Georgia Trail Riders Forum

MEMBERS DISCUSSION AREA => General Discussion => Topic started by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 08:17:41 AM

Title: Brakes on the JK
Post by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 08:17:41 AM
At what point do you start looking at the pads and deciding that new ones are needed?  im at about 28k, maybe i will get allsouth to take a look when i go in for my gear check,.  just wondering
what you guys did.. or how you decided when you needed new shoes, ..
Title: Re: Breaks on the JK
Post by: patman on March 24, 2014, 08:21:50 AM
Wear indicators will scrub when the pads need to be replaced. Wait for the squealing sound.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: tcdawg on March 24, 2014, 09:12:08 AM
Brakes on a Wrangler are about as easy as they come.  I suggest you get into it yourself, you can do it.

Here are a couple videos to watch and get a feel for the work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSmha_CyjLU

This is Doc from JK Owners, he is super funny in his videos, likes to throw in an F bomb every now and then..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVuOd2dRwMo


Its always good to keep an eye on your brakes and learn how they work and how to keep them maintained. 
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 09:31:35 AM
Brakes on a Wrangler are about as easy as they come.  I suggest you get into it yourself, you can do it.

Here are a couple videos to watch and get a feel for the work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSmha_CyjLU

This is Doc from JK Owners, he is super funny in his videos, likes to throw in an F bomb every now and then..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVuOd2dRwMo



Its always good to keep an eye on your brakes and learn how they work and how to keep them maintained. 

Great video. thanks tony.  i do need to learn how to do this., looks really easy.   what do a new set of front shoes cost.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: tcdawg on March 24, 2014, 09:37:38 AM
Brakes on a Wrangler are about as easy as they come.  I suggest you get into it yourself, you can do it.

Here are a couple videos to watch and get a feel for the work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSmha_CyjLU

This is Doc from JK Owners, he is super funny in his videos, likes to throw in an F bomb every now and then..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVuOd2dRwMo



Its always good to keep an eye on your brakes and learn how they work and how to keep them maintained. 

Great video. thanks tony.  i do need to learn how to do this., looks really easy.   what do a new set of front shoes cost.

probably between $30 and $100 for a set of 4.  Just depends on brand
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: DOUG on March 24, 2014, 09:46:20 AM
Huge range in cost of pads and rotors. Huge difference in performance.

They had all of that apart when they did your fears so I'm sure that would have told you if you needed anything.

If you do it yourself,

MAKE SURE YOU TORQUE THE CALIPER BOLTS PROPERLY
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: clark123456 on March 24, 2014, 11:36:06 AM
My experience with the "lifetime brakes pads" from the auto parts stores is they do not stop very well at all.  I will never buy them again...safety is worth more to me than money and time.  As you go bigger with your build, consider increasing your stopping capacity (Google is your friend for this research).

I installed the Black Magic pads on my TJ and they are significantly better than my factory pads, but I did the big brake upgrade when I did it, so I got some benefit of better rotors  (Centric) and dual piston calipers.

Disc brakes are awesome for the DIY'r since they are easy to do with minimal tools and time.  Drum brakes are terrible to do for a novice, so I won't do them except as part of an emergency brake system (i.e., Ford 8.8 e-brake).  Luckily almost every new vehicle has disc brakes, so learning this now will pay dividends in the future.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 11:42:52 AM
My experience with the "lifetime brakes pads" from the auto parts stores is they do not stop very well at all.  I will never buy them again...safety is worth more to me than money and time.  As you go bigger with your build, consider increasing your stopping capacity (Google is your friend for this research).

I installed the Black Magic pads on my TJ and they are significantly better than my factory pads, but I did the big brake upgrade when I did it, so I got some benefit of better rotors  (Centric) and dual piston calipers.

Disc brakes are awesome for the DIY'r since they are easy to do with minimal tools and time.  Drum brakes are terrible to do for a novice, so I won't do them except as part of an emergency brake system (i.e., Ford 8.8 e-brake).  Luckily almost every new vehicle has disc brakes, so learning this now will pay dividends in the future.

thanks clark, i was not going to replace them with cheap ones, just wanted to know the cost, and after watching the video, seems pretty easy, so when its time i will look at getting a set for my front breaks.

so u recommend the black magic pads?
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: tcdawg on March 24, 2014, 11:49:10 AM
My experience with the "lifetime brakes pads" from the auto parts stores is they do not stop very well at all.  I will never buy them again...safety is worth more to me than money and time.  As you go bigger with your build, consider increasing your stopping capacity (Google is your friend for this research).

I installed the Black Magic pads on my TJ and they are significantly better than my factory pads, but I did the big brake upgrade when I did it, so I got some benefit of better rotors  (Centric) and dual piston calipers.

Disc brakes are awesome for the DIY'r since they are easy to do with minimal tools and time.  Drum brakes are terrible to do for a novice, so I won't do them except as part of an emergency brake system (i.e., Ford 8.8 e-brake).  Luckily almost every new vehicle has disc brakes, so learning this now will pay dividends in the future.

thanks clark, i was not going to replace them with cheap ones, just wanted to know the cost, and after watching the video, seems pretty easy, so when its time i will look at getting a set for my front breaks.

so u recommend the black magic pads?

I run the Black Magic pads on my fronts with Centric Pro rotors.  Made a nice improvement in my breaking.  Had them on my TJ too, same thing.

The rotors and pads come from Mr. Blaine. http://www.blackmagicbrakes.com/ (http://www.blackmagicbrakes.com/)
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 11:51:37 AM
well upgrading my rotors , thats a bit more than just changing the pads?  i was looking at pads. not ready to upgrade the rotors yet
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: 94xjsport94 on March 24, 2014, 12:23:25 PM
Upgrading rotors would involve taking the old one off and putting a new one on. It just sits on the shoulders of the lugs, nothing special about doing that. If you don't upgrade them, go get them turned.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: clark123456 on March 24, 2014, 01:52:25 PM
Caliper upgrades are a bit more involved, but rotor upgrades are simple.  Schedule a wrench day for this, when you feel you need to do it, and someone will be available to supervise you doing the work.  It really is so simple a liberal could do it.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 01:56:37 PM
Caliper upgrades are a bit more involved, but rotor upgrades are simple.  Schedule a wrench day for this, when you feel you need to do it, and someone will be available to supervise you doing the work.  It really is so simple a liberal could do it.

maybe when time gets close to a big core ride.  harlen or gulches or something, i can bring the rotors and pads and just do it at night after the ride is done?  maybe.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: clark123456 on March 24, 2014, 04:14:39 PM
Caliper upgrades are a bit more involved, but rotor upgrades are simple.  Schedule a wrench day for this, when you feel you need to do it, and someone will be available to supervise you doing the work.  It really is so simple a liberal could do it.

maybe when time gets close to a big core ride.  harlen or gulches or something, i can bring the rotors and pads and just do it at night after the ride is done?  maybe.

Yep, time it around the adult beverage consumption carefully, but that should not be a problem to get done.  If Wes can change out ball joints in 3 hours on the side of a mountain, we can do brakes at camp in about 1 hour...even doing shots in between the beers.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: kent10sne1 on March 24, 2014, 04:27:39 PM
Caliper upgrades are a bit more involved, but rotor upgrades are simple.  Schedule a wrench day for this, when you feel you need to do it, and someone will be available to supervise you doing the work.  It really is so simple a liberal could do it.

maybe when time gets close to a big core ride.  harlen or gulches or something, i can bring the rotors and pads and just do it at night after the ride is done?  maybe.

Yep, time it around the adult beverage consumption carefully, but that should not be a problem to get done.  If Wes can change out ball joints in 3 hours on the side of a mountain, we can do brakes at camp in about 1 hour...even doing shots in between the beers.

I will bring the shots, if you guys direct me.  I may have to wait on my shots till after its done.   lol    it will be mostlikely on a later outing, maybe harlen or garfest/gulches the pads look ok for now
Title: Re:
Post by: clark123456 on March 24, 2014, 04:53:27 PM
Yep, until they squeal, or you squeal, just don't mess with them.
Title: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: BeerIAm on March 24, 2014, 08:11:29 PM
I got in a wreck last fall because I couldn't get my JK to stop.  Not sure if something failed (felt weird) or it was me missing my Brembos from my previous car.  At the time, I had looked at upgrading the rotor size to the Teraflex 13.3" rotors but decided to wait until I actually need brakes.  Has anyone upgraded their rotor size from the factory one?
Title: Re: Re: Brakes on the JK
Post by: clark123456 on March 24, 2014, 09:50:07 PM
I didn't get in a wreck to force my upgrade, but I nearly became one with my seat one morning...that convinced me to do the brake upgrade and to give more room.