There are many different ways to upgrade your truck's brake system: bigger calipers, aftermarket master cylinders, hydro boost, and larger rotors all come to mind. But a quick and easy upgrade is better brake pads and rotors. EBC is a British-based company with nearly 30 years of experience making performance disc-brake pads for motorcycles, mountain bikes, mining equipment, autos, and trucks. So when EBC offered to let us test a set of its performance pads and rotors we jumped at the chance.
The old rotors and pads on our 7,700-pound '91 Chevy worked, but were nothing to write home about. We had learned to leave a fair distance between us and the other crazy drivers in front of us, but that didn't account for the many brainless individuals who nonchalantly cut us off and then come to a screeching halt for no apparent reason. It's almost funny how many people do not realize that when you cut off a big truck with 37-inch tires and a massive front bumper, it may not be able to stop all that quickly and could end up on top of you. Plus this big monster has become a weekend camping rig used for exploring lots of mountain trails, and the curving winding scenic byways are so much nicer when you know you can slow down the momentum quickly and not go sailing off a cliff. Thus you can see our desire for brakes we can depend on, and so we took a short afternoon of wrenching to swap in the EBC pads and rotors in our driveway.
 The EBC Web site has a full...  The EBC Web site has a full listing of all its product applications, offering many different pads for different types of usage. The reps recommended the softer yellow pads for our application due to the greater stopping performance. However they also offer a harder green pad that is designed for long-lasting performance. Softer brake pads have always been inherently better at stopping the vehicle. But since the EBC pads are Aramid fiber-based they also have superior longevity, where the old standard semimetallic pads can wear quickly. Kevlar, which is commonly found in bulletproof jackets, is an Aramid fiber and known for good resistance to impact, abrasion, chemical contamination, and thermal degradation, all properties desired in a brake pad too. |  In addition to installing...  In addition to installing the yellow pads we also replaced the factory brake rotors with some new EBC grooved and slotted rotors. These rotors are designed to help release heat, dirt, and gases from the braking process. Also, the slots and dimples are not cut all the way through so as to not weaken the rotors and to help fight cracking or shattering of the unit from hard braking. |  On many applications replacing...  On many applications replacing the rotors requires removing the wheel studs that are pressed into the wheel hub or unit bearing. The proper tool for this is a hydraulic press. However, not everyone has access to one. If you're toolbox-challenged like us, use a soft brass punch to knock the studs out, and be very careful not to damage the threads. |
 This is the proper direction...  This is the proper direction of the brake rotors when installed. Note how the convex side of the slot is pointed forward. The rotors are marked left and right so be sure yours are installed properly. We feel that mounting them in the opposite direction may also help braking, but could result in severe chattering and shortened longevity. Also note the brake dust on the pads after a few hundred miles. This is common especially with the high-performance yellow pads. Brake dust is mostly rotor material, and the higher friction of the yellow pads will produce this. If your truck is more of a pavement ride with fancy wheels you want to keep clean, look into the harder green pad as an option. |  Most of us just slap on new...  Most of us just slap on new brakes and go, but there is actually a recommended break-in procedure for the EBC pads that makes perfect sense to follow. The EBC pads get better with time and have a red break-in coating that helps reduce noise but also promotes the chemical seating of the pad. In addition, there will be a small bit of noise for the first thousand miles, but that is normal. During that first 200 miles try to be gentle on the brakes. Follow the gentle driving with about five 60 to 10 mph brake sessions to heat up the brakes. Do not stop completely, but rather keep driving a bit to cool everything. Do not be surprised by any smell of warm brakes as that is also normal for the first 1,000 to 1,500 miles as the pads seat themselves. | |