I'll get some pics up of it all when i get the new rims and tires on monday :D

So headed to work this morning, 75 mph on the interstate behind a pickup, at a reasonable distance. Coming down a hill into a turn and all i see is the pickup and car in front of him slam on the brakes and veer to the left shoulder. I immediately slam as hard as i can on the brakes for a stopped car towards the bottom of the hill. That hoe did 75 to 0 faster than i could have ever imagined. I didnt even have to attempt to take the shoulder. Stopped even with some distance to spare. Its good to have nice brakes :) I looked over at my wife, her as wide eyed as me, Me- "did you see that car stopped?!?!" Her - "Nope". I dont know how the car in front of the pickup didnt see it either.... no collisions, got to work safe and sound.

[Zed 71]

Good thing you bedded the brakes! IMO upgraded rotors and pads are a must for these rigs (at least the fronts).

[TREYR8D]

Pics in the Lifted/Z71 Section!

Link: Click HERE (http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17800)

[bryanfeelsgood]

Yeah, I have gone through TWO sets of rotors on the front. I swear they'd warp if you left them in the sun.

Plus brake fade while towing my boat was getting to be a PITA.