Topic: Cheapest way to improve breaking

[jfrabat]

OK, guys, I know I've gone through this one a coupe of times, but here's the deal; after not driving my Jeep for about a month, I drove it today and now more than ever I feel my brakes are lacking...  As some of you remember, I have changed the master, the booster, calipers, rotors and pads already; I even added a vaccuum reservoir for the boosted, and still no big difference.  Is there a cheap way to have a big boost in braking performance?  Or do I have to go with the Econoline booster and TJ master (or was it the other way around?) for it to work?

Felipe

[aw12345]

About the only fairly easy mod that helps after a bigger booster and master is adding rear disc brakes. They do make a reasonable difference over the stock drum brakes

[FourbangerYJ]

What kind of pads are you running?

[Jeffy]

How are they lacking?

[aw12345]

I bet they are lacking in the emergency stop department

[chrisfranklin]

I'd say just don't drive too fast, Felipe. 

If you factor the stopping power in to how you drive, it should be manageable (not saying it'd be fun or ideal, just manageable).  Somehow people survived driving the first Corvettes and Muscle cars and most of those didn't break for $hit either 

[Jeffy]

I bet they are lacking in the emergency stop department

Well, that's pretty broad.  Are they fading?  Are they locking up too early?  Are the rears locking up at all?  How are you applying the brakes?  Stomp on it then hope and pray?  Are you letting up as they lock up? etc...

[jfrabat]

What kind of pads are you running?

Hawk pads (the green ones; LTS?)

How are they lacking?

When breaking hard, they just dont bite enough...

Well, that's pretty broad.  Are they fading?  Are they locking up too early?  Are the rears locking up at all?  How are you applying the brakes?  Stomp on it then hope and pray?  Are you letting up as they lock up? etc...

They are simply not capable of locking; in fact, far from it, which means I cannot do any kind of hard stopping...

[chrisfranklin]

I'd say just don't drive too fast, Felipe. 

If you factor the stopping power in to how you drive, it should be manageable (not saying it'd be fun or ideal, just manageable).  Somehow people survived driving the first Corvettes and Muscle cars and most of those didn't break for $hit either 

I said break (huh huh)

Felipe, you have stainless steel brake lines on there, right?  That firmed things up a lot for me.  I like the pedal feel better with DOT4 synthetic brake fluid also.   

[jfrabat]

I'd say just don't drive too fast, Felipe. 

If you factor the stopping power in to how you drive, it should be manageable (not saying it'd be fun or ideal, just manageable).  Somehow people survived driving the first Corvettes and Muscle cars and most of those didn't break for $hit either 

I take it you have not seen how latin people drive...  You NEED braking because you have to drive about 2 feet of the car in front of you when moving and stop 6 inches from them (otherwise, so many people cut you off, that you will never get there).

[chrisfranklin]

I take it you have not seen how latin people drive...  You NEED braking because you have to drive about 2 feet of the car in front of you when moving and stop 6 inches from them (otherwise, so many people cut you off, that you will never get there).

Nah I figured that was the case.  And it probably pays to go with the traffic flow there as with anywhere. 

[st.chevrolet]

OK, guys, I know I've gone through this one a coupe of times, but here's the deal; after not driving my Jeep for about a month, I drove it today and now more than ever I feel my brakes are lacking...  As some of you remember, I have changed the master, the booster, calipers, rotors and pads already; I even added a vaccuum reservoir for the boosted, and still no big difference.  Is there a cheap way to have a big boost in braking performance?  Or do I have to go with the Econoline booster and TJ master (or was it the other way around?) for it to work?

Felipe

I have swapped in AWD Astro van hydroboosts I get from Pick&Pulls with the stock YJ MC, way better stopping power. Put one in my friends BBC powered Toyota LC with 4w discs, locks up his 44s with no problem, says that is the best mod he's ever done. Hydroboosts put out three times the braking pressure of vacuum assist units. For info on hydroboost setups go here; www.vancopbs.com/category_s/66.htm

[Jeffy]

Hawk pads (the green ones; LTS?)
When breaking hard, they just dont bite enough...

They are simply not capable of locking; in fact, far from it, which means I cannot do any kind of hard stopping...

Well at higher speeds, you won't be locking them up.  Actually having them lock up is bad as your brakes are then not working to stop you.  I know even with my stock brakes (except rear 10" drums) I can lock up the front's fairly easily once the speed drops enough.  You can get more bite with a larger master and a dual-diaphragm booster.  The booster would be from a TJ and the master from an E350.

If you need more then that then really your only other choice is hydro-boost.  You could also go with ZJ dual piston front calipers as well but otherwise, you're limited by the size of your axles and wheel dia..

[BarneyJeep]

WJ steering conversion will take care of the front brakes too.....

larger rotors (Ford Sportrac front rotors), and dual piston Grand Cherokee Calipers, then use EBC pads.
 
-OR-

Vanco Big Brake Kit

either way as with most safety equipment...you get what you pay for...

Good brakes aren't cheap...

[sharpxmen]

I have swapped in AWD Astro van hydroboosts I get from Pick&Pulls with the stock YJ MC, way better stopping power. Put one in my friends BBC powered Toyota LC with 4w discs, locks up his 44s with no problem, says that is the best mod he's ever done. Hydroboosts put out three times the braking pressure of vacuum assist units. For info on hydroboost setups go here; www.vancopbs.com/category_s/66.htm

that's a cool mod, i always wanted to do that but didn't see any budget writeup on it and my experience with hydroboost is at zero - are you using the stock p/s pump or did you have to upgrade that as well? what was the extend of the mods you had to do to have the hydroboost installed? do you have any pics of your install?