What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Pure Chevy Sex

Got the brake line extension made and installed. Came out pretty clean. Just have to wait for the family to get home before I can bleed them and go for a test ride.

Getting close!

Next up is running the parking brake cables and making an adaptor bracket to connect to the Suburban cable.
 
Got the brakes bled. Took it for a test drive, all I can say is I swear it felt like my face was stretching forward. The suburban stops like a sport bike. Hit the brakes and it stops RIGHT NOW.
I think I can get even better performance by using a master cylinder from a later truck also. So the list comes down to connecting the parking brake cables, a newer master cylinder, and eventually some new brake pads.

So, summing up:
2010 Hummer H3 front calipers and rotors, running 14x1.5 studs for the front
and
2004 Silverado complete disk rear axle with the same 14x1.5 lugs
 
Gotta love it when you get to see the pay off from all your work. Sounds awesome dude :waytogo:

I was thinking about doing the same thing since I have one in my donor but I haven't started taking both trucks apart yet to see if it'll fit or not. Have you seen if they have the same bore size or will it take some work to make it fit?

I was able to find a set of the H3 calipers with only 15k miles on them so I got those ordered today for $90 shipped. I still have to get the Thor bracket, rotors, and a larger set of wheels before I can actually do the swap though...
 
Did you get those H3 rims for $150?

I think it might be just a adaptor fitting, but I do need to look closer at it. I did the 2004 master into my 99 OBS Tahoe and it works great. Took a $5 fitting to make it work, was stupid easy. Got the master from Rock Auto for $60ish.
 
Not yet I'm still trying to get through to the seller on CL since he didn't have any pictures or info in the ad besides "H3 wheels and 30% tires" :doah: The good thing is the ad has been there for a long time so there's a good chance I'll be able to get them cheaper than the $150 he's asking. The bad thing is the guy is about 2.5 hours away so I'll have to wait until I get a day off to go get them...

Let me know what you find out about the MC. It'd be sweet if all it took was that $5 adapter fitting you mentioned. Have you thought about getting the proportioning valve from a newer 4 wheel disc truck/suv or do you think you'll just leave the one you already have in there?
 
Not really worried about the prop valve, was just wanting a better made master with more volume to fill the TEN pistons I now have. The newer master has a larger bore which should work better with my modern brakes.

It was really cool having the lifted Burb hunker down and stop. Steered straight, no tires noise, no antics at all. Just pulled up and dropped an anchor. Even without the rear axle swap it is a huge upgrade in the front. The rear just took it over the top.

With the wider rear axle I don't have to use spacers. I get the better brakes, a parking brake, larger lugs, and factory parts support. IF I swap to the Black Rock 937 rims it will bring the tires slightly in from what I have now, but not enough to make any real difference. But the 937's will clear the front brakes without the 1/4 spacer I ended up having to use.
 
NorCalAnthony said:
Not yet I'm still trying to get through to the seller on CL since he didn't have any pictures or info in the ad besides "H3 wheels and 30% tires" :doah: The good thing is the ad has been there for a long time so there's a good chance I'll be able to get them cheaper than the $150 he's asking. The bad thing is the guy is about 2.5 hours away so I'll have to wait until I get a day off to go get them...

Let me know what you find out about the MC. It'd be sweet if all it took was that $5 adapter fitting you mentioned. Have you thought about getting the proportioning valve from a newer 4 wheel disc truck/suv or do you think you'll just leave the one you already have in there?
Click to expand...

Well the output ports on the 2004 master are 1/2x20 front and rear, my 88 burb (and my 99Tahoe) are 9/16x18 and 1/2x20. So the line side will use the same $5 adaptor. Just need to make sure the booster side will bolt in.

Bore on my 88 master is 1.125 and 1.57, while the 2004 is 1.25 for both.
 
cyclic said:
Got the brake line extension made and installed. Came out pretty clean. Just have to wait for the family to get home before I can bleed them and go for a test ride.

Getting close!

Next up is running the parking brake cables and making an adaptor bracket to connect to the Suburban cable.
Click to expand...

How are you liking the new brakes now that you've had a few months to play with them? Did you ever get around to hooking up the cable for the parking brake?
 
I LOVE the brakes. Could not be happier. Completely modern powerful brakes on the old girl.

Parking brake notes:
I used the COMPLETE parking brake set-up from the 04 Silverado, up and including the frame bracket that holds the two parking cables and the piece that merges the lines into one. I zip tied them temparily to verify everything lines up, it does.
I ordered a cable end from Lokar, ran me a wopping $15 plus another $15 in shipping. BUT it makes it almost a bolt in affair. The suburban parking brake cable is long enough to connect to the bracket that joins the rear cables. So basically I cut the suburban end off, bolt on the Lokar end, and tighten down the adjuster nut to finish it.
I did cut off the rear support bracket from the suburban frame, it was in the way of the Silverado bracket. Wasn't needed as the Silverado bracket handles the support in roughly the same spot anyway.
Lokar calls it a "single wire union assembly", it uses set screws to attach to the cut cable and a threaded rod to connect and adjust at the double line junction.

I'll try to get some pics up this week.
 
Glad to see you got that last bit figured out and have been enjoying the upgrade.

Thanks for doing such a great write-up. I'm looking forward to seeing the pics whenever you get a chance to post them up.
 
So the saga continues......................
Hooking up the parking brakes for a 99-04 Silverado rear axle to a 88 Suburban.
Using the complete rear axle including parking brakes from a 99-04 Silverado (others may also work). Make sure to get the frame bracket and the cable combiner.
You'll need a Lokar "single wire union connector" about $15 and the bracket from the Silverado.

First is the adaptor:

IMAG0574_zpspdthjyml.jpg


Here is the Silverado bracket installed on my 88 Suburban:
IMAG0577_zpsgcs90zfg.jpg


I did not get it exactly vertical but it's close enough.

The Silverado cables ran through the stock burb bracket, I did have to open up one of the holes with a step drill to get them to fit nicely:
IMAG0576_zpsublsphah.jpg


Here is the stock cable and the Silverado cables zip tied to get the cut length right:
IMAG0578_zps7op09bd1.jpg


And the parking cable end installed and adjusted right:
IMAG0579_zps6bbnnemx.jpg


You can see the left over part of the stock cable guide I removed in the bracket picture, it was just in the way of the new cable arrangement. And was unnecessary with the new Silverado bracket supporting the cable ends. The new arrangement almost exactly follows the stock line placement, right along the bottom of the frame. With the side steps I'm adding the cables will be protected nicely. If you don't scrape your frame on rocks you'd be fine with the stock location. It is no more in the way or drags any worse than a stock chevy parking brake would.

ETA: forgot to add, I stripped the cable cover from the stock cable so the set screws would have a solid steel to tighten against. I did leave a little inside the adaptor to help keep it clean. I also used red locktite on the set screws and cable end, red on the threaded rod into the adaptor, and then blue on the threaded rod/adjuster nut.
 
Thanks for posting the pictures and write up. That turned out sweet :waytogo:

You wouldn't happen to have a part number handy for that Lokar connector would you? I tried looking for it online and am only seeing it on Summit as part of an $84 kit...
 
You gotta call them direct. Not a part that's "listed" separately. But it only took seconds on the phone and it was on the way.
 
are those brackets custom? I didn't see them on the website...:confused:
 
Not really custom, he just doesn't list them. Gotta call direct, just make sure to tell him it's for a chevy truck and not the H3. You don't need the sensor mount or the tone ring on the hub. Saves a bunch and less work for him.

It's kind of a small market with the solid front axle swap in a H3 Hummer. But if all us chevy guys start using his bracket it will become more main stream. I was the first, and it takes time for the info to get out there. Hopefully one of the big magazines will pick the build/info up. It's too good to ignore, even though the square body's are getting long in the tooth.
 
It's too good to ignore, even though the square body's are getting long in the tooth.[/quote]

So are 69 Camaros but you cant pass a Magazine rack without seeing a few on the cover. In my estimation there is still a large contingent of folks looking for meaningful upgrades for this generation of truck. I appreciate you taking the time to post your upgrades and modifications for everyone's benefit:waytogo:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom