poor braking performance???
Question:
Make sure the back brakes are adjusted up, you can nock out the small metal peice’s at the bottom of the backing plate and adjust them with a brake spade just like older chevy’s. This improved my brakes immensly. Dave J
Response:
their are two things i would do. 1 check for any t.s.b.s from gm on this -i don’t remember seeing any other problems on this but there could be. 2 there are a few different things that can affect brake pedal travel and performance. brake fluid condition (fluild conditon and air in the fluid) . front brake rotor thickness and caliper condition ,rear brake shoe condition and adjustment ,and some models also have some adjustment on the mastercylinder plunger rod. the best thing for you to do is to completely inspect your brake system front to rear!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I’ve also noticed that my 1991 GMC Z71 doesn’t have the greatest brakes in > the world. I’ve only had it about 2 months. Pedal feel is good for normal > street driving, but there isn’t much travel/braking power left over for > emergency stops. I’ve got 265/75/16 tires on it and CANNOT lock them up on > dry pavement. Not even close. > I’m going to change the brake fluid and do a solid bleed job, but my > mechanic tells me that the brakes in these models just suck, period. The > upper flex hoses in the front brakes have been changed, and the brake system > itself is fresh (rotors, pads and shoes…drums were ok) > Any ideas on how to get more braking power? It almost seems to me that the > pedal doesn’t go down far enough before it bottoms out. In a couple of > occaisions, I’ve had to really yank on the whoa-pedal, maxed out the travel, > and pushed it down even further (flexing very tightly) to get more > stoppage….. > something seem odd? > brian.
Response:
it is the design of the brake system. if you had a 2500 or then a 1500 with the diesel and 4×4, the brakes are better. i have the same problem on my 97 tahoe. the brakes are real bad. you can get better brakes, but they are mucho money to do the upgrade. gm was also dumb staying with the small brakes (the truck comes with 16" wheels, but 15" fits also..) where the new style trucks use bigger brakes (some aftermarket 16" don’t fit without spacers) that are much better – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I’ve also noticed that my 1991 GMC Z71 doesn’t have the greatest brakes in > the world. I’ve only had it about 2 months. Pedal feel is good for normal > street driving, but there isn’t much travel/braking power left over for > emergency stops. I’ve got 265/75/16 tires on it and CANNOT lock them up on > dry pavement. Not even close. > I’m going to change the brake fluid and do a solid bleed job, but my > mechanic tells me that the brakes in these models just suck, period. The > upper flex hoses in the front brakes have been changed, and the brake system > itself is fresh (rotors, pads and shoes…drums were ok) > Any ideas on how to get more braking power? It almost seems to me that the > pedal doesn’t go down far enough before it bottoms out. In a couple of > occaisions, I’ve had to really yank on the whoa-pedal, maxed out the travel, > and pushed it down even further (flexing very tightly) to get more > stoppage….. > something seem odd? > brian.
Response:
I’ve also noticed that my 1991 GMC Z71 doesn’t have the greatest brakes in the world. I’ve only had it about 2 months. Pedal feel is good for normal street driving, but there isn’t much travel/braking power left over for emergency stops. I’ve got 265/75/16 tires on it and CANNOT lock them up on dry pavement. Not even close. I’m going to change the brake fluid and do a solid bleed job, but my mechanic tells me that the brakes in these models just suck, period. The upper flex hoses in the front brakes have been changed, and the brake system itself is fresh (rotors, pads and shoes…drums were ok) Any ideas on how to get more braking power? It almost seems to me that the pedal doesn’t go down far enough before it bottoms out. In a couple of occaisions, I’ve had to really yank on the whoa-pedal, maxed out the travel, and pushed it down even further (flexing very tightly) to get more stoppage….. something seem odd? brian.
