Suburban Brakes Suck

[rockinw]

OK, It's a given that the brakes on certain earlier trucks and suburbans, mine being a 93 3/4 ton suburban, suck. But someone or somebody must have come up with a upgrade. I have a abs hydroboost that is less than steller. I installed a new gmpp ht 383 crate motor for more giddy up now I need more whoa power. What is the fix? Is it new calipers, rotors. master cylinder. trash the abs, junk the hydrobooster? Something has got to fix it short of a new suburban.

[Vadar-Frank]

sounds like all that extra giddy up is robbing vacume power. check out Jeggs and summit racing, I think they may have a fix add on for vacume storage.

[MarioM]

If you have hydro boost, then you have a 2500. Only the 1500's had vacuum assist. No upgrade, I'm afraid. At least that I have ever seen. I have a 1996 2500 and the brakes (front) are pathetic. Undersized, thank you very much General Motors. They upsized them later (99?) and bragged about it. Thanks again GM. There is NO WAY to use the later brake components due to many reasons.

A final thanks to GM for screwing its customers...again.

[seniorbigs]

Sorry, can't help with the brakes. How do you like the 383, what trans, carb or FI, mpg, etc? sounds like a fun truck, thanks

[rockinw]

More brakes is what I need. Love the 383. Equipped with a CFM Tech prep TBI with Turbo City matched injectors and their chip. Mileage is 12.5 around town,15 on the highway and 11 towing my jeep on the trailer. Tranny is a 4L80E. It will go, now I need it to stop.

[RDXGator]

rockinw,

I have the same truck (no new 383 though). I have the 454 and the anti-lock brake light has come on recently. took it to my machanic and he referred me to the dealer. said it was the controll module or the hydroboost. Sense it doesn't make that distinctive (bzzzz) at about 10 mph, i'm thinking it is the controller.

It looks pretty simple to pull and replace. Have you had any problems?

Thanks.

[rockinw]

No I have not changed the controller. I did rebuild the hydrobooster though. My brakes seem like got worse after I had changed the power steering pump with an after market unit. I then went to the dealer and bought a new GM unit, but they still suck. I bought a new Master Cylinder and that did not help any. I am thinking of buying a new hydrobooster now.

[TrailLeadr]

Please don't quote me on this, but I read somewhere that the proportioning valve used on the 2500 is the same as the one used on the 1500. The 1500 doesn't use the heavy duty brake lines, and this valve actually causes a restriction, which will cause more backpressure (ie harder pedal, and weak braking) Though I haven't actually put this theory to the test myself, so I'm not sure that it is true, but it's worth considering wouldn't you say?

If I find that article, I will post it here.

[rockinw]

Re: Brake Proportioning Valve
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Posted by Traveler on November 04, 19100 at 07:40:04:

In Reply to: Re: Brake Proportioning Valve - Q posted by Marty on November 03, 19100 at 12:32:10:

The article was for info only and should have been marked OT. This valve should not be used on Suburbans.

I had my proportioning valve replaced with P/N
12548265 per TSB 9905240001. This is the only valve recommended for '92 to '99 2500's.

This is what I have for 1500's:
12548265 1500 Sub prop. valve if you have JB6 option $ 98.67 each
12548273 1500 Sub prop. valve if you have JB5 option $ 98.67 each

[RDXGator]

http://www.raybestos.com/OnLineTraining/abs-261.htm

rock, I found this information about the 4WAL EHCU ABS system. It was a huge help. I've captured the error codes and cleared the ECU memory and I'm going through the diagnosis process. No errors have come back yet.

[rockinw]

How do you capture the codes? My scan tool show no codes present. What it does show is that when sitting there my brake switch is on, when I do depress the brakes it shows it off. That seems backwards to me..

[SUBURBANITE01]

Hey Rockinw:

What Size Wheel And Tire Combo...

If You Have Up-sized Wheel And/or Tires
This Will Reduce Your Braking Dramatically !!!

The Further You Place The Rotating Mass From The Center Of The Hub The Less Braking You Will Have.

This Also Applies To Overall Weight Of Wheel Tire Combo.

If This Is Your Situation Find A Buddy With A Stock Wheel Tire Combo And Swap Them For A Few Miles And You Will See...

Hope This Helps...

[RDXGator]

sounds like there may be an issue with the light itself. Here is another helpful link.

Basically you use a jumper (paper clip even) to connect terminal A and H.

http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/aug2000/techtips.htm

[rockinw]

Tire size is 265/75/16 on Alum wheels, I will short out A and H and see if there are any codes.

[SUBURBANITE01]

Ok Stock Size, Eliminates That Idea....