HI everyone, I know this question has been asked before. I have a 2003 silverado ext cab pickup I use for work, hauling a 6x12 enclosed trailer 5 days a week. Overall the truck has been great for several years I have owned it, with the exception of the braking on it. Driving the truck without hauling a trailer is sketchy enough. The pedal is firm, but you have to stand on it to get it to come to a stop. Yes, the calipers move freely as do the pads. Now I am about due for rear pads and rotors(even new pads and rotors made no difference). I know its a common problem with these trucks. So, has anyone improved the braking on these trucks(keep in mind its a work truck, so affordability is important). I heard of people changing out the rear single piston calipers with dual piston with good results, but I won't if I need larger than the factory 16" rims currently on it. Also I have the electronic sba on the booster(I don't know if their is a way to test these...)if their related to normal braking. Anyways, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

I think you can swap in NNBS front rotors/calipers but you're still going to need a larger wheel in the front.

You can look at a Powerstop setup with better rotors/frictions.

 

I did the NNBS front brakes and rotors and the NBS tahoe rear brakes on my truck a few years ago and replace all the brake lines with Russel SS lines. It made a world of difference on how it brakes. You can get away with a 17" rim on the front with the NNBS brakes. I have 20s so i wasnt worried about it. I used all the power stop stuff for my upgrade. a couple weeks ago I upgraded the fronts again to the 19+ 4 piston calipers and 14" rotors.....I can put someone thru the windshield now without actually crashing.

 

Adding hydroboost will help with that "I have to stand on it" feeling

Aggressive pads will help a ton. EBC makes yellow stuff that fit our trucks front and rear. They are probably the most aggressive pad I would run on the street

 

Get new brake hoses all the way around for sure.

 

I put 07 front brakes on my 04 Av. AMAZING!!!! YYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJE! It felt like about doubling the total brake system. Whenever you need brakes, do that, instead of just fixing what you have now.

The newer brakes just bolt right up. All you need is calipers & brackets, which you can get at AZ or wherever; pads; & rotors. Just slaps right up on there like it was meant to go. 12" rotor replacing the 11".

Similarly, put the SUV (Burb & Av) rear calipers & rotors on it.

I did not do the stainless hoses (yet) but I have done stainless hard lines, after one of mine popped while pulling a trailer in traffic on a VERY busy city street.

 

 

I got a 03 and believe me there have been times where I stood on the brakes max effort and didn't think i was going to stop in time. like the truck was on overheated drum brakes. ABS doesn't even come on. stock brakes are crap on some of these trucks.

 

My 02 Tahoe is on 2 pistons F/R, stock NBS rotors F/R (still under dem 16s yo) with PPV pads, rubber lines and hydroboost

I can lock all 4 up at 50 mph as evidenced by my inability to put the ABS fuse back in that one time and I was trying to bed pads

They don't seem to fade hardly, but I'm also not hot lapping the truck and I'm very diligent in not dragging the brakes

my cars certainly stop better, but I am happy with the performance I get in the truck. I think the stock stuff can be made to work, but it's gonna have limits and being loaded might be that limit

pad choice is the most important however

 

I did the suv rear brakes and hydro boost swap on my 00 turbo ext cab and what a world of difference it made. I couldn't do the nnbs fronts because I have 16s but it stops way better than it ever did before now. The suv rear brakes fit with 16s too just so you know.