Bigger brakes for GMT900 short of a C6 conversion kit?

[bobsburban]

I'm looking to upgrade brakes on my 2011 Suburban for towing out west next year. I found these kits at RockAuto - https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617128&cc=3015549&pt=14204&jsn=1341 and https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617108&cc=3015549&pt=14204&jsn=1342 but recent threads about PPV components has me wondering. Any thoughts on heavy duty brakes for the 1/2 ton Suburban?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Doubeleive]

Brakes range in price a lot, I personally went with the baer erradispeed rotor upgrade front & rear that's about $1400 or so, willwoods run 4k, and others are much more. Some people are doing the 4 piston upgrade from the new generation trucks but you may run into wheel fitment issues depending on which wheels you run. Basically it all depends on your budget

 

[j91z28d1]

Brakes range in price a lot, I personally went with the baer erradispeed rotor upgrade front & rear that's about $1400 or so, willwoods run 4k, and others are much more. Some people are doing the 4 piston upgrade from the new generation trucks but you may run into wheel fitment issues depending on which wheels you run. Basically it all depends on your budget

I have baer erradispeed on my c6, well it came with them when I got it used but I can say they are some quality parts.. many mountains trips/runs, 2 track days.. killed a set of hawk pads at both track days and melted the plastic center cap out of the rim the 2nd time, and that's with brake ducts. rotors are still solid, not warped or anything. can't say that for any of my friends that ran the same track days. they all replaced rotors where I Just rebuild the calipers, toss on new pads and back at it. the bear break-in process is the longest I've ever read, but they are doing something right.

if my yukon didn't have a bunch of regenerative braking programed in that I think upgrading brake would throw the calibration all out of wack, I'd definitely look into a set for it.

 

[tooleyondeck]

The 19+ GM performance 4 pots are probably the best bang for buck upgrade out there. At Summit you can get the front calipers and a complete Powerstop Z36 front and back rotor and pad kit for around $850

 

[mikez71]

Will those fit under 18's? I only have 17's, but would definately consider 18's with bigger brakes in the future...

 

[Trey Hardy]

Will those fit under 18's? I only have 17's, but would definately consider 18's with bigger brakes in the future...

I think you need 20s to clear them unless you run some wheel spacers

 

[mikez71]

Only reason I wonder, the online stock wheel size listings show 2015-2020 as having an 18" wheel option...

 

[tooleyondeck]

Base through LT/AT4s have OEM 18s so they fit but it's probably more about the offset.

 

[swathdiver]

I'm looking to upgrade brakes on my 2011 Suburban for towing out west next year. I found these kits at RockAuto - https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617128&cc=3015549&pt=14204&jsn=1341 and https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617108&cc=3015549&pt=14204&jsn=1342 but recent threads about PPV components has me wondering. Any thoughts on heavy duty brakes for the 1/2 ton Suburban?

Thanks in advance.

I bought that set for the front and rear of my lifted pickup a while back. The youngsters finally parked the truck and tore it down the other day so no first impressions yet. They are advertised for towing.



Oh, my kit from RA came with two sets of rear calipers. Upon closer inspection, it was part of the description though still a typo on their part. I kept them as spares as we have several trucks that all run the same brakes.

 

[Charlie207]

The 19+ GM performance 4 pots are probably the best bang for buck upgrade out there. At Summit you can get the front calipers and a complete Powerstop Z36 front and back rotor and pad kit for around $850

View attachment 428009

What is needed to adapt these calipers to the GMT900 knuckles?

 

[Geotrash]

I bought that set for the front and rear of my lifted pickup a while back. The youngsters finally parked the truck and tore it down the other day so no first impressions yet. They are advertised for towing.

View attachment 428026

Oh, my kit from RA came with two sets of rear calipers. Upon closer inspection, it was part of the description though still a typo on their part. I kept them as spares as we have several trucks that all run the same brakes.

Is this the right kit for the front? https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617128&cc=1502531&pt=13824&jsn=546

 

[tooleyondeck]

What is needed to adapt these calipers to the GMT900 knuckles?

Just a 1/8" washer between the bracket and the caliper to center it on the new rotors.

 

[Doubeleive]

Is this the right kit for the front? https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617128&cc=1502531&pt=13824&jsn=546

yes, same calipers I put on the yukon with the baer erradispeed rotors, price has gone up about $30
I bought them 3 years ago 5/2021 they are working fine
seems like the originals are prone to leaking I went thru 2 set's before I bought these. well 1 was sticking the rest leaked.

 

[Doubeleive]

if you want just good front rotors these are pretty nice, I put them on the silverado 4 years ago and the wifes suburban last year. they are holding up fine.
Order Status & Returns

POWER STOP AR82132XPR (High Performance) Extreme Performance Drilled and Slotted; Pair Info Front; Police

 

[swathdiver]

Is this the right kit for the front? https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617128&cc=1502531&pt=13824&jsn=546

Yes!

The rear matching kit for anyone interested is SDCPR106TK.

Here's something they found while during disassembly;



And they said a lifted truck didn't need new control arms to maintain angles! LOL

 

[bobsburban]

Is this the right kit for the front? https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=10617128&cc=1502531&pt=13824&jsn=546

That's what I'm showing...

 

[petethepug]

The issue with the OEM brakes is that they have no thermal capacity beyond being used as a light duty truck

I’m with @Doubeleive on his recommendation.

 

[petethepug]

Oh this is completely normal. The only important thing is to use the matching nut with variable size threads

 

[fozzi58]

Much like @j91z28d1 said about his C6, I am autoX'ing\road coursing my Suburban and she wears the Tx6R Wilwood kit up front. There's never any brake fade. It was about $2400 for the front kit but have to say its well worth it. The truck just STOPS.

My dad's 2022 Silverado has the 4 pistons up front and there is still a night and day difference between stopping capability between the 2.

 

[91RS]

The stock 19/21+ brakes are an upgrade but not a huge one. You need a pretty flat high offset wheel to fit them but 17” wheels will fit. The rotor is only 0.5” large than the stock rotor.

A big upgrade is the Brembo kit from the K2 trucks with a 16” rotor. It is a huge improvement and the stock pad that comes with it is pretty mild so it doesn’t make much dust or noise.