Sliders for front brakes?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:19 pm

I recently replaced my front rotors and pads. Found out one of the sliders for the brake calipers (believe it was the top sliders on both sides of the jeep) are pretty much locked up. It takes all I've got to get them out and I've tried every sort of grease to free them up to no avail. Question is, where can you buy the sliders? Napa doesn't have them and I can't find them on advances website?

Not sure if those front caliper sliders are causing it but my brakes now suck. They were pretty good before the front brake change but now they are scary at times. I have the napa ultra premium rotors on the rear and adaptive one front and rear. Cheaped out with just the premium rotors on the front. Today I was testing them out, laid it to the floor and hit the brakes as hard as I could. It kept going.. Front brakes were pretty dang hot when I stopped so idk if something is also wrong with the rear brakes or?? I checked the caliper sliders on the rear and they are nice and free. The new front brakes have a good 1,000 miles on them. Rear have around 10k but the pads still look brand new.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:42 am

Do you have a pistol cleaning kit? If so take the bore brush and put it into a drill and run in the caliper mount where the slid pins go,then take the slide pins and lightly sand them with some emery cloth.Coat everything good with some brake lube only,not to much or they won't slide in all the way.

Key to having a good pedal feel is to "bed in" the pads correctly.

http://www.blackmagicbrakes.com/Pad_Break-in.html

BugginKJ · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:35 pm **Posts:** 4576

Great tip for sure but I always known it and was taught it years ago as burnishing in the brakes. Either way not many folks or even so called techs do it or know of it :shock:

02blue · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:29 pm

I'm thinking the slider pins you need may be available at Rock Auto.

I USUALLY replace them every time I replace my rotors. BUT, this 02 I've got is pretty rough on front rotors. Even when torquing the wheels and everything else they seem to "warp" quickly (runout). First time was cheapie rotors the second set was EBC drilled and slotted. Probably need to find an on vehicle lathe. If not next I'll try the dealership variety. :!:

I like that link from TJKJ. That's the way my dad taught me quite a few years ago. Don't think many people do it anymore. Still hasn't helped my rotor problems.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:46 pm

02blue wrote:

I'm thinking the slider pins you need may be available at Rock Auto.

I USUALLY replace them every time I replace my rotors. BUT, this 02 I've got is pretty rough on front rotors. Even when torquing the wheels and everything else they seem to "warp" quickly (runout). First time was cheapie rotors the second set was EBC drilled and slotted. Probably need to find an on vehicle lathe. If not next I'll try the dealership variety. :!:

I like that link from TJKJ. That's the way my dad taught me quite a few years ago. Don't think many people do it anymore. Still hasn't helped my rotor problems.

Are you adjusting the rear drums correctly when you do the front brakes? I know the KJ drums never hold a adjustment very well and that little arm that holds the star wheel from loosening is known for not doing it's job.Why I adjusted my drums every few months,really helps.

02blue · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:14 pm

No, I have only adjusted the rears once in the past 4 years. Thanks, this is a great point, I never thought of that. I'm heading out to the garage to replace everything today. Right now my left rear has been grabbing for about 2 months and last time I rotated the tires the one drum was toast. I think the previous abuser had an issue with the Ebrake. Seems like it may need some adjusting too.

I've had a new set of shoes and all the hardware (spring) kit and two new drums for a month so I'll swap it all out and keep an eye on them from now on. It's a nice day and the race is delayed so I'm going for it. Just hope the wheel cylinder isn't shot. That's what the grabbing feels like. Not difficult or expensive but I don't have one on me.

BTW for anyone interested, those EBC rotors and green SUV pads REALLY helped my stopping power. The 02s with the rear drums aren't known for their stopping ability.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:27 pm

Thanks for the replies. Currently in the garage cleaning the caliper brackets and replacing the slide pins. Can anyone right off the top of their head verify which slide pin goes in the top and which goes in the bottom? The square headed slide pin was in the top when I took them off but I wanted to verify. The gold colored pin with the rubber on it is the one that was locked up. Took the biggest pair of channel locks I have and all I've got to pull them out. Not sure what was wrong with the old ones... Ill post a pic later...

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 8:44 pm

Take the rubber sleeve off the top slider pin and throw it away. They are known to swell up and prevent the caliper from sliding properly. Just lubricate the slider really well with caliper grease.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:02 pm

WolverineFW wrote:

Take the rubber sleeve off the top slider pin and throw it away. They are known to swell up and prevent the caliper from sliding properly. Just lubricate the slider really well with caliper grease.

So the one with the rubber sleeve goes on the top? That's how I put it back together.

I've thought seriously about taking that rubber sleeve off. If these new ones don't work out I may do that. I don't understand why they made the top ine with the rubber around it like that though?? What's the point? I found new pins at advance for $16. Came with new bolts for the calipers too.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:33 pm

Lostkjs sure makes it more complicated to upload photos.. Maybe Im missing something.. Either way, here are a couple pics of the sliders in case someone doesn't understand what this thread is about... Brakes have been bleed thoroughly and new pins have been put in the front caliper brackets and greased with synthetic caliper grease. Well see how they do going to work in the morning!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:18 am

Definitely have an improvement in braking after bleeding/replacing the slide pins. They don't seem to really bite in like my old brakes did and like most vehicles do. They also don't seem to do all that great when they're cold. I feel like the more I brake the better they do. Either way, I'm not thoroughly impressed with the adaptive one pads. They do dust more than the stock ceramic pads but not much more at all. Only I would notice an increase in dust. Overall, I say buy the oem ceramic pads given the price isn't insanely high.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:11 pm

02blue wrote:

BTW for anyone interested, those EBC rotors and green SUV pads REALLY helped my stopping power. The 02s with the rear drums aren't known for their stopping ability.

X2 EBC is what I run on my Dodge Cummins. EBC pads also doesn't leave as much brake dust.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:16 pm

Jeepjeepster, what's this? :shock:

Your first post in two years? :mrgreen:

Sliders for front brakes?

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