Brake job question

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:22 pm

I'm supposed to help a buddy of mine this weekend do a brake job on his KJ. The dealer told him he needed pads and rotors, at a cost of $400 :shock:

. I told him to buy the parts and I'd help him out.
Anyways, having never performed a brake job on a KJ before (mine only has 18k on it), I'm assuming it's a simple "throw-away" rotor that's on there. The dealer told him they couldn't be turned, so that's what I'm thinking. My old Buick, and my wife's old Buick, and her current Buick :roll:

were all this way. Buy the rotors for $30 and a set of pads, and swap everything out. Easy as pie. So, are there any surprises I need to look out for?

Thanks.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:45 pm

(Just my thought) I do believe that they can be resurfaced, but that is up to him. Some places will do it for free if you buy the pads from them, but you don't find that much anymore. It is easier to just put all new on and you will save a lot of money. The brakes are disk unless he has an 02-some 03 so it should be pretty easy.

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 12:48 pm

It's an '04. Just doing the fronts. Just wanted to see if there were any surprises.

Thanks,

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:34 pm

The dealer that told you the rotors can not be turned was full of _____ (something that don't smell to pretty.) The Rotors on the Liberty are very thick and can be resurfaced if they are not too badly warped.

Rotors are more like $100 ~ $120 each vs. $60 to turn both rotors at the local speed shop.

Pads: Tell your friend to spring for some really nice Ceramic pads. They will virtually eliminate the brake dust and help stop the Jeep (ever so slightly) better.

Changing the pads / rotors is very straight forward on the Liberty....

1calkid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:35 pm

Tim, just be sure that you have a good size C-Clamp and a piece of lumber to put across the caliper piston to compress back into the caliper or you will not be able to get the caliper back on with new brake pads until you do. Other then that the whole job is pretty easy job to do as long as you are watching what you are doing.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 2:41 pm

1calkid wrote:

Tim, just be sure that you have a good size C-Clamp and a piece of lumber to put across the caliper piston to compress back into the caliper or you will not be able to get the caliper back on with new brake pads until you do. Other then that the whole job is pretty easy job to do as long as you are watching what you are doing.

A good trick is to compress the cyl. while the caliber is still bolted on. Just take a big flat tip screwdriver or a prybar and place it between the pad and rotor and wedge it until it wont move any further.

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:52 pm

1calkid wrote:

Tim, just be sure that you have a good size C-Clamp and a piece of lumber to put across the caliper piston to compress back into the caliper or you will not be able to get the caliper back on with new brake pads until you do. Other then that the whole job is pretty easy job to do as long as you are watching what you are doing.

I usually use a C clamp with one of the old pads over the piston. Haven't had a problem yet :wink:

So, at 40k miles, should the rotors be replaced (or turned), or do you think he can get away with pads?

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:06 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

Rotors are more like $100 ~ $120 each vs. $60 to turn both rotors at the local speed shop.

Pads: Tell your friend to spring for some really nice Ceramic pads. They will virtually eliminate the brake dust and help stop the Jeep (ever so slightly) better.

Changing the pads / rotors is very straight forward on the Liberty....

Just caled VIP Auto Parts (chain here in the North East). $39.99 for the rotors, and $27.99 for the pads ($73.77 for ceramics).

So, $70.00 and an hour of your time, vs. $400 and an hour or more of time (arranging rides, or waiting) having the dealer do it.

Hmmm...

krazz1e · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:12 pm

Quote:

Just caled VIP Auto Parts (chain here in the North East). $39.99 for the rotors, and $27.99 for the pads ($73.77 for ceramics).

I heard the KJ rotors can be turned, but for that price PCTim my as well just buy new ones.

PCTim · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:34 pm

PCTim wrote:

Just caled VIP Auto Parts (chain here in the North East). $39.99 for the rotors, and $27.99 for the pads ($73.77 for ceramics).

So, $70.00 and an hour of your time, vs. $400 and an hour or more of time (arranging rides, or waiting) having the dealer do it.

Hmmm...

Guess I need to learn math :oops:

That should be $39.99 EACH for the rotors :roll:

So, $120 and an hour of your time...

krazz1e · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 4:44 pm

still saving a bundle and won't need to be done for a while.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:13 pm

PCTim wrote:

Guess I need to learn math :oops:

That should be $39.99 EACH for the rotors :roll:

So, $120 and an hour of your time...

Wow, did I ever get ripped off for my rotors! :evil:

Oh well... It's what I get for not shopping around before I buy.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:16 pm

many people say that is easy, but i usually have a time getting the rotors off. I usuaully have to beat on them with a bfh and that is not good on the bearing. So that "may" be the only trouble u run into is getting the rotors off. I usually dont change the rotors if there not warped? Why are u changing the rotors? are his warped? Ive heard the rotors from napa are really good for not warping, i may try those when the time comes around.

jdumont · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:36 pm

Just be a little careful getting the cheapest aftermarket rotors. On more than one occasion ive gotten pre warped rotors from the store when I picked the cheapest ones. This was for my 86 Monte Carlo, not the KJ. Its never fun finishing the job only to have to tear it apart again....

JeepJunky33 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:10 pm

I just did my Brakes and Rotors a few weeks ago and it is really easy. I got my Rotors from irotors.com they are slotted and drilled rotors for four rotors it came out to be $270 if I remember correctly. Then I went onto perfectbrakes.com and got a set of EBC Green Stuff Brake Pads. That came out to I think it was $130something. It was simple ot do and saved a bunch of money by doing it myself. AS well as getting better braking. This is what I did and I love it. The next step is tires for me but I hope this helps. Keep me posted.
-Seth

SavageSS27 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:21 am

Ok, quick question, my KJ has about 58k on it and i just got it back from the Stealership after they turned the front rotors and put on new front and rear pads. Now when ihit the brakes they tend to be a little squeky, is this normal, will it eventually stop, and in how many miles. I'm going on a trip to NH and i'm leaving today (280mi.) So i kinda want to know if my brakes are gonna be ok, i'll be on my way BACK to the stealership in a little while to talk to them about it, but i don't quite trust them and figured i'd get a second opinion...

Thanks all,
-savage-

crdawg · **Joined:** Mon Sep 12, 2005 10:55 pm **Posts:** 98

after a new brake job you have to bed the brakes.you apply the brakes with gradual pressure at lower speeds:ie 20-30 mph.slowely increase speed and pressure.go in forward and backward.have the brakes heat up and cool down about 3-4 times. then drive normally.

Brake job question

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