9294Forrest

After washing the jeep or going through the wash, my front brakes get wet.. obviously... BUT they remain wet for up to 3 days, even with excessive driving. Most people say theyre brakes dry up after a few stops...

My braking ability plummets and they make an aweful grinding type of noise...

Why? Do I need new rotors?

Radi

You have something besides water going on. Those brakes get hot enough to vaporize water after a stop or two. Time to pull the tires and take a look.

9294Forrest

What am I looking for?

Brakes are the only part of my jeep I know nothing about.. helppp

9294Forrest

I need a good education about brakes lol

hbracing13

They should be one of the most important parts you like the stop right? Front brakes are the easiest to replace clean fix and control about 70% if not more of your stopping power due to forward momentum and weight. You'll be looking for any dark blue spots, fine almost scratches along the rotor, and grooves from metal to metal contact. Before you washed anything wrong before? Or any repairs made?

9294Forrest

No, they are fine prior and 2-3 days after washing.

Radi

Also to see if there is friction material left on the brake pads or if they are worn down to the metal backing plates, or if the water is washing some sort of contaminant on to them. Do your axle seals leak by chance?

Potatowalker

might be a leaky seal on the piston inside the caliper which would allow brake fluid to get washed onto the pads/rotor? That would probably take longer to burn off than just water. How's the fluid level been in the reservoir?

Once you get the wheels off, there's only two bolts holding the calipers on; so it's real easy to take it apart and get a good look. When putting the calipers back on though, be careful not to strip the caliper mounting bolts which thread into the steering knuckle. They only need like 15ft-lbs of torque or something really low like that. One was stripped on my old XJ when I got it, and it wasn't fun fixing that one. Grease the 2 mounting bolts & sleeves (which the calipers slide on) while you have them out too, they like to dry out and stick.

9294Forrest

The only fluid on my jeep that leaks is my power steering fluid.. maybe its running down on em..

hbracing13

How bad of a leak? And from where about hose, pump, gearbox? Your best bet is just to pull them off and visually inpect them.

Turbo X_J

Jacked it up & got the wheels off it yet?

9294Forrest

It leaks bad, from the bottom of the resivour. Drips down all over my front end and is a huge mess. Have to fill every week.

I will be doing a visual inspection tomarow

XJRed96

Since u don't know anything about brakes I take it you don't know what kind of pads you have. If you have ceramic pads that could be the problem. If you have less than 4mm of pad life left I suggest replacing pads and rotors

9294Forrest

Okay so I'm pulling off the wheel, looking at the rotor for marks. And blue marks.

Then I take the 2 screws off and the pad slides off? I could use some detailed instructions so I don't **** up my brakes. Assembly and re assembly. Thanks guys.

Measure the pad by thickness, and feel it to figure out what material? What different types of pads are there

Lowrange2

It's the same thing...