2nd gen dodge brakes are horrible

[The motor guy]

I have both a 2007 3rd gen dodge ram 2500 cummins and a 1999 2nd gen 2500 dodge ram cummins. Anyways, I don't know if it's just the difference in technology or what because I believe the 3rd gen has 4 wheel disc brakes with dual piston calipers and the older 2nd gen only has single piston calipers and drum brakes in the rear. I think the drum brakes are out of adjustment if maybe that's the difference, but the 3rd gen could stop a train trailer brakes or not which is probably why the rotors warped, but the 2nd gen couldn't stop a trailer to save it's life. Is this just a difference in technology between these two trucks are should I expect more from the older truck?

 

[clinebarger]

'94-'00 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 brakes are about identical to '88-'00 GM GMT400 2500/3500 brakes & they are pretty horrible. GM uses a bigger wheel cylinder in the rear that can help a Ram when towing but not a earth shattering improvement.

Had a '97 Ram CTD 2500 & a '01 Ram CTD 2500 & was a night & day difference in favor of the '01 with 4-wheel dual piston disc brakes.

 

[eljefino]

Brake swept area and rotor size have increased dramatically over the time period you mention. The GMT900 has 17" wheels standard for example and I'm sure Ram has seen similar upgrades.

 

[Rmay635703]

The brakes on my 2001 really grab

 

[The motor guy]

The brakes on my 2001 really grab

View attachment 253147

I'd imagine. Rust on rust really stops well

 

[Rmay635703]

I'd imagine. Rust on rust really stops well

Locks right up

 

[D60]

Yeah, in 2000 Ram half tons got dual piston front calipers. And something significant changed around 2000 for the D60 front, too, because the rotors went to a more conventional "full hat" slip on/off design. Sounds like that also may have equated to bigger calipers -- I don't stay on top of my Dodge D60 trivia 'cause they're not particularly desirable.

And yeah, most of the part numbers including many of the calipers are identical to GM -- specifically, GMT400 stuff.

For the Dodge 3/4t rears, they're all over the map from D60 to D70 to D80 pig with D70 outers. And at least some of those are drums. Our '02 CTD is D80 pig with D70 outers and discs (and grooved spindles thanks to no Scotseal from the factory)

 

[The motor guy]

Yeah, in 2000 Ram half tons got dual piston front calipers. And something significant changed around 2000 for the D60 front, too, because the rotors went to a more conventional "full hat" slip on/off design. Sounds like that also may have equated to bigger calipers -- I don't stay on top of my Dodge D60 trivia 'cause they're not particularly desirable.

And yeah, most of the part numbers including many of the calipers are identical to GM -- specifically, GMT400 stuff.

For the Dodge 3/4t rears, they're all over the map from D60 to D70 to D80 pig with D70 outers. And at least some of those are drums. Our '02 CTD is D80 pig with D70 outers and discs (and grooved spindles thanks to no Scotseal from the factory)

can you put dual piston calipers on a 99? I know they make disc brake conversions for the rear to get rid of the drum brake setup, but I don't know if they're dual piston or not.