Need suggestion for stopping severe brake dive

buddy357 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 4:55 pm

I have an 06 CRD that only has 34K miles. But the brake dive in this one is way worse than the one I sold in 13. In a quick stop the front dives to the point weight shift feels like the back of the jeep is lifting and the back tires squeal like they are barely touching the ground and I am thrown against the seat belt. It feels like the vid I saw of the 4x4 car with a round external cage that could flip forward by getting hard on the brakes.

Normal coming to a stop at a light from 35 with plenty of warning is a little better, but it feels like theres a bungy cord instead of springs under there. It's at a point I go out of my way not to drive it, and it's my only personal car. I like the jeep for the size and usefulness in winter, but I almost never drive it because I have no idea how to prevent the nose-dive. If I can't figure this out I am probably going to try to sell it and get another fox body so I can have something with a little handling and not drive much in winter. I wonder if its spring/shock related, but I am not sure.

I know it's not a mustang, but this is ridiculous. Any suggestions on how to fix it?

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:18 pm

How much brake dive is acceptable is subjective. The CRD is very front heavy to begin with and any additional front end weight (like a winch and/or steel bumper) will only make it worse.

My first thought is shocks.
The factory shocks suck. Bilstein shocks are among the best for a KJ.

Might want to check out your front brakes to make sure the calipers arent sticking.
Also check out the rear brakes to make sure they are engaging. If the rear brake calipers are frozen and not engaging then your only braking force is coming from the front.

buddy357 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:30 pm

The back brakes are working. They were already worn out, so I replaced them with ceramic pads and new rotors. They are so loud when engaged I hear a slight rubbing or hissing. It made no difference in the dive. I also flushed the brake fluid and bled the brakes all around. I noticed today if I stand on my from bumper the jeep sinks about 3-4 inches in the front.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:39 pm

Along with the shocks being worn out, its possible that the front springs have lost tension. The CRD springs are stiffer than the gasser springs but that doesnt make them immune to sagging.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 5:51 pm

buddy357 wrote:

if I stand on my from bumper the jeep sinks about 3-4 inches in the front.

On mine, I only have about 3 inches of upward travel before the upper control arm hits the bump stop. Something is definitely wrong with your front suspension.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 6:19 pm

NEW aftermarket front springs and shocks
Shocks alone will not take care of the dive
KJs were bad with nose dive right from the get go
Thats why my stock suspension was ripped out at 20,000 miles
couldn't stand it any longer

buddy357 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 8:10 pm

So my neighbor looked under the jeep while I was on it, it seems I am bottoming out the suspension when I stand on it. Tom I know you have experimented with a number of setups, any particular recommendation? I likely won't ever lift more than 1.5-2 inches, but I want better handling and less nose dive. My excursion with 14 year old saggy leaf springs wasn't this bad.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Aug 03, 2015 11:17 pm

buddy357 wrote:

So my neighbor looked under the jeep while I was on it, it seems I am bottoming out the suspension when I stand on it. Tom I know you have experimented with a number of setups, any particular recommendation? I likely won't ever lift more than 1.5-2 inches, but I want better handling and less nose dive. My excursion with 14 year old saggy leaf springs wasn't this bad.

Since you have the CRD only one I would suggest is OME
stock CRD rate is 410 lb, the OME 790s are 500 , jsut installed the setup on a customers a month ago. Added some extra to it since he wanted 3 inches of lift
But full OME is what i would go with
790 front 948 rear

buddy357 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 05, 2015 12:55 am

Thanks Tom. I will work on getting that once I get back home from training. I just found today out my nephew bought a winch for my birthday, you think that will affect it or should I leave it off to keep the nosedive down? My CRD is almost stock now, so I'd have to get a bumper or backbone.

Need suggestion for stopping severe brake dive

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