I haven't shared this news yet. I sold my 88 Silverado to my neighbor after he had his truck totaled while parked, then got T-boned in his Acura.
Here's what is likely the last photo before it was wrecked. Elderly driver turned across traffic in front of him.
It's totaled.
I got one, too! His name is Walt - after Walt Longmire of Craig Johnson fiction.
1996 Silverado C1500
350
4L60E
posi rear
15x8 rallys from summit and poverty caps
What is the current thinking on OEM style brake upgrades for the daily driven GMT400? Mine is a 99 K1500 GMC Suburban, half-ton with six lugs, rear drums, and a regular vacuum booster. We just drive it like an old 4x4 Suburban and even for those purposes the brake have never been great.
I have read a bunch of threads about using the GMT800 master and other similar upgrades but am still unclear on the benefit and what it takes to make the swap. There is a really great thread on here about upgrading brakes on 3/4 ton GMT400's, but unfortunately won't work for me. It is worth it to upgrade the master? What else needs to change? Is there a similar swap for calipers, or are those ok once you upgrade the master? What is the easy route on these? Thanks!
Ive started poking around looking too for my c1500. Ive already done the gmt800 master, and will say that im not that impressed with the improvement. It actually never locks up to engage the abs on dry pavement anymore no matter what i do.
I'm sure my solution to the crappy GMT400 brakes won't be popular, but it worked.
I converted my truck to earlier lines and proportioning valve arrangement and completely deleted the ABS unit.
I used parts off a 1990 model truck from the junkyard.
They work well now.
So I've been reading up on brake upgrades. There are mixed reports on the GMT800 M/C.
Another member gearheadE30 did a great write up on the low drag system which I think is what I have - RPO JB6. Apparently cop tahoes and some other GMT400's had a non-low drag system under RPO JB7 with the bigger rear drums, and I'm looking into what's involved with that. Or maybe just replace like for like for now. The good thing is that parts are cheap enough on these.
There's a way to get the newer AWD Astro knuckles and brakes on there for the 4wd GMT400s. I never read up on it too much since it doesn't apply for mine.
In reply to solfly :
As far as I know, the astro LCAs are a direct swap, so if the knuckle had the same upper ball joint taper as the 400 it might be a bolt on
https://www.gmt400.com/threads/nbs-astro-knuckle-brake-upgrade.20774/
I bought some LEDs from Headlight Experts, and they are a massive improvement on the old sealed beam square units. Plus they don't look too out of place since they are an H4 lens with an LED bulb. I also had the windows tinted. I've been enjoying puttering with Walter (the Work Truck), and have begun investigating LS options (soon to be Heisenberg, the Work Truck).
Off to have the bed lined today . . . it's a Western truck and the body and frame are worth the time and money to keep in top share.
Obligatory follow up pic of the LineX bed liner. How exciting, eh? I paid a bit more to do "over the rails" since it helped cover up some of the almost 30 years of work abuse the bed has had.
In reply to ZOO (Forum Supporter) :
do you mind me asking how much it was to have that done? I have a drop-in liner that is driving me crazy, because anything not tied down slides around like butter on a hot skillet
In reply to budget_bandit :
It was $750 Canadian . . . I paid a bit more to have the tops and sides of the bed to the body line done. The company was terrific -- the owner also did some areas on the box for free because he thought they desreved additional protection (below the tailgate, for example). I didn't spend for the premium UV protected product since I generally run a tonneau cover (though in retrospect the sides will be exposed to the sun, so it may have been a mistake to save that cost).
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