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Considering Upgrade Replacement Brake Pads and Rotors on a Jeep TJ Wrangler Rubicon


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Hello All:

 

I have a 2003 Wrangler Rubicon SWB with many mods for wheeling - (6" Full Traction LA suspension/new wheels/35"Toyo MT etc.etc). She is very heavy.

 

I am the original owner and try to keep my truck mint, although I do occasionally wheel it aggressively. She has 35,000 miles on the odometer and since I am very safety aware, I think it is time for new brakes. (The brakes on this truck are the original factory brakes/pads etc.)  She doesn't seem to stop as well as she used to - there is too much fade - although the pedal is strong and I had everything checked out (bleed lines etc.) by my dealer in December.

 

I'm just not comfortable on the Highway at 55 mph or so with the thought of a quick stop with a 4600lb brick that doesn't stop like she used to. So I am thinking of doing a full replacement with EBC rotors and pads.

 

What else do I need to replace if I go this route? Remember everything is factory original and never replaced!

Many thanks for your thoughts and suggestions,

 

Joe Mac

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Joe Mac, EBC has a reputation at racing and high performance braking.  I reviewed the corporate website, and it looks like a good all-around approach would be the Extra Duty Orange Pads with GD Series rotors. Given the road speeds you describe and your significant off-road use of the Jeep, I would try upgrade pad material before changing out the rotors.  A rotor upgrade bumps cost up considerably.

 

I would research EBC's pad recommendation for stock rotors.  If necessary, resurface the rotors, which is simpler and more accurate with contemporary on-the-vehicle resurfacing equipment.  This addresses any discrepancy in the wheel hub alignment and provides a rotor that runs true with the wheel hubs—all machining is with the rotors in place.

 

This way, you could see the difference in the pad composition.  You're neither in a racing environment nor situations where brake heat and fade should be issues.  "Fade" at a low 35K miles is likely due to moisture/water in the brake fluid.  Your factory DOT 3 brake fluid is hygroscopic, drawing up to 3% moisture per annum. 

 

Actual moisture contamination is usually less with a bellows type master cylinder seal and cap—or other modern master cylinder sealing methods.  Your Jeep has low mileage, which means it's parked a lot, and this makes it more vulnerable to the hygroscopic effect of the brake fluid.  If you live at a humid climate, this adds to the problem.

 

You have "bled" the brakes.  If this was a vacuum bleed from each of the calipers, I would be confident that all old fluid and debris are gone.  Pedal pumping bleed jobs and even pressure bleeding from the master cylinder end do not guarantee full fluid evacuation if the calipers remain assembled.

 

These are some thoughts.  Perhaps others can jump into this discussion with actual experience around aftermarket upgrades to the OEM brakes on a Jeep Wrangler TJ Rubicon...

 

Moses

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Thanks Moses -

 

I'll see if I can check as to what type of bleeding was performed!  That is the exact EBC package I want to install.

 

I'll talk to EVB and see what they can do with my rotors etc. I am scheduled for next Thursday so I'll let you know what I decide.

 

All the best, Joe Mac

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