Yes they are 100% worth it. They'll lock my 33s if I want them to. I just went with front rotors and pads which has worked great

 

I have always been told that the TJ's stock brakes always catch the rears first long before the fronts, which makes since considering my rear drums are worn down a lot more than my fronts.

So getting the black magic calipers isn't necessary? Just the drum hardware and front hardware?

 

If you like to stop, definitely worth it. I don't have them yet, but have a few friends that run them and won't run anything else.

 

BM pads are the best pad option for our TJs. The Vanco big brake kit (w/BM pads) is the way to go if you are serious about brakes. Run the 16" kit on my XJ and the 17" kit on my TJ. For as often as brakes get used, it is impossible to spend too much on good braking setup.

 

Worth it? Only if you don't want to end up smashed in somebody's rear end or worse. I would think it also depends how modified (heavy) you rig is. A stock Jeep would probably be fine, but regardless, can you really have too much braking power? Mine is on the porky side and the 17" kit is flat out awesome.

 

I have already had one accident due to not enough stopping power, which is why I'm now concerned about it. First wrangler I have owned and I'm still getting used to it

Working for the FD I respond using my Jeep every day. Stopping power is definitely a important factor.

Before I place the order for them, let me make sure I'm getting the right ones.

This kit for the front: http://www.shop.blackmagicbrakes.com/Pads-477s-Rotors-67045s-F-BMBP-47700067045.htm

This kit for the rear: http://www.shop.blackmagicbrakes.co...com/Jeep-TJ-97-06-Rear-Drum-Brakes-and-Hardware-JEEP-TJ-97-06-Rear-Drum-Pkg.htm

As far as modifications goes, I'm running 31x10.5R15's with a 3" lift on the way. Sticking with the 31's so I don't have to re-gear. I'm also running two very heavy duty bumpers + winch, so lots of extra weight.

 

Yes, the pads are worth the money. I had them on a Cherokee, have them on my TJ (Superduty axles), and even ran them on my last tow rig front and rear. I'll be calling him soon on my new truck when I'm ready to buy rotors also. They have the best cold bite and resulting pedal feel of any brake pad I've run.

For those that tow, call him and ask him for a set for your truck, too. It'll be worth it.

 

I have BM pads in the front on my rig and they work great. When I first went to 33's my brakes had a hard time bringing the Jeep to an abrupt stop. Swapping in BM pads changed that.

 

Buy the rotors from Amazon or eBay. Buy the pads from the BM site. You'll save money that way and get the same exact thing. Even Blaine admits it on his website.

To answer your question. I have the brakes and like how they perform once they get hot. However, I feel like when they're cold they lack that initial bite that knocks your speed down substantially like other brakes have done for me.

 

Buy the rotors from Amazon or eBay. Buy the pads from the BM site. You'll save money that way and get the same exact thing. Even Blaine admits it on his website.

I don't know if it is an admission or an observation. But, I don't mind when folks do it that way. It's easier to ship a set of pads than it is pads and rotors.

And, as long as you don't mind using Ebay and Amazon for your tech calls when you have a problem, we're both golden.

To answer your question. I have the brakes and like how they perform once they get hot. However, I feel like when they're cold they lack that initial bite that knocks your speed down substantially like other brakes have done for me.

You have a problem.

 

id just do the front rotors and pads, even up to 35's and def on 31's. the rear brakes just dont add enough stopping power to be that much of a factor

 

One advantage i noticed immediately with the 16" kit was the ability of the brakes to hold me in first gear low range with the automatic. With the stock brakes i had a case of Jeep creep.

 

My experience is the same as everyone else's. Did the BMB pads up front on centric premium rotors, Jeep stops amazing. I was able to lock them up, not something I could do before with generic pads.

Make sure your rear brakes are adjusted properly.

 

With 35's, after almost rear-ending some idiot lady in a Mercedes despite standing on the brakes and just having a sinking feeling as I was NOT slowing properly under an emergency braking situation, I said screw that and ordered the Black Magic rotor/pads kit. Installed them easily and then broke them in as per instructions. Major improvement! Still not sports-car stops, as I didn't go for the full-on big brake kit, but it was so much better that it was well worth the honestly modest amount money. A single fender bender and I would be out far more cash. Since then I've recommended them to and helped install them on other TJ's and LJ's, and they have yet to disappoint.

The stock brakes are set up for 27" to maaaaybe the Rubi 31" tires. It is absolutely not up to the task of handling anything larger than that.

 

X2 to the above comments, BMB has become the go-to source for the best performing brake pads and brake systems for our TJs. Their products are designed by a Jeeper for Jeeps and they don't get any better.

 

All of my my Jeeps have stopped and locked up 35's with EBC pads and good rotors. For the price of the BM pads, I'd go that route anytime and plan to in the future, if my money problems and surgeries get a little better. Health problems and no insurance suck at any age. 5 hernia surgeries at 30. Lost my first wife at 26 from the big C. Worse crap coming soon if someone won't sell me insurance. I still don't get Obamacare for poor people? Not the place to rant. Sorry folks.

Hmm, why so disturbed?

 

My synopsis
1- Blaine always calls back,even if you don't leave a message.
2- I ran EBC stuff for years,however they were a sponsor of mine. I've been a fan of them since the early 90's. The price or their pads are outrageous compared to Blaines.
3- going back to point 1
I still have connections within EBC, but trying to talk to someone with the ability to problem solve unscripted is a near zero experience,unlike the old days.
I put Blaine's pads up front and can honestly say the performance is very noticeable.
I haven't had to call Blaine for anything concerning my pads, but I'm sure he'd be around if I needed an answer.

 

My synopsis
1- Blaine always calls back,even if you don't leave a message.

I haven't had to call Blaine for anything concerning my pads, but I'm sure he'd be around if I needed an answer.

There are two numbers, the first one is for generic questions that may need a quick answer if you are the customer, not so quick if you're the guy trying to do the packaging, stocking, shipping, development, inventory control, email, and troubleshooting.

I get the same questions just about every day on the business line and then some I never ever anticipated at least a few times a week.

Why didn't I get an order confirmation?
You did, check your spam folder.

How long does it take for the order to get here?
Where are you?

Do you offer expedited shipping?
No, you won't pay for it.

How do I measure the rotors on my 99?
Look at the pictures.

Where are you located?
SoCal

Did you ship all my stuff?
Yes, check your tracking numbers

Are you sure because they just delivered the pads and not the rotors?
Yes I'm sure, check your tracking numbers

Can I place an order over the phone?
No

I don't have internet, how do I order?
You got this number off of the internet, have your buddy who showed you the site and the number place it for you.

Who do you use for shipping?
USPS

They suck, why don't you use someone else?
Because they have a 99.95% accuracy rate for us and nobody can get a set of pads and rotors to NJ in 3 days or less for even triple the money.

I lost my instructions for break in.
They are on the site.

Can I buy just one conical washer?
No

Can I buy just one rotor?
No

Can I buy a half set of front pads?
No

Can I buy a knuckle saver kit for just one knuckle?
No, because the difference in the one for 1 knuckle and 2 knuckles is 2 inserts.

I bought the nutsert kit and now I want to add the bolts. Can I buy just the bolts?

Yes, your local hardware store likely has the exact same ones I sell.

Can I buy them from you?
No, I only include bolts in the kits to save you a trip to the hardware store, I'm not trying to be in the bolt business.

Can I buy just that little piece out of your steering kit?
No

But I bought an AGR set up and all I need is that little set of bushings.
No
I'm going to tell everyone on the internet that you aren't a Jeeper.
Okay

My brake pads arrived and 1 has a chip in it, can you send me a set of new ones?
No, send me a picture of the one that you dropped so I can tell which one it is and I'll send you the same one with no chip. Don't drop it this time. (crickets)

I rounded off the hex on my bleed screws.
Yes, that happens when you use an open end wrench or 12 point wrench. Use a 6 point socket to break them loose and tighten them. Once they are loose you can use an open end for the bleeding and then snug them down with the 6 point socket.
(we now include an extra set of bleed screws in the caliper pairs for the TJ fronts due to how many times I got that call)

If you have a generic question, call the business line, if you have a tech question and need some help right away, call the other one, it goes to the phone in my pocket that I can drop in the driveway, step on, and that gets full of welding smoke and grinding dust because I have 4 more just like it.

If you call the second number and ask me what color the boxes are that your order shipped in, do not be surprised if I sound a bit short with you. Yes, I know it's important to you, but I'm probably wadded up under a rig trying to weld on a bracket so I have to crawl out, get the hood up, gloves off and then answer the phone before it goes to voice mail because my wife calls me on this number too so it does get answered if at all possible. :rofl:

 

After my lift, with the original brakes when I'd come to a stop at any speed, the Jeep would move around in the lane, and my wife would not drive the Jeep (okay, is that so bad... lol?). So I put on BMBs and it returned the original control I had before the lift and larger tires. (And better.)

Best post-lift money I spent.

 

:rofl:

 

Yeah that was pretty classic.
Wonder how many calls he's gotten over the years asking for a play by play while doing a brake job live?
I bet at least one.

 

Short answer.

By BMB for your Heep. Best brakes ever. I'm about to get set #2!

 

My Jeep is fairly simple being on 32s with stock 3.73 gears. Given that I only drive 3 miles to/from work every day through mainly residential neighborhoods (not much stress on the Jeep) and get on the trails once or twice a month for about 5000 miles/year (just broke 65k total), how much will I benefit from the BMBs? I do drive it around a bit on the weekends but mainly take the wife's grand on the weekends when we do things due to her back. I have considered them but wasn't sure I would need to perform the break-in steps more frequently to keep them working properly and to get the full effect of them.

 

My goal is always very simple. I want to solve a problem. If you don't have the problem, it doesn't need solving. You know if your brakes are sub par or less than confidence inspiring and in need of something other than what you have.

Don't have the problem, don't need the solution.

 

Alright, looks like I am going to grab just the hardware for now and see how that works. Still got some life left in this set so I'm going to run them down.

If I have the extra funds to invest in the future I will look into the Vanco kit. But for now the front and rear hardware should do for now from what I hear. Thanks guys!

 

100% worth it in my opinion. While I can't lock up my 35's, it definitely stops a hell of a lot better.

 

Why does he feel he would have to rebed the brakes from lack of use?

 

Misinformed due to the warnings about needing to "use" the brakes to keep them broken in and that is sort of a misnomer to get folks to use them with some enthusiasm.

I've sort of given up on trying to teach that though as folks will not change their braking style no matter what it does to their brakes.

Reality is, just don't baby them by doing long coasting stops. They don't like it and if you drive like a little old lady, you'll wind up with little old lady brakes.

 

Definitely worth it! I have the older 15" BBK that has since been upgraded to BMB pads. Both steps were a definite improvement.

 

BMB brakes are great, much better than stock - no questions from me, very easy install with good instructions - if you have a lot of questions about how to install these brakes, you probably should not be installing them yourself