Wilwood big brake kit

Looks like wilwood has 3 options for a front upgrade. Anybody get one yet and have feedback?

This one is better priced than brembo, and the brand is reputable and highly recommended on the sports cars

Why would you need a big brake kit. The stock brakes are adequate. Are you tracking this 5700# beast?

klinebau said:

Why would you need a big brake kit. The stock brakes are adequate. Are you tracking this 5700# beast?

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I was not impressed by the brakes on the GM 1500s as well as the Yukon XL/Suburban, but if I had to upgrade, I would do the PPV retrofit as that has the most bang for the buck.

Can anyone explain the benefit of bigger and/or upgraded brakes on these trucks? From what I understand, which admittedly is not a lot on this topic, a typical vehicle's stopping power is limited by tire traction not the brakes, i.e. most vehicles can lock up the brakes (or go into anti-lock) at speed, and it's the tires that lose traction while the brakes themselves are usually powerful enough to stop the wheel from rotating. I heard bigger/better brakes really only come into play in delaying brake fade during sustained use, like tracking a car or driving down a mountain pass, not necessarily stopping any faster during normal driving on flat roads. Having said that, I could see that being useful for someone who drives in the mountains a lot, especially if they tow, but besides that, do they provide an appreciable benefit in normal driving?

Sean Michael said:

Can anyone explain the benefit of bigger and/or upgraded brakes on these trucks? From what I understand, which admittedly is not a lot on this topic, a typical vehicle's stopping power is limited by tire traction not the brakes, i.e. most vehicles can lock up the brakes (or go into anti-lock) at speed, and it's the tires that lose traction while the brakes themselves are usually powerful enough to stop the wheel from rotating. I heard bigger/better brakes really only come into play in delaying brake fade during sustained use, like tracking a car or driving down a mountain pass, not necessarily stopping any faster during normal driving on flat roads. Having said that, I could see that being useful for someone who drives in the mountains a lot, especially if they tow, but besides that, do they provide an appreciable benefit in normal driving?

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This is all true. Upgraded brakes may have better pedal feel and allow the driver to be more precision with his application of brakes - something that's more significant on a sports car or track car.

I would also argue that if you're towing, it would be more beneficial to have upgraded rear brakes as the rear axle would be more loaded.

TL,DR:

BrokerThis said:

Looks like wilwood has 3 options for a front upgrade. Anybody get one yet and have feedback?

This one is better priced than brembo, and the brand is reputable and highly recommended on sports cars.

Wilwood Disc Brakes

2022 GMC Yukon DenaliPart No: 140-16805-DR, brakes, disc brakes, big brakes, bbk, brake conversion kit, bolt-on brake kits, front brakes, calipers, axle flange, housing, rotors, dynalite, dynapro, superlite, d52

www.wilwood.com

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Ever consider the GM OE PPV front brake option package?

Sean Michael said:

Can anyone explain the benefit of bigger and/or upgraded brakes on these trucks?
From what I understand, which admittedly is not a lot on this topic, a typical vehicle's stopping power is limited by tire traction not the brakes,
i.e. most vehicles can lock up the brakes (or go into anti-lock) at speed,
and it's the tires that lose traction while the brakes themselves are usually powerful enough to stop the wheel from rotating ...

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Wouldn't you rather have more brake than you need, instead of the bare minimum?
How much more over the bare minimum is up to you, of course.
But that way, you can be SURE that the tires limit your braking, not your brakes.
(Don't buy schidty tires.)

Sean Michael said:

... bigger/better brakes really only come into play in delaying brake fade during sustained use, like tracking a car or driving down a mountain pass,
not necessarily stopping any faster during normal driving on flat roads ...

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What do you think the BARE MINIMUM'd be if you're (dumb enough to be) towing 15,000lb down the steepest hill ever?
(Women and roads are better when they are NOT flat, and get bonus points and more attention for more interesting curves.)

Sean Michael said:

Having said that, I could see that being useful for someone who drives in the mountains a lot, especially if they tow,
but besides that, do they provide an appreciable benefit in normal driving?

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If you prefer a flat braking test ...
Think the highest speed limit in the contiguous U.S. is 80MpH? Or is it 85MpH?
Ever do an 85MpH-to-zero panic stop? Ever do another one under a minute later?
If the brakes are BARELY adequate, the second panic stop suffers without enough cooling time. (Normals would drive like wusses for the next five minutes.)
If the brakes are halfway decent, the third panic stop suffers.

Some six-figure sports cars have brakes that don't fade, even after at least SEVEN panic stops from 187MpH-to-zero.

My GMT821 has GMT931 front brakes ...

BrokerThis said:

Looks like wilwood has 3 options for a front upgrade. Anybody get one yet and have feedback?

This one is better priced than brembo, and the brand is reputable and highly recommended on the sports cars

Wilwood Disc Brakes

2022 GMC Yukon DenaliPart No: 140-16805-DR, brakes, disc brakes, big brakes, bbk, brake conversion kit, bolt-on brake kits, front brakes, calipers, axle flange, housing, rotors, dynalite, dynapro, superlite, d52

www.wilwood.com

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After looking at Brembo and Wilwood, I went with the PowerStop brake kits front and rear. I got new heavy duty calipers (red), drilled and slotted rotors, pads and have been very happy with the performance and long life. They did require 20” wheels because of the rotor size, but they do a great job of stopping my big 07 with 37” tire’s and a ton of heavy duty mods. Unfortunately, my new wheels hide the calipers and rotors!

Wilwoods all the way. I installed them on my 2018 Yukon Denali on all four corners and it ended up braking like a German sports sedan. Amazing. I recommend upgrading to the stainless steel braded brake lines as well. I have the Brembo/GM upgrade on my 2023 Silverado, and wish I would have gone with the Wilwoods. Night and day difference between the two. I put Wilwoods on my re-geared Jeep Wrangler with 35s and braking on that was incredible as well.

BrokerThis said:

Looks like wilwood has 3 options for a front upgrade. Anybody get one yet and have feedback?

This one is better priced than brembo, and the brand is reputable and highly recommended on the sports cars

Wilwood Disc Brakes

2022 GMC Yukon DenaliPart No: 140-16805-DR, brakes, disc brakes, big brakes, bbk, brake conversion kit, bolt-on brake kits, front brakes, calipers, axle flange, housing, rotors, dynalite, dynapro, superlite, d52

www.wilwood.com

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I have the TX6R kit on my truck. Slotted but not drilled rotors. There was a night and day difference between pedal feel and stopping power going from the stock calipers on my K2XX (17 burb) to the Wilwood kit. Well worth every penny...and all the suffering I went through with brake chatter, and replacement rotors will save you some pain. When you order the kit TALK TO THEM ON THE PHONE. Do not place your order online.

Call AccessSpeed, order your kit and request the softer brake pads. I think they call them G or H level pads. They are softer and produce less dust. More importantly bedding those pads is a lot easier than the standard pads. Lastly get the high gloss black or red calipers - don't get the "natural grey" They get dirty and not even brake-kleen cleans them up.

I did the Power Stop upgrade on my 08 Avalanche but it wasn't as impressive a jump as the Wilwood swap was. The PowerStops are basically glorified OEM calipers with better pads and drilled\slotted rotors. The 6 pistons in the Wilwoods truly do make a difference.

StopTech are even better than Wilwoods but almost 2x's the price. Baer is more expensive than Wilwoods but not much better.

Like many other posters said above, the tires and ABS are also going to contribute to stopping ability (also suspension). However, the upgraded brakes can not be denied as a huge improvement over factory stopping power, pedal feel, and confidence that your rig will come to a stop when you want it too.

07 Denali said:

Wilwoods all the way. I installed them on my 2018 Yukon Denali on all four corners and it ended up braking like a German sports sedan. Amazing. I recommend upgrading to the stainless steel braded brake lines as well. I have the Brembo/GM upgrade on my 2023 Silverado, and wish I would have gone with the Wilwoods. Night and day difference between the two. I put Wilwoods on my re-geared Jeep Wrangler with 35s and braking on that was incredible as well.

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How many brake lines on modern cars are not stainless steel braided underneath? I replaced my brake lines on my BMW 335i with aftermarket stainless steel brake lines. I cut the original brake lines and to my surprise, they were stainless steel lined underneath the outer rubber layer.