[jlane672]

So I have a 2014 Ram 1500 Limited crew cab with 6'4" bed and after lift, tires, wheels, front and rear heavy steel bumpers, winch and lights there is obviously a lot of weight added. I want to upgrade the brakes but the only real option I can dig up is the Baer 15" front set below (please let me know if posting outside links is frowned upon, its my first post)

http://baer.com/15-Front-Extreme-Plus-Brake-System-4141022.html

Does anyone know of any other options r retrofits that would work for a 15" or bigger brake set with 3 pistons? This kit is almost $4k for only the front two.

My second question is if I can easily switch the existing front calipers with the rear since they are 2 piston vs the rear 1?

(I was told by a stop tech rep last year they were coming out with full kit in the spring but that obviously hasn't happened)

 

[BC9696]

I was gonna ask pretty much the same question...my brakes need to be replaced soon and I live at the top of a long, steep hill...looking for a reliable, long-lasting set of HD brakes for my '14 LTD shortbed.

 

[Lone Dutch]

Remember that most of your braking is done in the front.

Multipiston brakes help more with resisting brake fade and maintaining performance under lots of hard stops. They won't improve the truck's ability to stop because the surface area of the actual braking surface remains the same.

Remember Pascal's law?

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/WindTunnel/Activities/Pascals_principle.html

If you want more stopping power, you need to increase the surface area of the actual braking surface (which are your pads and rotors, the caliper's piston simply jams the pads into the rotor), or increase the force applied to the calipers - in which increasing the size of the brake booster is your most realistic option.

I think it'll be easier to shove a larger brake booster instead of trying to find a larger diameter rotor plus the appropriately sized pads and calipers.

I toyed with the idea of using a booster from a 2500 - because I agree, the brakes on this truck are really lame - but then it'll be impossible to remove cylinder 5's ignition coil. I could relocate it, but I don't think it'll be worth the hassle.


You could also just give yourself more stopping distance. Or buy a ford. Chevy's new trucks have phenomenal brakes too.

 

[jlane672]

Good looking truck, grey looks good on Rams especially with those Restoshop headlights

 

[jlane672]

Remember that most of your braking is done in the front.

Multipiston brakes help more with resisting brake fade and maintaining performance under lots of hard stops. They won't improve the truck's ability to stop because the surface area of the actual braking surface remains the same.

Remember Pascal's law?

https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/WindTunnel/Activities/Pascals_principle.html

If you want more stopping power, you need to increase the surface area of the actual braking surface (which are your pads and rotors, the caliper's piston simply jams the pads into the rotor), or increase the force applied to the calipers - in which increasing the size of the brake booster is your most realistic option.

I think it'll be easier to shove a larger brake booster instead of trying to find a larger diameter rotor plus the appropriately sized pads and calipers.

I toyed with the idea of using a booster from a 2500 - because I agree, the brakes on this truck are really lame - but then it'll be impossible to remove cylinder 5's ignition coil. I could relocate it, but I don't think it'll be worth the hassle.


You could also just give yourself more stopping distance. Or buy a ford. Chevy's new trucks have phenomenal brakes too.

Hey, do you know where I can find the specs for the OEM 1500 booster? I feel like I need to review those to understand the impact of the upgrade to the 2500 booster. I take it from your notes that the 2500 booster has clearance issues inside the engine bay on the 1500?

 

[Lone Dutch]

Its not exactly rocket science - a physically larger booster gives you more braking force.

You can simply eyeball the clearance issues with the physical size of the booster. Go to a dealership with a tape measure and roughly grab the physical dimensions of a 2500's booster, then compare it with yours - you'll see the problem really quick

But with modern cars, theres logistical challenges with changing parts of a system that are interconnected with other systems. Im not sure how the ABS and ESC systems will respond to the changes. Specific specifications on these systems are not published because we're not supposed to be modifying these systems.

 

[GTyankee]

most rear brakes should never provide more than 40 percent of the stopping power at any given time. As such, they don’t develop nearly as much heat as the front brakes.

the front brakes generate up to 75 percent of the vehicle’s stopping force, they generate much more heat, over 500°F in heavy braking.

 

[jlane672]

Its not exactly rocket science - a physically larger booster gives you more braking force.

You can simply eyeball the clearance issues with the physical size of the booster. Go to a dealership with a tape measure and roughly grab the physical dimensions of a 2500's booster, then compare it with yours - you'll see the problem really quick

But with modern cars, there is logistical challenges with changing parts of a system that are interconnected with other systems. I'm not sure how the ABS and ESC systems will respond to the changes. Specific specifications on these systems are not published because we're not supposed to be modifying these systems.

So with that in mind you area saying the power of the brake booster is a function of its size? Keep in mind I don't have a lot of intel on how the unit on my vehicle functions. Also you bring up a good point about even if I was to upgrade there are "interconnected parts" effects. The pressure sensors on the abs may be triggered early or have issues with increased pressure and the lines and fittings pressure threshold could be exceeded (unless those parts are the same throughout the Ram line, which they may very well be)

 

[BC9696]

Day 3 after installing these PFCs...amazing difference, very happy.
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...10722/2014/ram/1500?q=1084+20+brake+pad&pos=2

 

[jlane672]

Day 3 after installing these PFCs...amazing difference, very happy.
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...10722/2014/ram/1500?q=1084+20+brake+pad&pos=2

Here is the kit I installed from Summit:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwr-k2164-36/year/2014/make/ram/model/1500

But as you can see from the pictures of my truck after the front and rear bodyguard heavy steel bumpers, warn winch, 37" tires, lift kit, amp steps, lights, new fiberglass hood, and supercharger a significant amount of weight was added. While I wasn't able to compare the new kit before all the bolt-ons it made little difference if any after so I will need a significant upgrade both to brakes and booster probably

 

[BC9696]

Here is the kit I installed from Summit:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwr-k2164-36/year/2014/make/ram/model/1500

But as you can see from the pictures of my truck after the front and rear bodyguard heavy steel bumpers, warn winch, 37" tires, lift kit, amp steps, lights, new fiberglass hood, and supercharger a significant amount of weight was added. While I wasn't able to compare the new kit before all the bolt-ons it made little difference if any after so I will need a significant upgrade both to brakes and booster probably

I was starting to think i was the only one who turned a puddle-sniffing mall cruiser Ltd into a badass backcountry brute. LOL Nice truck, we have similar tastes. You rip out that damn air bag suspension too?

 

[jlane672]

I was starting to think i was the only one who turned a puddle-sniffing mall cruiser Ltd into a badass backcountry brute. LOL Nice truck, we have similar tastes. You rip out that damn air bag suspension too?

No I kept the air ride for adjustability but I'm starting to think the ride quality is worse with the lift kit on it vs switching to standard suspension. What is our opinion?

 

[Wojo2014]

Anything cheap you guys know of drilled and slotted for a ram 2014 4wd.. Just curious of whats out their im looking in the max 300.00 range maybe cheaper if possible and still reliable.