wj brake rubbing
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Okay, here's my experience with WJ brakes. The front calipers are dual piston and sometimes one piston will retract slower or not as much as the other one and cause a rubbing, clicking sound. There are 2 different types of calipers, the Teves and the Akabono. Lots of people have had problems with the Teves warping rotors and have upgraded to Akabono. The Teves calipers are larger and act as a heat sink, not cooling as fast as they should. The fix is supposedly phenolic pistons but I had one piston set up anyway.
One thing I will tell you is lubing the guide pins is CRITICAL! You can't just lube the pins, you have to make sure the inside of the rubber bushings are lubed as well. Another thing, if you're going to use the e-brake, use it often or the cables will set up causing the brakes to drag.
My '00 WJ has the Teves calipers and had no problems for 9 years, then I've had nothing BUT brake problems. The next step is switching to Akabono calipers.
One thing I will tell you is lubing the guide pins is CRITICAL! You can't just lube the pins, you have to make sure the inside of the rubber bushings are lubed as well. Another thing, if you're going to use the e-brake, use it often or the cables will set up causing the brakes to drag.
My '00 WJ has the Teves calipers and had no problems for 9 years, then I've had nothing BUT brake problems. The next step is switching to Akabono calipers.
I'm not sure if my issue is with one or more calipers sticking with normal brake use, or if it's related to a faulty parking brake. We stopped using the parking brake after this started to happen, so I'm not sure if it's the cables on the parking brake like you mention or the calipers. I might try what was mentioned in one of the posts above and that's to drive around until it happens, then dump water on each wheel to see which one smokes. Then once I figure out which one it is I can see about addressing the issue.
Old fart with a wrench
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 14,398
Likes: 740
From: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Just be careful because rapid chilling of the rotors can cause them to crack, especially the fronts because they are not solid steel like the rears. Also, overheating of the calipers can make the pistons seals lose their flexibility and cause pistons to hang up.
There is another problem with these brakes, the hoses. If the calipers are allowed to hand on the hose when doing the pads, or if they are dropped when handling them, the hoses can tear inside and cause a restriction.
Most of my brake problems have been with the fronts. I only had a rear drag once and that was because of sticky guide pins. Most people with automatic transmissions don't use the parking brake so the cables rust up. Even though it's required on NY State inspection, most garages don't check them unless they want to make money off you. When I bought my WJ in 2011, I couldn't even get the handle to click once, let alone function. I still haven't fixed it. I've got too many more important things to fix. My mechanic friend knows how I maintain my jeep so he just plugs in the computer and if that passes the emissions test, I get my sticker. But like I said, he knows if there's something wrong, I fix it.
There is another problem with these brakes, the hoses. If the calipers are allowed to hand on the hose when doing the pads, or if they are dropped when handling them, the hoses can tear inside and cause a restriction.
Most of my brake problems have been with the fronts. I only had a rear drag once and that was because of sticky guide pins. Most people with automatic transmissions don't use the parking brake so the cables rust up. Even though it's required on NY State inspection, most garages don't check them unless they want to make money off you. When I bought my WJ in 2011, I couldn't even get the handle to click once, let alone function. I still haven't fixed it. I've got too many more important things to fix. My mechanic friend knows how I maintain my jeep so he just plugs in the computer and if that passes the emissions test, I get my sticker. But like I said, he knows if there's something wrong, I fix it.
Last edited by dave1123; May 12, 2015 at 08:36 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Bearstream
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
6
Nov 4, 2022 10:19 AM
crzycicada
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
7
Oct 11, 2015 04:40 PM
88Dutchman
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
0
Sep 21, 2015 12:33 AM
mange1234
Cherokee Chat
2
Sep 19, 2015 07:15 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)