Let's talk brake jobs

[StG58]

It's a part of periodic maintenance on our TJ's. Brakes, front and rear. Inspection, cleaning and maintenance / repair.

Common knowledge is that for the fronts the Black Magic upgrades from @mrblaine and crew are THE BEST upgrades going in the TJ world. But what if you're not there yet? What is the recommended pads and shoes for a stock system? What about the fluid, what does everyone use or does it make a difference? Do you rebuild or replace the calipers when they need it? How about the rear brakes, new cylinders or rebuild them? Does anyone paint their drums for corrosion protection and is it worth it?

What does everyone do for brake jobs on relatively stock TJs?

Here's the link to overhauling the front brakes on a TJ here on the forum: http://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-overhaul-the-front-brakes-on-your-wrangler-tj.642/

How to bleed your brakes: http://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-bleed-your-brakes.528/

 

[Jerry Bransford]

For now I'll just comment on acceptable brake fluids since it can be confusing... stick with either DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT 5.1. Avoid DOT 5 which is completely incompatible what's in there now. DOT 5 is a lone-wolf in that it's not an upgrade to DOT 3/4 and DOT 5.1 is not an upgrade to DOT 5.

OK: DOT 3, DOT 4, or DOT 5.1. DOT 4 needs to be flushed & changed more often than DOT 3 does since it absorbs moisture more readily.

NOT OK: DOT 5.

Also be careful with DOT 3 or DOT 4 around paint as it does a nice job of dissolving paint.

The DOT did a nice job of making those numbers confusing.

More info: http://www.stoptech.com/technical-support/technical-white-papers/brake-fluid

 

[StG58]

Thanks Jerry! What'cha all do for pads and shoes?

 

[Luke]

When I bought my jeep I had a caliper locked up and one rotor was grooved and the other was warped at the time I just bought the cheapest thing money could buy and while they stop it fine they let out a ton of brake dust and squeal so I'm to curious as to what's available.


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[Jerry Bransford]

You can't do better than the the pad and rotor kit at www.blackmagicbrakes.com. I tried several pads & rotors (even slotted/drilled) to try to improve my TJ's braking after it got worse from running larger size tires but nothing helped until I installed BMB's. The improvement to braking is amazing.

Regarding brake dust, you have to choose between low brake dust and poor braking or a little more brake dust with better braking. But even the BMB pads won't coat your wheels with black brake dust, I don't notice it on my wheels.

The lowest brake dust pads are also made from the hardest materials which last the longest but produce the poorest possible braking as a major drawback.

 

[Luke]

Are they bolt on? Or will I have to do some grinding/cutting/taping


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[Jerry Bransford]

Bolt-on, as easy as replacing any brake pads and rotor. No cutting, grinding, or any modifications needed at all. Replacing the rotor and brake pads is one of the easier jobs we can do on our Jeeps.

Just make sure not to overtighten the bolts that hold the calipers in place, use nothing bigger than a 3/8" ratchet wrench or a combination open-end/box-end wrench... no 1/2" ratchet wrenches which can too easily apply more torque than those bolts and threads can handle.

11 ft-lbs. of torque is the official tightness which just means snug enough so the bolt won't come loose. Tightening the bolts too tightly means the threads will strip out. No need to purchase a torque wrench even though I gave the 11 ft-lb. tightness. That is just there to indicate those bolts don't need to be tightened like a lug nut needs.

 

[Luke]

Someone at Firestone stripped out the knuckle so I only have one bolt holding in the caliper


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[StG58]

Good stuff. Went out to Blaine's web site again and browsed around. The full meal deal package for the stock front discs looks like a good package to start out with. Pads, rotors, calipers and hardware. It would be nice to know that the brakes were competent on a stock or lightly modified TJ. You just never know what the PO has done with that hardware. I didn't know, but should have guessed that he also had a package for the rear drum brakes as well. Again it's drums, shoes, cables and hardware. ...and a military discount to boot. With direct access to the master himself for customer support, how can you go wrong? (well, I guess that you could mount the calipers on the wrong sides and mess that up.) Those kits, a couple of cans of DOT3 brake fluid, and a reasonably sunny day and you're all set for better braking! Remember to measure the depth of the rotor hat on the front if you have a 1999 TJ, the depth varies and the build date won't tell you which one you have. You have to measure it.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Someone at Firestone stripped out the knuckle so I only have one bolt holding in the caliper

This is all you need to easily repair that... http://www.shop.blackmagicbrakes.co...XJ-Style-Knuckle-Repair-2-Knuckles-KSRK2K.htm

Though Firestone should have been made to step up to that repair.

 

[Luke]

Didn't notice it til over a year later but they had been the last person to touch the brakes


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[JP13]

Are they larger pads and calipers than stock? More surface for friction?