Brake pad suggestions

[JKFreedom]

Went in for first dealer service yesterday since buying my 2015 JK 2 door a few months ago. I'm right at 40k miles. I'm lifted and running 35's so I wasn't surprised when they told me my rear brake pads need replacing. However, I'm a little surprised they said the fronts were okay for now. So I assume the fronts were replaced at some point before I bought it. Anyway, I've had good luck on several other vehicles with DuraLast Gold pads from Auto Zone. They seem to stop well, not be noisy, and very low on dust. For the JK, they offer them in a semi-metallic or ceramic for a few dollars more. If I order online, I can actually get the ceramics cheaper, net cost to me, than the semi-metallic because they have a 20% and free shipping offer for spending over $100, which the ceramics would be, slightly, and the semi-metallics would fall just short of $100. Any particular downsides or advantages of one type over the other, specifically on a lifted JK?

 

[BLACKJKU]

This doesn't answer your question but have you heard or thought about a Big Brake kit? Gives you more stopping power over the stock brakes.

 

[JKFreedom]

This doesn't answer your question but have you heard or thought about a Big Brake kit? Gives you more stopping power over the stock brakes.

Yes, heard and thought about it. I have no complaints about stopping power and am generally easy on brakes with the exception of the occasional idiot drivers that have to be avoided at the last second. I don't log a ton of miles, so replacing pads every 30 to 40k would still not be a very often occurrence for me.

 

[Chris]

Black Magic brake pads are the best-of-the-best when it comes to brake pads for Jeeps as far as I am concerned.

 

[Coach R]

Went in for first dealer service yesterday since buying my 2015 JK 2 door a few months ago. I'm right at 40k miles. I'm lifted and running 35's so I wasn't surprised when they told me my rear brake pads need replacing. However, I'm a little surprised they said the fronts were okay for now. So I assume the fronts were replaced at some point before I bought it. Anyway, I've had good luck on several other vehicles with DuraLast Gold pads from Auto Zone. They seem to stop well, not be noisy, and very low on dust. For the JK, they offer them in a semi-metallic or ceramic for a few dollars more. If I order online, I can actually get the ceramics cheaper, net cost to me, than the semi-metallic because they have a 20% and free shipping offer for spending over $100, which the ceramics would be, slightly, and the semi-metallics would fall just short of $100. Any particular downsides or advantages of one type over the other, specifically on a lifted JK?

While I would not recommend putting two different materials on front and rear axles, I would say that using Duralast semi metallic on the rear and Duralast Gold on the front should be just fine. In my research and IMO. I'm going to do just that. I replaced my rear axle brakes a few days ago and chose the standard metallics because of the relatively low miles I use the Jeep. I decided to change the fronts today and I'm going to replace the front axle with Gold semi metallic.

 

[JasonMiller]

On a stock JK the choice is minor, but you're lifted on 35s and that changes the math. Those tires add a pile of unsprung weight and effectively taller gearing, so the brakes have a lot more mass to haul down than your other vehicles ever did. That's why I'd lean toward the semi metallic over the ceramic for your rig.

Ceramic keeps wheels clean and stays quiet, and on a low mile daily it'd be perfectly happy. But ceramics give up a little cold bite and don't shed heat as well, and on a heavier JK that margin is exactly what you want for the occasional last second idiot dodge you mentioned. Semi metallic bites harder cold, handles heat better on a long downhill or trail, and the extra dust is a small price for the safety margin. Rotors wear a touch faster, but JK rotors aren't thin to start.

Couple things that beat the box label: don't mix compounds front to rear, keep the same stuff both ends or the pedal feel goes weird. Bed them in properly, a lazy bedding is why folks complain pads feel soft. And rears going first isn't a red flag here, the prior owner likely did the fronts and the bigger tires shuffle the wear around anyway. While you're in there, check the rotors aren't heat checked or under spec.

If the ceramic promo nets out cheaper and clean wheels win for you, that's a fair reason to go that way. Just know the trade.

 

[pc1p]

While I would not recommend putting two different materials on front and rear axles...

Couple things that beat the box label: don't mix compounds front to rear, keep the same stuff both ends or the pedal feel goes weird...

To be fair, this has been done from the OEM's for decades... Semi-metallic + NAO were standard for 3 decades, and then ceramic + semi-metallic have been typical for the past 20 years as SUVs and trucks have gotten heavier and the focus has shifted to NVH, dust, and maintenance intervals (noting that many typical passenger vehicles run ceramic + ceramic/low-metallic combos for long life).

On a stock JK the choice is minor, but you're lifted on 35s and that changes the math. Those tires add a pile of unsprung weight and effectively taller gearing, so the brakes have a lot more mass to haul down than your other vehicles ever did. That's why I'd lean toward the semi metallic over the ceramic for your rig.

Ceramic keeps wheels clean and stays quiet, and on a low mile daily it'd be perfectly happy. But ceramics give up a little cold bite and don't shed heat as well, and on a heavier JK that margin is exactly what you want for the occasional last second idiot dodge you mentioned. Semi metallic bites harder cold, handles heat better on a long downhill or trail, and the extra dust is a small price for the safety margin. Rotors wear a touch faster, but JK rotors aren't thin to start.

^all of this - good ol' semi-metallics are reliable and have nice bite for 99% of Jeep applications. Ceramics have their place but I rarely go that route if I can avoid it on anything but a street queen. Oddly enough, many super modern trucks and SUVs, especially those with performance packages run semi-metallic + semi-metallic.