JK breaks! HELP!
 

OK so I heard a "ting" noise when I parked today, sounded like my rear left break. I heard this issue with JKs by the dealer (oddly enough.. last oil change..) tryed to charge me over $200 to get my breaks lubricated to stop this from happening (the jeep has 17,000 kms on it) So I was like I'll think about it, did some research found out ok I could probably do the job myself one day maybe.

So I let it go, and today I heard this so I looked at the break thru the wheel spokes and saw there was a deep groove running along the top of the rotor (urgh..) i've heard of people maching these out but I don't know, anyone who has some info (or some time..) to diagnose and look at this with me would be great. I am all about learning to do this myself, I really don't want to goto the dealer and end up with a $600 price tag at the end of the visit, I know breaks are something that wears out, and if you can do it yourself your golden. Trust me, I want to do this myself.

Some photos of my breaks below.

Rear Left Break (grooved one..)
https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1403378992

Rear Right Break (it's all good)
https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1403378992

Front Left (front right looks the same)
https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1403378992

Any Help would be great! I heard you can machine grooves out of your breaks but like I said I not super experienced my knowledge is in home PCs (I just spent two days rebuilding my PC computer) i just wish I could do the same with my jeep!

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

You know, I wouldn't get too concerned about those minor grooves your seeing. Lubricating your caliper slides, and pad resting points is actually a very good idea to do yearly. Once those pins start sticking, your caliper will hold the pads on slightly. This creates an enormous amount of heat which melts the resins in the friction material. Your pads glaze, and create all kind of noise issues after that, even if the caliper is serviced and freed up. I know I'll get flamed for backing the shops on this one, but annual brake servicing can really extend the life of your brakes. Ideally, you get a mechanic buddy over to show you how to do it, then you can do it yourself after that.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

I would rather do this myself, as it seems to be a regular upkeep thing that is more time consuming then costly. The grooves that are in the rotor are pretty deep, while the others are very smooth, this was my only concern. Plus the sound made me concern, it's a very expensive expense (over $200) to have this done, and if I can get around it with time out of my life rather then money I would be very happy.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

I agree with zrs, check the sliders etc. you might have something embedded in the pad on that side that has caused the groove. I would change the pads while you have the caliper off and also change the rotor, I never cut the rotors, new ones are not that expensive. Disk brakes are not difficult to work on, it's not rocket science.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Well it is if you don't know what your doing (like me..) and having to replace the rotor on a vehicle a little over a year old kind of sucks :( can't say I am happy about the idea.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

It really is not that difficult to work on disk brakes, there are lots of how to's on the net. brakes are considered a wear item, sometimes they last seemingly forever but a small stone or abrasive mud caught in the pad can score them up in seconds, That minor scoring you have will not effect the braking ability as long as the pad is good.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

I hardly ever use my brakes at all, I really doubt the pads are worn down that much at all.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

That may be true but one of them might have picked up something that has stuck itself into the pad.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Maybe, if I felt more confident in tearing into the things that stop my 4000lb vehicle and knew I could put it all back together again without much difficulty, then I would do it. It just feels like a big gamble if I've literally never done it before. I rotated my tires before, thats about as mechanical as ive gotten.

Other then sterios and rewiring a sunroof and radio antenna (sheilding on thos wires are a pain in the butt)

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

If you don't feel confident about tackling it yourself, try talking to some of the jeep club guys in your area, there's going to be at least one guy who knows how to do brakes and is willing to hold your hand while you do it. It's something worth learning as it will save you a fortune over the coming years. If you want to take a trip to Montreal I'd be happy to show you.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

To the OP, you have some good advice. I first discovered this at about 50,000KM when I did my rear break pads the first time.

There are clips that snap into the calipers that you break pads tabs slide on. I have the part number at home if you need it, got them from the dealer. These little suckers need to be cleaned, and a dab of caliper grease put on the tab...the flat part and the shoulder.

I've done this three times, most recently last year when I did new rotors and pads (Power Stop), great product. Been about 25,000KM, and guess what....I have the squeek back....lightly press on the breaks you have it, hit them harder its gone...I have to do this again ion the next few weeks.

While there I always clean up the piston with break cleaner, lube that, the back side of both pads, and caliper pins if needed. The little boots on the caliper pins get a shot of silicon lube to keep them soft.

AND, while you are there, remove the rotor, clean, inspect the e-brake, and fore sure you will need to adjust that sucker, as they are not self adjusting and like most, are usually too loose.

I've done breaks on many trucks, and the JK is VERY easy to work on, just remember, do one side at a time, this way you have a reference point, all be a mirror image.

Project JK (Wayalife forum now) has a really good write up on the how to...Eddy did a great job with pictures and explanation.

Taking my time (and I'm very picky with all my work) I tend to this over a two cups off coffee and a modest 2.5 hrs of garage time with my Jeep.

Shoot back if you have more questions....

Good luck

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Sounds like you know what your doing, its easy when you know what your getting yourself into. One day maybe when I am on vacation or something I'll tear it apart and fiddle, I've seen a few videos but it's hard to tell until your right in it. I'll be going on vacation on the 5th of next month, so we will see. The scoring doesn't seem to be getting worse, and I haven't heard it since the last time. I've driven the truck a few times since then, I think it might be the warmer weather having something to do with it but who knows.

I'll let ya know how it goes if I do it, I am just worried about torqued bolts. I don't have a small torque wrench, only a large one for tires.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

So I looked (and signed up) with the jk experience website (I watch there videos too..) I saw the write up for brake replacement, that looks pretty simple actually. Didn't see much of anything on the parking brake or lubrication.

I've been trying to find videos or write ups about lubrication or maintenance of brakes on the JK but I can't find much. I seen a few general videos but nothing using the JK specifically. I am assuming the front brakes are similar if not the same? So the skills should be transferable, all I need for tools (if I don't get a small torque wrench) is a C clamp and lubrication grease and maybe some gloves.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

The front and rear are pretty much the same thing. The only difference is that the rear has the parking brake inside the drum part of the rotor.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Here's a few link to get you going that really helped me.....

Project-JK.com - Jeep JK Wrangler Resource » Jeep JK Wrangler Maintenance Emergency/Parking Hand Brake Adjustment

Project-JK.com - Jeep JK Wrangler Resource » Jeep JK Wrangler Rear Brake Pad Replacement

Project-JK.com - Jeep JK Wrangler Resource » Jeep JK Wrangler Torque Settings

I usually do a dry run before doing something new, up to the point of removal,,,usually address tools or materials I forgot to get or need.

I used my 250ft/lb 1/2" t-wrench on the break fasteners, just had to get creative with extensions.

Everyone as limits, ok to push them a bit....but never any shame in supporting your local 4X4 shop from time to time

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

These are good resources, and I've read through them all but sadly as I said there is nothing really in there about where the lube goes.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

You're right, Eddy doesn't show that part. Take a look at step 13, here you can see the brake pad tab 'metal clip' being snapped home into the caliper it's self. There's 4 of these clips per caliper. That "U" shape of this new clip being installed is where you want to ensure is lubed. It's this U channel that the tabs of your break pads slide on.

This picture also shows the break piston, always a good idea to put a light coat of break lube on this, as it's this point the back side of your inner break pad makes contact with.

I'll be doing this same work on my Jeep in a couple of weeks, I snap a few photos to help show the lubrication points.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Sounds good thanks! I heard putting lube on the back of the brake pads is also a good idea, any idea on this?

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

OK so I bought an adjustable C Clamp 4" - 7", and got some X-Tra Heavy Duty Wheel Bearing Grease by Lucas Oil Products. It seemed like the best stuff, says it's good until 560F (highest temp i could find others were around 300 and said for brake calipers) it's exeeded all marine application specs, resisted squeezing out, and maintains a consistant film of protection even under irregular maintenence (which I figure would be a bonus on the clips since it needs to have a low friction surface).

I heard a few talking about bearing grease wearing out rubber boots, but i think this should be ok. It's good for CV joints and electrical contacts, so I really don't think it should bother the pin boots.

Lucas Oil | Hi-Performance Lucas Oil Products Inc.

I got the top one on that page, but i got it in a container instead of a tube. So i can reseal it.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Use specific brake lube! That stuff you have will destroy the rubber boots surrounding the slide bolts. Ceramic brake lubricant by permatex is one of the better ones. Silicone based brake lubricants, or synthetic brake lubes are excellent too. Don't use petroleum based lubricants on anything that may contact rubber.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Yes I understand that, I do not think it's petroleum based it's synthetic stuff if it's made for CVs i doubt it'll eat the boot since CVs are basicly a giant boot covered grease filled joint.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

The EP Lucas grease you bought is petroleum based, non synthetic wheel bearing grease. It's not a brake lubricant. Trust me on this, go buy the right stuff.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

That particular brand isn't existant at mt location, and the labels have next to no information.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

It's carried at canadian tire. Comes in a tube. You should find it in the automotive department where all the other gasket/RTV type stuff is

Permatex Caliper Lube, 80-mL | Canadian Tire

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Thats where I got the other stuff, I spent about 5 minutes there looking through it all. It's possible I missed it, but who knows.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

On there site this and dielectric grease is what I could find.

Permatex Ultra Slick Multi-Purpose Synthetic Grease, 85 g | Canadian Tire

It's a multi purpose grease, not sure if thats good enough. I'll probably go back on Thursday or so, but it was a rough isle to look through. They arn't exactly the most organized people around. My biggest concern is the temperature, I am not entirely sure what kind of temperatures I am dealing with when it comes to brake parts. The permatex site says the multi purpose grease "grease withstands temperatures from -45F to 350F (-42C to 177C), 450F (232C) intermittent"

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

That's not it. I've attached a pic of the product I use. It's available at any auto parts store, but maybe not CT. Notice the temp range. Whatever you get, make sure to get a specific brake lube.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

The one that I use from Canadian tire is the black and green coloured tube in the above picture.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

They didn't have the ceramic compound stuff, but this was as close as I could get.

Attachment 5034

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

That'll work great.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Thats good, I had to go out of town to find it. My local Canadian Tire didn't have it

Thanks for Your Help

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Yup, I use the ultra slick product noted in a screen shot in above post. I put it on the caliper pins, pad tab sliders, backs of the pads themselves, and a thin layer on the piston surface.

No issues or troubles with this product.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

I attempted the job.. can't get the tire off.. :( I dropped the truck on it, I kicked the crap out of it. I tried prying it off, wouldn't come loose. There isn't any rust or anything on the nuts, I really think if I had an impact gun it would have been better but using hand tools it just didn't want to come off.

So I guess I am going to bite the bullet and get Chrysler to do it.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Do you mean you couldn't get the wheel nuts off, or the nuts came off but the wheel is seized to the hub?

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Wheel was stuck on the hub, probably salt built up or so, tires haven't been off in around 10.000kms or so. Haven't been rotating them as often as I wanted, only recently got a jack.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

A few good swings at it from the inside with a 12lb hammer will get it off. been there, done that.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

I agree with the sledge hammer trick. I have to do that most times with my pick up truck. The best thing to do is leave one of the nuts on partially then the tire doesn't go flying off when it breaks free. It doesn't take much effort to do and you hit the rubber of the tire not the rim.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Yeah I know that trick, I left one of the nuts on it, and I kicked the tire hard. I even leaned up against the vehicle behind me and braced myself and kicked it hard. I am a 280lb guy, so when I kick something I mean it.

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

Geez! That's not right. Assume you've tried hitting the tire at multiple locations to try and free it.
Keep trying with lots of patience I guess, dam! Good luck!!

Re: JK breaks! HELP!
 

I read the other day that Aluminium and Steel tend to bond really well, so alloy wheels sometimes tend to "stick". So I guess I need a big hammer, but I'm planning to switch to steel rims later on down the road. Maybe it'll help.