blueseasons

Do they use the same brake pads? My drivers side Teves locked up on me. Want to replace them both with Akebono. Pads and rotors are just a year old. Can I use Teves pads on Akebono calipers?

dave1123

Sorry, no. Totally different design. Even the rear Teves are larger then the ones on ZJs.

blueseasons

Shoots. Can't get a break. So now I have to replace pads that only have 5k on them and likely recut rotors that only have 5k on them. Paying double for a brake job. Or just buy new Teves calipers.

dave1123

Don't do it! Spend the money on the Akebono or replace the Teves again in a year. I had CONSTANT brake problems with the Teves and none since I went to the Akebono.

Chrysler had a dealer directive about curing brake problems with the Teves. It involved checking rotor runout. If more than .001" they'd turn or replace the rotors. That seems a little extreme to me. The calipers should be more compliant than that.

blueseasons

I have two basic problems. I am not only lazy but I am cheap and broke . Three problems. I was hoping this could be a relatively inexpensive swap out of calipers using the same pads and I was going to pay someone to do it. Looks like I have to do a complete brake job after just 5k. I don't believe that I will pay somebody to do that. I will take your advice and go with the Akebonos. Sometimes life isn't fair and it can get expensive.

dave1123

Join the club! LOL! I'm living on SS and a part time job. I've had to spend $1200 on a head change and $1300 on a new rear axle in the past 2 years, all on credit and I'm still paying on those bills. The only reason I put that kind of money into this jeep is because it's not rusty and otherwise mechanically sound. I'm not about to get another vehicle and start fixing it all over again. I'm not lazy, just physically challenged.

When the rear axle blew, it bent a shift fork in the t/case so it won't go back into 2wd. I'm currently driving it in full time 4wd until I can afford to fix it. That may be a while because I'll need tires pretty soon.

blueseasons

I am retired as well. What a way to live.

dave1123

Especially in CA! NY is bad enough! The only good thing for me is a good friend mechanic who only charges me $65/hour for labor, plus he's a gearhead who loves classic cars. He's got a 34 Ford coupe, chopped, channeled, and sectioned with a 409 Chevy in it! He drives it to the shop every now and then. What a rip! He just drove it to PA for some kind of event and never had a problem with it.

It only took him 6 hours to swap a complete rear end, swap my rotors and calipers onto it and fix the parking brake cables. PLUS, he cleaned out the diff, inspected the gears and backlash, and added synthetic fluid.

rgr4475

Go with the Akebonos. Pads aren't expensive. I just bought NAPA adaptive one pads for around $50. That is their top of the line pad, so you can get some semi-metalic cheaper. And honestly, I would probably just slap pads on after only 5000 miles, but getting them turned is pretty cheap too. Can't be more than $20. And if you can do it yourself, you're saving a lot on labor. So not the cost of a whole new brake job at all. Just the calipers plus pads really.

Life isn't unfair. That is the cost of owning a 17 y/o jeep.

dave1123

Yes, Reman calipers with hardware and brackets are around $60 each including a core charge of about $20 which you'll get back if your cores aren't broken or something. Stuck pistons are okay.

Semi-metallic pads range from $18 for economy and $36 for DD. That's AC Delco or Bendix.

These prices are from rockauto.com and don't include shipping.

blueseasons

Dave: I need a friend like you have. I know life isn't fair. Not trying to be a whiner. My wife doesn't trust this vehicle and doesn't like me working on it and I don't like working on it either. But I am going to have to do the work myself. I asked 2 mechanics what they would charge and one came back with $600. That on top of what I spent last year on pads and rotors is way too much. Haven't heard from the other one yet. The real pisser is the guy I bought it from told me he had done the front rotors and pads. He lied. Many times I make things worse when I try and do it myself. I don't think she will ever be okay with this car. I seem to be working out of one problem and into another. And its not the age. I have an 88 Chevy K1500 that I never have to work on. Anyway Thanks

dave1123

Now THAT'S funny! My last Chevy truck was an 87 V10 (K10) shortbox Scotsdale 4x4 with an 89 fuel injected 350 in it. Something was weird about the swap because every once in a while when you shifted from reverse to drive, it would shut off. I could never trace what was wrong. I sold it when I bought my 97 ZJ. I should have kept it, but the salt got to it too much. There was a crack in the frame that we welded and fishplated. The guy I sold it to was informed about that. I'm too honest, LOL!