Lazy L-body brake upgrade

[ScottD]

My GLHS has started pulling under hard braking. The calipers are original I'm sure, so my suspicion is one of them is not functioning as properly as it should.

I'd like to upgrade the brakes, but don't feel like going through an SLH 1 upgrade. I might have some Daytona stuff I could machine and make work, but again, I'm feeling in just a bolt on kind of mood. Perhaps it was just doing the brake lines on my Dakota vert that has me in this mood :-)

I was thinking about just putting on rebuilt calipers on the front, really GOOD pads, cross drilled rotors, and upgrading to a 24mm master cylinder. I don't autocross this car, it is mainly just a pleasure driver.

Thoughts?

[turbovanman²]

The caravan stuff is a bolt on mod,

But if your happy with the way it brakes now, just do what you've listed.

[GLHS592]

For the money, you cannot beat the 24mm master cylinder and minivan calipers. A new master cylinder and reman calipers are pretty cheap.

[ScottD]

To use the minivan calipers can you use the existing L body hub/spindle?

What year minivans should they come off of? I would buy reman calipers, but don't I need the adapter?

[turbovanman²]

To use the minivan calipers can you use the existing L body hub/spindle?

What year minivans should they come off of? I would buy reman calipers, but don't I need the adapter?

They bolt up using the minivan brackets. 89/90 should cover it.

I might have some brackets if you are doing this.

[ScottD]

I was doing some reading on boostedmopar.com. I can't tell if you use the 24mm MC or not when doing SLH1.

It looks like on the how to though that everything bolts up with no fabricating/machining if you use the minivan stuff.

[turbovanman²]

I was doing some reading on boostedmopar.com. I can't tell if you use the 24mm MC or not when doing SLH1.

It looks like on the how to though that everything bolts up with no fabricating/machining if you use the minivan stuff.

Yes, you use the 24mm mc.

[ScottD]

Ok, I've been mulling this over ... probably too much.

I've narrowed down to two options now.

1. Stock calipers, stock rotors, good pads and add 24mm MC.

2. SLH1.

The caveat is with SLH1 I found through Autozone I can get CERAMIC pads for $41. I can't get ceramic pads with the stock brakes.

Are there any downsides to SLH1? I've heard pedal feel isn't as good. Thoughts?

[turbovanman²]

I can't see why you would have bad pedal feel with the SLH1 package.

I love to upgrade so for me, the SLH package is a no brainer, I hate stock, lol!

[Clay]

I put minivan calipers on my GLHT and left the stock master cylinder on. Im sure its a personal preference thing, but I dont have any issues with the pedal feel with the stock MC and the minivan calipers. I also dont have any issues getting the brakes to lock up anytime I want them to.

[johnl]

You can do the SLH1 without changing the MC out. You just get a softer, longer pedal that gets closer to the floor and that's why it is not recommended. You could do it in two stages - (1) get the brackets from JY and by re-built calipers - heck around here they don't even want cores, and (2) get the 24mm MC later - you will love the hard pedal.

[Clay]

hehe, yeah, but when your 6'2 and driving an omni, longer pedal travel can be a good thing!

[ScottD]

I have a 24mm MC laying around, so that's not the problem. Really the big thing I need is the minivan caliper adapters. Everything else is easy to get.

Thanks for the input!

[turbovanman²]

I have a 24mm MC laying around, so that's not the problem. Really the big thing I need is the minivan caliper adapters. Everything else is easy to get.

Thanks for the input!

I might have some if your interested.

[contraption22]

I don't really remember what SLH1 or 2 are exactly...

I have calipers from an '85 Dodge 600 on my Horizon. Single pin Kelsey-Hayes calipers. Lots more swept area than GLH stuff. Rear is are GLH drums. Still using the original '85 Horizon MC.

I hate ceramic brake pads.

[turbovanman²]

I hate ceramic brake pads.

Why? so far, every car/suv I've put them on, they rock, and way less brake dust on the wheels too. One customer would eat pads on his van every 15K, he's done that and there 3/4 left. I've got Ake Bono ceramics on the van and holy sh*t, compared to the semi's I had on before, no comparsion
Of course, everyone has there own opinion,

[ScottD]

Whatcha want for the adapters?

[contraption22]

I have them on my SRT-4.... they are great once they are hot. The first time I came to a stoplight cold after I had bedded them in scared the crap outta me. They do wear well. Judging from the lip thats developing, I will be thru 2 sets of rotors before the pads wear out. And... after a month, they started sqeeling. They squeeled until I went on the Rally at SDAC 17. They they stopped, until a couple weeks ago.

[turbovanman²]

Whatcha want for the adapters?

I'll make sure I have some and PM you.

I have them on my SRT-4.... they are great once they are hot. The first time I came to a stoplight cold after I had bedded them in scared the crap outta me. They do wear well. Judging from the lip thats developing, I will be thru 2 sets of rotors before the pads wear out. And... after a month, they started sqeeling. They squeeled until I went on the Rally at SDAC 17. They they stopped, until a couple weeks ago.

Gotcha. The Ake's are bad for the first 1-2 stops after sitting but the Bosch and Raybesto's versions work instantly. I guess every pad is different.

[Clay]

now I know 24mm is darn close to 1", so is the MC I got of an 87 Lebaron that is marked with a "1" the same thing as a 24mm unit? Ive got one laying around I might try I guess.