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Click here for more story and photos! Fans of singer Jackson Browne will no doubt recall his ode to the backstage crew, "The Load-Out," in which he pays to tribute to all their hard work in getting him from gig to gig: "Now roll them cases out and lift them amps, Haul them trusses down and get 'em up them ramps." Many a diesel truck qualifies as a roadie's rig, a brawny hauler that's the unsung hero of any operation that has to transport heavy trailers miles and miles.
This charcoal-gray '03 GMC Sierra K3500 Crew Cab dualie used by Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation (SSBC) is a good example. It tows the company's 5,000-pound Exiss trailer, usually packed with products and a show car--about 14,000 pounds when fully loaded. "We put 60,000 miles on that truck last year hauling our 40-trailer trailer," notes SSBC's Donnie Woolard. "I had absolutely no problems ever in stopping the rig running coast to coast about six times in 19 months."That sort of long-haul durability shouldn't come as a surprise to diesel enthusiasts, but the SSBC tow truck is not just some plow horse pulling a load of brake discs and four-piston calipers. That's because owner Mike Jonas is a car guy, as well as a brake manufacturer, and he likes customizing street rods, musclecars, and even the truck that tows his 40-foot trailer.
Much more than just a workhorse,...
Much more than just a workhorse, this Sierra HD has been outfitted to please.
OK, maybe it's not as pretty as his '47 Ford, '71 Chevelle, or '53 Corvette, but it still has a few goodies on it that diesel truck owners would probably consider adding as well. And just like those roadies who pull all-nighters to get the job done, the crew at SSBC really thrashed to get this truck done right. "It was a last-minute build two weeks before the '03 SEMA Show," Woolard recalls. After making some calls to round up all the necessary parts, "there was just 48 hours before we left for Vegas when we started work. With five guys, in two days we had it done." In addition to Woolard, the crew included Mike Jonas, Dan Dekruger (R&D Manager), Dennis Winters (R&D machinist), and Bill Cummings (Head Tech).
In planning the buildup, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the first thing these brake men considered adding were better binders. Fitted within the factory wheels are SSBC's Force 10 Tri-power HD 51mm calipers. Two red powdercoated, billet-aluminum units feature 51mm pistons and clamp down on 12 1/2-inch slotted, zinc-plated rotors (see sidebar for more details). The beefy brakes slow down a set of 16x6-inch Alcoa aluminum wheels wrapped with Bridgestone Dueler M/T rubber, measuring 265/75R16. A set of helper 'bags from Air Ride Technologies level out the ride and simplify hooking up the trailer.
New Diesel Brakes from SSBC
As any diesel truck owner who hauls heavy loads can attest, you can never have too much braking power--especially when you're headed down a steep grade with a big trailer hanging off your bumper. Since SSBC knows this fact from firsthand experience, the company decided to develop an aftermarket brake upgrade specifically for the '99-'04 3/4- and 1-ton GM trucks. Brakes for the Ford F-250/350 and Dodge trucks are under development and should be available later this year.
The stock caliper is a cast-iron piece with two 54mm pistons in it. In contrast, the SSBC Force 10 Tri-Power HD has three 51mm pistons fitted into a billet aluminum caliper. In addition to each unit being 11 pounds lighter for reduced unsprung weight, the caliper's inboard-mounted reinforcing ribs ensure increased rigidity for a higher net effective clamping force. The extra pistons provide 70 percent more surface area on the SSBC rotors, which are slotted and plated. For improved resistance to fade, the rotors are vented with staggered vanes for 30 percent better cooling capability, SSBC claims. These calipers are available in six powdercoated colors or polished metal. They are a direct replacement both front and rear, and fit on stock rotors and stock wheels. SSBC's slotted and plated rotors are available both front and rear in a stock size. This DOT-approved system can use stock brake pads or performance pads.