Cryo Brake discs

[StG58]

Getting ready to do the front brakes on the SE and want some input on Cryogenically treated front rotors.

Centric has two versions of their premium alloy front rotors:
120.67045 and 120.67045CRY (1999 1/2 up) and I was interested in anyone's experience with a cryo treated rotor. (The 1999 1/2 and down P/N's are 120.67022 and 120.67022CRY for anyone who is interested) The sales and marketing literature says that there is a difference in performance and longevity, especially with the harder pad compounds such as ceramic. Theoretically, the cryo rotors are supposed to give better "initial bite" and last longer with the harder or more aggressive pads. I do know that the non-cryo discs lasted about 15 - 20,000 miles on the Suburban when I switched to ceramic pads. That's a 10,000# GVW rig used in an ugly braking environment though. Those ceramic pads stopped beautifully, but ate the rotors right up. The 3,300# SE operates in the same exact environment, it just doesn't weigh in at just less than an aircraft carrier.

What'cha all think?

 

[bobthetj03]

BMB's with standard Centric rotors is my thoughts.

 

[StG58]

BMB's with standard Centric rotors is my thoughts.

Looked into that. I really want to try out the Centric carbon fiber pads, just for giggles and informational purposes though. It's one of those things where the standard recommendation is BMB, but I don't really need THAT much brake. I can slide the 31" tires just fine with the stock brakes as it is. Even the yellow stuff pads are kind of overkill. Plus the extra $150 or so can go into something else worthwhile.

 

[bobthetj03]

Wouldn't Cryo rotors be overkill also in your scenario? But hey, if you want to try something different, give them a longevity test and keep up posted. Also would like to know if you notice any bad behavioral characteristics when braking. Will they dust out faster than other options? etc...

 

[StG58]

Wouldn't Cryo rotors be overkill also in your scenario? But hey, if you want to try something different, give them a longevity test and keep up posted. Also would like to know if you notice any bad behavioral characteristics when braking. Will they dust out faster than other options? etc...

Most likely, yes. The cryo treated rotors would be overkill. Harder to come by as well. And more expensive. I'll come back with what I discover and what my final decision is to keep everyone that's interested updated. The standard premium Centric rotor isn't that bad for cost, and the cryo treated ones are about half again more give or take. One thing about it, if the pads eat the rotors, it's about $200 to replace both. If I actually have the early rotors on the SE vs. the late rotors it'll make the decision easier. The early cryo rotors are really hard to come buy.

 

[bobthetj03]

You could also dive into the tuner options like Hawk, Powerstop, or Stoptech. Thinking outside of the box.

 

[StG58]

You could also dive into the tuner options like Hawk, Powerstop, or Stoptech. Thinking outside of the box.

Cool! A tuner TJ!

I did look at Brembo and some others. The cost went through the roof and the availability went through the floor. Lots of esoteric and easy to screw up mods involved.

The really nice thing about BMB is all the bugs are worked out and they are a proven setup. Hard to even argue with that. Buy kit. Install kit per directions. Wheel. Pretty simple and straight foreward. You know what the results are before you even lay the cash down.

 

[bobthetj03]

Cool! A tuner TJ!

I did look at Brembo and some others. The cost went through the roof and the availability went through the floor. Lots of esoteric and easy to screw up mods involved.

The really nice thing about BMB is all the bugs are worked out and they are a proven setup. Hard to even argue with that. Buy kit. Install kit per directions. Wheel. Pretty simple and straight foreward. You know what the results are before you even lay the cash down.

Which is why that was my first suggestion, but I understand wanting to try new stuff. I'm not the norm either. I do have to say the BMB setup worked flawlessly for me for 25K miles before I upgraded to a BBK, in which I gave my old BMB setup to a fellow jeep buddy who was doing a LS swap in his TJ. He's still running the brakes to this day.

 

[Mike_H]

IIRC, there are 2 black magic "kits" 1 is standard centric rotors and new pads for the standard calipers. The second is their big brake kit, which is a knuckle swap, dual piston calipers with appropriate brackets, pads, and rotors.

 

[StG58]

IIRC, there are 2 black magic "kits" 1 is standard centric rotors and new pads for the standard calipers. The second is their big brake kit, which is a knuckle swap, dual piston calipers with appropriate brackets, pads, and rotors.

Four different set-ups from rotors and pads through 15", 16" and 17" BBK's. Nice kit.

Edited to add: My bad. Five kits. Blaine has a Super16" kit as well.

 

[Ahoragi]

Most likely, yes. The cryo treated rotors would be overkill. Harder to come by as well. And more expensive. I'll come back with what I discover and what my final decision is to keep everyone that's interested updated. The standard premium Centric rotor isn't that bad for cost, and the cryo treated ones are about half again more give or take. One thing about it, if the pads eat the rotors, it's about $200 to replace both. If I actually have the early rotors on the SE vs. the late rotors it'll make the decision easier. The early cryo rotors are really hard to come buy.

I have the standard Centric rotors with Summit Racing Ceramic pads. They locked up my front end last week during a panic stop. It was the first time I could ever lock up the brakes on any of my jeeps. I have been driving it daily, some days 1.5 hour trips, and the brakes have been excellent. The rotors still look like I just put em on. There is zero fading, brake dust, or noise. You and I have very similar jeep setups so I feel you will be just fine with standard or slightly upgraded brake parts. I was doing what you are doing now when deciding on brakes but then realized I only have 31's and my jeep is light s

If you want overkill without all the guessing and experimenting then just go with black magic brakes. You cannot go wrong. I would put the windshield down though.

 

[bobthetj03]

Blaine's BBK is a very well thought out kit. The instructions are spot on, and the kit is worth the coin. His standard pad/rotor upgrade is a definite improvement as well, whatever your budget may be.

 

[StG58]

I have the standard Centric rotors with Summit Racing Ceramic pads. They locked up my front end last week during a panic stop. It was the first time I could ever lock up the brakes on any of my jeeps. I have been driving it daily, some days 1.5 hour trips, and the brakes have been excellent. The rotors still look like I just put em on. There is zero fading, brake dust, or noise. You and I have very similar jeep setups so I feel you will be just fine with standard or slightly upgraded brake parts. I was doing what you are doing now when deciding on brakes but then realized I only have 31's and my jeep is light s

If you want overkill without all the guessing and experimenting then just go with black magic brakes. You cannot go wrong. I would put the windshield down though.

That made me laugh! 3...2...1...We have ignition and liftoff!

Blaine's stock and BBKs are without a doubt the premier brake setups out there. And it comes in sizes!

I can lock up all four tires at will on my SE, I just have to dynamite the brakes to do it. That's with crappy no name components from the PO. (The rears may have been stock from the factory even) A high quality, stock setup is really and truly all that's needed on my Jeep. With that being said...

I know and understand the various combinations and permutations of brakes on a TJ. TJ brakes are technically well understood in the TJ community. It's similar to tires sizes, axles, transmission and gear ratio combinations in a way. If you have X tire size, Y axle and Z transmission, you should get G gear ratio and possibly other upgrades from supplier A, or B. Straight forward and easy to get advice. Brakes are pretty much the same thing. BUT, I wanted to explore brakes "outside the (BMB and Yellowstuff) box". The question was, are Cryo treated rotors interesting on a TJ? The answer seems to be, probably not. How do we know that as a community? Because nobody has tried it and reported back on their utility. Okaaaay...

I realize that I come across as a lunatic about half the time. I know I ask dumb questions about things that I already know full well the answer to. Situations and technology change over time though, and the answer that was valid yesterday is not always valid today and may not even be reasonable tomorrow. If I wasn't interested in testing the accepted limits, and the accepted norm, I wouldn't have started the thread.

I have some suspicions and theories about building a TJ. They are a pretty major variance from the norm. So far they are working out well, with some tweaking along the way.

Still haven't proven or dis-proven that cryo treated rotors are useful on a TJ though.