Posted 2011-08-03 9:31 AM (#136421) Subject: 550 vs. Freightliner brakes
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350 Location: Penrose, Colorado
Ihave a one ton and a 550, the 550 has alot bigger and better braking and it is running 19.5 rims my question is if you go to a freightliner with the same wheels do you gain any braking power and the same goes for if you get one with 22.5's
Posted 2011-08-03 9:52 AM (#136423 - in reply to #136421) Subject: RE: 550 vs. Freightliner brakes
Location: Central Arkansas
Yes, you will gain much, much more braking power over the 550 plus have the ability to let the truck do all the braking without even having the trailer brakes hooked up. And , you will still have plenty of brake left over!
Posted 2011-08-03 12:45 PM (#136432 - in reply to #136423) Subject: RE: 550 vs. Freightliner brakes
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
Because the freightliner is heavier it will or should brake naturally better. I guess you could get into all of the tire being bigger more contact so better braking issue. Bottom line is the freightliner will stop better than the 550 or should. According to your weight you will still need trailer brakes. I had air brakes on the truck an still needed trailer brakes to stop well and feel safe.
Posted 2011-08-03 1:07 PM (#136434 - in reply to #136421) Subject: RE: 550 vs. Freightliner brakes
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
For what it's worth, the F-550 has a 15.5" brake rotor whereas the Freigtliner M2 with 19.5 wheels has 15" brake rotors... How many pistons per caliper and what the actual brake pad size is, I haven't a clue. Some would argue that the F-550 has "bigger brakes" than the M2. I would think the F-550 should stop quicker empty, being that it weighs around 9000# -vs- about 14000# for the M2...
Most of the trucks with 22.5 wheels have 16.5" x 7" drum brakes which have alot more contact area than the disc brakes on the 19.5 models...
Posted 2011-08-03 7:43 PM (#136442 - in reply to #136434) Subject: RE: 550 vs. Freightliner brakes
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by retento on 2011-08-03 1:07 PM
Most of the trucks with 22.5 wheels have 16.5" x 7" drum brakes which have alot more contact area than the disc brakes on the 19.5 models...
Retento ... I wouldn't put a lot of stock into a contact area comparison. I would think that heat dissipation would be a better factor in brake performance. A brake rotor is exposed on two sides along with internal cooling channels. Compared to a brake drum's single outside surface.
Actually disk brakes are prefered in high performance applications than a drum because of the better pedal character AND heat dissipation...
disk braking is directly proportional to pad pressure against the rotor. A drum brake shoe has some self energizing factor and won't repond as quickly to a change in pedal pressure.
550 vs. Freightliner brakes
