Please don't go into the "Fronts brakes do more work so....." I know that already.

My question is though....Is there any reason (like safety-wise) to KEEP the rears smaller than the fronts?

I DO plan on upgrading the fronts to bigger than the rears, but for RIGHT NOW, my rear pads are real thin & if I'm gonna be buying pads anyways.....Why not go ahead & upgrade them, then upgrade the fronts when they need replacing. I don't wanna waste my $ on buying TINY pads for TINY '87 brakes.

Will larger rear brakes be any kind of safety issue? Pointless & a "waste of money" if I don't upgrade the fronts? But that doesn't concern me, if so. Buying 1987 brakes the upgrading later IS a waste of money. Do it once & do it right, is my motto!

 

i dont think there is a safety reason. maybe just heat dissipation. oem probably wanted the front and rear to stay a constant temp even though the front is working harder and needs to be bigger to dissipate more heat

 

No problem wirh it.....Ive done it before for over a year for the same reason.....upgraded the backs from drum to disc and the rotors were bigger than the front....then eventually replaced the front.....it WILL have different handling characteristics especially with "spirited" driving....

 

factory 3rd gens with the rear pbr have larger rear brakes than the front stock.

my 04 silverado SS had larger rear brakes than stock

no problems

 

trucks need more rear braking for hauling loads.

 

I did the exact same thing on my car a couple a years ago because I was saving money to get better brakes for the front and I ran it with bigger brakes out back and had no problems, I think you should be fine.

 

Apperently you will be fine based on what people have said here, but I would still think it's a good idea to install an adjustable prop valve for the rear brakes. Use something from wilwood to take away a little rear brake bias until you upgrade the fronts. I know you don't race your car, but I would think it would still be helpful to dial in the brake performance when everything is done being upgraded.

 

just did a ls1 rear end upgrade the rear rotors look massive compared to the front.. the car was a stock drum rear end and i had to do something to get my 11 inch rims under there.. anyway i used the stock prop valve and have have do problems car stops a million times better now.. but im like you Steve i will get to the front when i can don't need to now so will just leave it..

 

I just want a way to put LS1 brakes on my 9-bolt. Looks like I'm gonna hafta break down & design them myself. Doesn't look too hard, but I don't even own a 2nd car to go get parts, materials, etc., while the 9-bolt is apart so.......

I picked up some cheap pads to get me by for now. Don't wanna spend too much on something that is not staying on my car anyways.