99’ Tahoe with non-stock tires needs a fix for rear break wear and other problems!!!

[SMB1913]

I have a 1999 Tahoe with IFS and Auto-Trac. I put 32” tires on it a little over a year ago and have since then had problems with my rear drums warping every couple months. I’m not hard on the brakes and haven’t modified anything else that would effect them but I’ve been told that because my tires are not the stock size that my drums are being thrown out of adjustment and possibly could be having an adverse affect on my ABS and a couple other things that I already knew about like transmission and speedometer (I bought a HyperTech Power Programmer and adjusted the speedometer as close to actual speed as I could, but never messed with my tranny). My question is, what can I do, aside from going back to stock tires, to correct this? Especially the brake problem, seeing how I have had to either turn or buy completely new drums just about every three months or so for over a year now. I read an article, that I will post a link to at the bottom of this thread, which has them doing a disk brake conversion kit on the same model and year SUV as mine. I’m curious if anyone has any comment on this idea as well? But I suppose my overall question is how do I fix these problems?

Thanks Guys


Here's the link to the article

SSBC Disk Break Conversion

I just realized that the link above was directing people to the wrong article so i have corrected it.

[SMB1913]

Since I hadn’t gotten a reply yet I called up an old mechanic friend of mine from back home. He says that oversized tires, even as small a difference I have (about an inch or so) between the stock and non-stock tires, will make my drum brakes come out of adjustment. I guess when they come out of adjustment that causes them to drag and create more heat then they’re suppose to have which causes them to warp. He said that he knows there are fixes for this but doesn’t know personally what they are. He also said that a disk brake conversion kit might help but he hasn’t put one on a SUV of my year.

[maxwedge]

The o/s tires put more load on the brakes due to increased rolling inertia, but that's about it. If the brakes are adjusted too tight this will overheat the drums, were they discolored? Watch for the pk brake mechanism binding also.

[ac102nv]

I have been fighting basically the same issue for for 6 years. First was a 95 yukon that went thru rear drums about every 9-12 months for 6 years, and now I have a 98 tahoe and it has warped two sets of rears in a year. The Yukon had nothing but stock size tires and tahoe has slightly taller ones. I've gone so far as back the adjusters all the off...same issue. So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. And I too have thought of rear discs, but I would like to hear from someone who has actually had them on one of these vehicles. SSBC and others make great sounding claims, but has anyone actually done it?

Thanks for any help!

[SMB1913]

Well ac102nv, I just corrected the link i have in my original post that will take you to an article in fourwheeler magazine where they take you through the proccess of installing a converstion kit from SSBC on a 1999 Tahoe. if that's not good enough for you, i should be able to order my own kit from SSBC here in the next couple of weeks. ill update this thread after i finish and give you an update if you like.

[ac102nv]

That would be cool. I've seen the article, and read the SSBC website. It sounds like a great kit, but would really like to hear from someone that has owned it. So please keep us posted.

thanks,

[SMB1913]

well, i have to put off the conversion kit for a couple weeks cause i just found a minor coolant leak coming from my intake manifold. just a little set back, but will try and complete the brake job soon.




It seems like i fixed my leak so now I'm just waiting for some more money to come in and I'll order the disk brake conversion kit and am thinking about getting electric fans while i'm at it. right this minute though i'm trying to figure out some gearing questions.

[SMB1913]

Not sure if anyone cares, but after many other have-to-do projects I’m finally getting to my brake conversion. I have to work a 24 hour CQ shift on Thursday but then have Friday thru Monday off incase I run into any unforeseen problems (I seem to be famous for having). Anyway, I’ll pop in when I’m done to update how it went.

[maxwedge]

Start a new thread, this is way too old, thanks.