Hummer H1 Brakes

[drm]

Has anyone out there considered moving their brake rotors to the wheels. I'm thinking about it as I could then put 13 inch rotors on the truck. Most people would never think this or need it. The reasons why I might do this? Huge increase in braking ability at the wheel where you need it most, is better then at the differential almost 36 inches away. Huge reduced stress on the axles more so when you run over sized tires. Huge reduction in braking temperatures. In 37 years of off roading I have never had a problem with disc brakes being located at the wheel of other trucks that I have had. I used to run a tire store, also a wheel a few ounces out of balance becomes a couple hundred pounds out of balance at 60 miles per hour.

[Roy]

You could just centre the front diff, then up size to alpha brakes

[drm]

Going to alpha brakes still does not reduce the stresses on the drive line. Its a heck of a lot easier to stop a two hundred pound tire and wheel turning  at 50 miles per hour at the wheel rather than 3 feet away at the diff.

[whitehumh2]

Actually, your reasoning is not correct. As a Hummer Tech, I spent a great deal of time at AMG with the Engineers and there is a very good reason for the brakes being like they are.

1. With inboard mounted brakes you keep them high and clean avoiding most of the issues with brakes installed in the wheels.

2. Since it was designed for the military, being able to replace the brakes without having to remove tires and wheels is a major advantage.

3. You could not have a Geared Hub with CTIS if you have wheel brakes...it just won't fit in the wheel!

4. The most important reason, the geared hub provides a 1.92:1 reduction ratio. While most people think that this is only to provide the truck with sufficient gearing to help move the truck around, which is 5.24:1 on older trucks and 4.91 on newer trucks, most people miss the fact that that same gearing allow the brakes to do the same job as much larger rotors! The disc are 10.5inch on Non-Alpha H1s and 12inch on Alpha and 12,100lbs H1s, the 1.92:1 reduction of the geared hub allows the brakes to act like 20inch rotors and like 23inch rotors...which you could never install! As well, the system uses all hard lines. If you wheel mount them you will need flexible tubing...which will be a pressure loss!

What I would suggest would be the Wilwood Brake kit (like on the new C-Series) that keeps everything in the same place just makes it better and more efficient.

There is also the Big Brake kit from Predator BUT I have heard many guys snapping axles as a result of the excessive braking force of the kit!

Hope this helps!

Kev

[drm]

Interesting. thanks for the info.

[GreenMeanie]

x2 on what Polarbear said