Brakes

Joneser · 04-08-2009, 04:37 PM

I bought my wife a new RH drive 08 JK for her mail route. I know she does alot of starting and stoping but at 11,000 miles the rear brake pads are gone but the fronts have half the pads left...any of you wheelers experience only the rear pads going first?

**N2rock** · 04-08-2009, 04:48 PM

Yes, it has been well documented on many forums. The rear brakes are wearing out twice as fast as the fronts. I don't think anyone has found a good reason why. Maybe DC is putting softer pads in the rear for some reason

Joneser · 04-08-2009, 04:52 PM

I should have searched first I guess...thx

**N2rock** · 04-08-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joneser

I should have searched first I guess...thx

Sorry... Did not mean to imply you should've searched.

Just saying a lot have found the rears to go bad quickly

My last tire rotation (21K miles)- my rear pads are about 25% left, and my fronts are about 75% left. So I'll be doing my rear pads real soon.

BiGEN · 04-08-2009, 06:06 PM

my rears were gone at 20k.... i plan on doing a overhaul on my brakes.. upgrading to bigger ones.. i dont think my 37's like the small ones...

plus i downshift alot... so my brakes were really not used alot...

ctown67 · 04-08-2009, 07:04 PM

i replaced mine as well around 20k. The mechanic told me that every time i drive off road or on a dirt road for a length of time i should run some water over the rear calipers. he wasn't judging, just giving me a tip. so if i get off road i rinse, just like rinsing the boat.

supposedly there is no dust sheild to keep the stuff off the calipers.

good luck.

**ronjenx** · 04-09-2009, 12:40 AM

It's not just a JK thing. The rear pads on my 2001 VW Golf wore out way before the front, which are still less than half worn. I have seen this on vehicles with drums on the rear, too.
Most of the braking load is taken by the front brakes. I don't know why it is so common for the rears to wear out first.

Size of the pads and rotors, maybe.

mrsig · 04-09-2009, 06:17 AM

At 8700 my rears went down to the rotors.. I need new shoes and rotors. Dealer did not cover it.
Then at 20,275 I had to replace the rear shoes again!
It not right... I do a lot of wheeling but I clean my brake before I head home than clean the heck out of the Jeep after..

NYCJohn · 04-09-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joneser

I bought my wife a new RH drive 08 JK for her mail route. I know she does alot of starting and stoping but at 11,000 miles the rear brake pads are gone but the fronts have half the pads left...any of you wheelers experience only the rear pads going first?

Most likely to prevent front wheel lockup the hydraulic pressure may be biased to the rear. This will keep the Jeep more controllable in hard braking and reduces nose dive as well. Looking at the brakes on my 09 Sahara I have to say this is one area Jeep did not skimp on. The rotors are pretty large and I feel the brakes work very well.

weiva · 04-09-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctown67

i replaced mine as well around 20k. The mechanic told me that every time i drive off road or on a dirt road for a length of time i should run some water over the rear calipers.

My recommendation would be to do so once the brakes are cool. 500+ degree rotors plus 60 degree water may cause them to warp.

tricked919 · 04-09-2009, 08:17 AM

I don't get it - this defies Car Physics 101 ...something is up. The only thing I can think of is that DC biased the rear brakes in the EBD programming.

ODAMO · 10-13-2009, 11:22 AM

I'm beginning to think that the more off roading thats done the more the brake lock diff action there is and hence --severe duty opperation. it's kinda like riding the brakes all the time.... Anyone else think this?

**ronjenx** · 10-13-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODAMO

I'm beginning to think that the more off roading thats done the more the brake lock diff action there is and hence --severe duty opperation. it's kinda like riding the brakes all the time.... Anyone else think this?

According to a Jeep Engineer, the BLD doesn't apply the brakes often enough, or with enough energy dissipation, to cause early rear pad wear.

Tireguy · 10-13-2009, 12:23 PM

I'm partial to the (re)distribution of brake force to the rear theroy. Gm and Ford trucks have accelerated rear wear being more common on a rear disc setup as well.
Now, I can see the TCS using the rear brakes to slow down a slipping/spinning tire(s), but you would have to be intentionally trying to break the tires loose every chance you get (mud/snow/ice) to get that accelerated wear on the pads.

Evil_Trolloc · 10-13-2009, 06:27 PM

I was surprised when I did the rear brakes at 12,500 miles.. Put a couple K on with the 36's, I know that didn't help the lifespan any

So I'd also guess its just the valving and the rear is getting more pressure.. I bought a set of pads at the local "advanced autoparts" for about 30 bucks.. Life time warranty.. Just wear them out and exchange.. The brakes are so easy to do on the jeep, I can deal with it =b