0
Close

CPP Big Brake Install on Our 1985 C10: Stopping Power Redefined

Chris Hamilton . October 09, 2025 . Features . DAVID SHANKIN
Save ArticleLogin to save it

CPP Big Brake Install on Our 1985 C10

If you’ve been following our ’85 Chevy C10 build, you know we’ve already dropped in an amazing suspension upgrade. Since we installed the full Ridetech coilover setup, we’ve been dialing this truck in to be a real street carver. But all the go-fast parts in the world won’t mean a thing if you can’t bring it to a stop, and let’s be honest, factory brakes on a 40-year-old truck just won’t cut it.

That’s why the next move in our build was securing a full front and rear big brake upgrade from the folks at Classic Performance Products. We bolted on CPP’s Pro Series big brake kit with 14-inch rotors to our CPP modular drop spindles up front and matched it with a 14-inch rear big brake kit out back. This setup doesn’t just look killer behind our set of Billet Specialties wheels; it’s built to provide some serious stopping power—even with some weight in the bed or a little smoke from the tires.

Web Campaign

…all the go-fast parts in the world won’t mean a thing if you can’t bring it to a stop, and let’s be honest, factory brakes on a 40-year-old truck just won’t cut it.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

Oh, and we didn’t just stop there—no pun intended. While we were at it, we ditched the old vacuum booster and upgraded to CPP’s slick Hydroboost system. It brings that modern braking feel, giving us smooth, confident pedal response without the mushy mess older systems tend to serve up. And yeah, we ran all new lines using CPP’s brake line flaring tool, which helped us make clean, tight flares with zero drama. That’s the kind of detailed work that can make or “brake” a project.

The install went super smoothly. CPP’s instructions were solid, and everything went together without having to beat, bend, or cuss anything into place. It’s clear these parts were designed by folks who know their way around a classic vehicle.

So if you’re wrenching on a classic C10 and ready to upgrade the way it brakes, this CPP combo is a great option. Big rotors, better control, and modern pedal feel—it’s a night-and-day difference. We’re officially done relying on vintage drum brakes to stop this square. Now, it’s built to haul and stop just as fast.

Stay tuned as we keep pushing this project forward. More wrench time is coming soon.

Since we installed the full Ridetech coilover setup, we’ve been dialing this truck in to be a real street carver. But the factory brakes on a 40-year-old truck just won’t cut it.
CPP’s Pro Series big brake kits bring serious stopping power and clean show-truck looks and are built to handle everything from daily cruises to hard stops at the strip.
We’re officially done relying on vintage drum brakes to stop this square.

The first step for the rear was to remove the wheels and driveshaft so we could get the factory axle shafts out.

We removed the differential cover and drained all the fluid. This will give us access to the clips that hold in the axles.
Removing the drums will give us access to the axle shafts.
Now we could unbolt the gears in the differential. We didn’t need to take out the differential to slide out the axles.
Now that the clips were removed, we could easily slide out the axle shafts to bolt on the caliper and rotor brackets.
Well-engineered parts make for a simple install. The bracket from CPP simply bolted to the axle shafts, and the shafts were reinstalled.
Out back, the 14-inch CPP rotor gives this C10 modern brake performance with a clean, factory-style fit.
CPP’s rear calipers offer big stopping power and a sleek finish to match the upgraded rotors. These components are built for performance and style.
Fully bolted up and bled, the rear CPP brake setup looks right at home—clean, tight, and ready to throw down when it’s time to stop.
Here’s a look at the stock front brake setup before being torn down and prepped for the upgrade. We’ve pulled apart the front of these C10s more times than we can count, so if you need a refresher on those steps, hit up StreetTrucksMag.com for a full breakdown.
Since we are using new spindles from CPP with this full brake upgrade, we simply unbolted the full spindle and brake assembly as one and removed them as a whole.
These CPP modular drop spindles are the backbone of our front brake setup, offering improved geometry and a perfect fit for the big brake upgrade. Built tough and engineered for a lowered stance without sacrificing drivability.

The new spindles mount directly to our Ridetech control arms for a clean and simple install.
We also installed these new tie rod ends that give us a bit more length and strength.
Here’s the final shot of the front brakes completed. CPP’s big rotors and calipers are mounted clean on their modular drop spindles. This setup brings serious stopping power and a sharp look to match.
Hydroboost locked and loaded! CPP’s kit fits like a glove and brings modern braking muscle to this classic C10. No vacuum? No problem. This setup delivers consistent pedal feel and serious stopping strength.
Here’s the new CPP steering box that we bolted in place. This box will tighten up the steering feel and bring fresh responsiveness to our ’85 C10. It’s a perfect upgrade to pair with the brake and suspension overhaul.
Here’s a shot of the CPP flaring tool kit, which we used to get clean, precise flares on all our custom brake lines. This tool is a must-have if you want leak-free lines without the headache.
Our new 20-inch Tec 5 wheels from Billet Specialties complement this new big brake kit perfectly. When you spend the time and money installing a brake kit that looks this impressive, you want to see it behind the wheels, right?
Now for our favorite part of any project, the test drive! Or test stop in this case—5 stars!

SOURCE

Classic Performance Products
800-522-5004
classicperform.com

 

Web Campaign
You may also like this

Web Campaign




Web Campaign

GET THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest trucks news, mods & reviews delivered right to your inbox!