Whos Running Stock Truck Brakes?

[55 Fargo]

Just rebuilt my 55 Fargo truck brakes, stock front 10 inch drum, rear are 10 inch drum, 80s Mopar 8 1/4 diff from a Diplomat.

Brakes are okay, fronts needed some setting up, and amy need more fine tuning, as they wear in a bit. Back brakes are self adjusting bendix type.

The brakes are pretty good, not as good as my 47 Chrysler with dual wheel cyls up front, and not as good as my 2005 Caravan either. But then I don't expect them to be.

So who's running stock brakes , and whats your opinion on there performance, when they are in peak condition that is.....

[bach4660]

stock everything on the one ton. The back end skids pretty easy, especially on the really skinny tires. I think the brakes are quite good, but if the guy in front is better you still loose. So I leave a bit of room.

[John-T-53]

I have no complaints as long as they're in perfect working condition.

Leave plenty of room to the next car in front, as said.

Keep tabs on the fluid level and regularly inspect for leaks.

Keep your parking brake adjusted.

Stock brakes become very limited when it comes to towing or hauling heavy loads in the bed, especially when going down long grades. Be cautious!

[MBF]

I'm running stock with new wheel cyls all around on my 52 1 ton. I'm okay with how they stop the truck but I'm not hauling any weight. No, they're not as good as the brakes on my 78 1/2 ton, but they're fine for what they were designed to do. I've never been a tailgater, and always leave a lot of room ahead-finding that at almost 60 I don't stop as quick as I used to either. Mike

[Desotodav]

I'm still running stock brakes on my 52 Desoto 1/2 ton truck. It does take a bit more time to stop in a hurry than a newer car - all part of the challenge in owning an older vehicle !!!

Desotodav

[4852dodge]

I'm running the stock braking system on my 48 1 ton. 15 years and no complaints. Just don't expect to stop like a modern truck.

[karl head]

Forgive me gentlemen but this is the one place where keeping it original makes me wonder. The brakes on these vehicles were designed to meet the requirements of driving 60 plus years ago and the budget constraints of the makers. Not for the day to day traffic and conditions of modern highways and driving. I can understand keeping it original if its a show truck but for day to day driving I have to wonder if upgrading isn't the wisest path,especially because its one of the few systems on the truck that can be upgraded without any outward change in appearance. You could even upgrade the front and leave it drums by picking a later seventy's set up. safety is a major concern not only for us but for all the travelers on the road, how many of us would drive our trucks without seat belts.

Just some early morning pondering

Karl

[Bradley S.]

I agree with all. They work fine but leave lots of room in traffic and give them a test before going down a grade or approaching a stop light. Make sure the e-brake is adjusted and working because it's just a matter of time before you will need it.

A year ago I was driving my truck into the barn and hit the brakes and the right rear wheel cylinder let loose. No brakes. I quickly grabbed the e-brake and avoided ramming into Dad's new John Deere tractor.

[Guest P15-D24]

When properly set up they work great. They will lock up all four in a panic stop.

[wallytoo]

still stock in my 1.5-ton. stops the truck fine. i can lock all four (six) wheels up if i need to. they seem to work better (less rear lock-up) with a good load on the dump, too. probably helps having the weight in the back. the low gearing works in my favor, too. as soon as i let off the gas, it's slowing down.

[IanT_Qld]

Yep, stock brakes and no seat belt, but i am on a "special interest vehicle" rego, only allowed out on weekends, The vehicle is in the country nearest town is 8 miles and only 5000 peolpe. I am considering the seat belt thing as that stearing wheel is gonna impale me something shocking.

PS happy with the brakes, just remember they arent powered or disc.

[JBNeal]

Stock brakes on the '48 1/2 ton & '49 1-ton, both work decent but considering how many uninsured motorists are in the area, I drive below 45mph and give plenty of room for braking, planning ahead when I'm able. The 1-ton has bigger brakes and is rolling on radials, and it seems like it stops quicker than the 1/2 ton. But neither truck is used everyday, nor are they used to haul heavy loads. One of my pie-in-the-sky plans is to put disk brakes on a daily driver as that project would be able to cruise 60mph

[Dodgeb4ya]

I'm not afraid of my stock brakes. They work just fine from my 1952 Plymouth Belvedere's 10"X 2" brakes to my big boy Dodge's 16-1/2" X 7" air brakes. Either of these vehicles can and will scare the passenger possibly to death in a panic stop, and that's in a straight line too!

[TheMoose]

I have the stock brakes on my 53 B4B, everything except the drums are new.

I don't have a problem with the brakes but, it's not like I drive the 53 the same way I do my 03!

I drive my 53 like I would a motorcycle, leave plenty of room, assume everyone at an intersection will run the light & the car next to you will cut you off, Hell I just assume everyone else is an idiot (which isn't far from true!) and drive accordingly!

[HanksB3B]

except the drums are new.

How? Where? How Much?

Hank

[TheMoose]

How? Where? How Much?

Hank

Yea bad quote there...let me fix it,

everything except the drums are new.

[HanksB3B]

Oh darn...(I see you edited your above post)

Hank

(Same as what I did new lines MC and Slaves. Most sensible $300+ investment you can make other than going the Rusty Hope route, which I hope to do someday)

Edited June 7, 2012 by HanksB3B

[jpwuertz]

I have the stock brakes in my 52 B3B 108. I just had them redone and they work fine. Since the truck has the original rear end the top speed is not over 50 the new drum brakes stop the ptuck pretty good. After all was completed the new drum brakes probably could have been upgraded to disks for not much more money.

Something I'll keep in mind next time brakes need work.

[B1B Keven]

Stock brakes and they work fine. E-brake locks up the rears.

[55 Fargo]

I have the stock brakes in my 52 B3B 108. I just had them redone and they work fine. Since the truck has the original rear end the top speed is not over 50 the new drum brakes stop the ptuck pretty good. After all was completed the new drum brakes probably could have been upgraded to disks for not much more money.

Something I'll keep in mind next time brakes need work.

I also thought about going to disc right now up front. But my shoes were $70.00, drums machined $20.00, even if I installed wheel cyls, at $40 each, and new hoses at $20.00 each, that would bea total of $210.00, thhe disc conversion with all parts would be around $500, so drums are still cheaper, just saying. We both know which are a better braking system.

Hey you Guys, thanx for all the good responses, yes the brakes aren't too bad, and yes we have to drive prudently, and keep an eye open at all times.

The highway at the end of my road Hwy #9 is single lane, and very busy, I get a lot of ticked off people sometime on their, when I am driving 55-60 mph, and they are going 65-70 mph. So being aware, and taking extra distance is a must.

[Bradley S.]

You should see the dudes on Rt 12 trying to go 60 while my truck is screaming at 35 mph!

Maybe those were not "thumbs" up like I thought......

I would put my flashers on but I don't have any. Or turn signals, or seat belts, etc.

[55 Fargo]

You should see the dudes on Rt 12 trying to go 60 while my truck is screaming at 35 mph!

Maybe those were not "thumbs" up like I thought......

I would put my flashers on but I don't have any. Or turn signals, or seat belts, etc.

Wow, that could get dicey, if I have to, mine witha 3.23 diff, can keep up to 60 mph.

[TodFitch]

You should see the dudes on Rt 12 trying to go 60 while my truck is screaming at 35 mph!

Maybe those were not "thumbs" up like I thought......

I would put my flashers on but I don't have any. Or turn signals, or seat belts, etc.

Wow, that could get dicey, if I have to, mine witha 3.23 diff, can keep up to 60 mph.

Hmmm. What am I missing here.

I can cruise at 60 mph in my Plymouth with its stock 4.375 rear end. Seems like the 3.23 should be good for a lot higher than 60 mph as far as the engine (but maybe not for the brakes, suspension or steering) is concerned.

Bradley S.: What rear end and tire sizes are we talking about where the vehicle is "screaming at 35 mph"?

[55 Fargo]

Hmmm. What am I missing here.

I can cruise at 60 mph in my Plymouth with its stock 4.375 rear end. Seems like the 3.23 should be good for a lot higher than 60 mph as far as the engine (but maybe not for the brakes, suspension or steering) is concerned.

Bradley S.: What rear end and tire sizes are we talking about where the vehicle is "screaming at 35 mph"?

I hate to hear your RPMs Tod, ....LOL

Now my old truck needs suspension work, probably tires, exhaust is loud, after 55 mph, she gets noiser, could no doubt handle higher speeds, once all is in order mechanically.

Your engine, is it rebuilt?

Mine is old, and I do not want to push it too hard, and blow it up.

[TodFitch]

I hate to hear your RPMs Tod, ....LOL

Now my old truck needs suspension work, probably tires, exhaust is loud, after 55 mph, she gets noisier, could no doubt handle higher speeds, once all is in order mechanically.

Your engine, is it rebuilt?

Mine is old, and I do not want to push it too hard, and blow it up.

The healthy roar of a engine enjoying its work.

I had it rebuilt when I had everything apart. About 20,000 miles on the rebuild and about 60,000 miles since I got it.