Brakes for Jeep Cherokee

[Nick1994]

I bought my grandfather's Jeep Cherokee from him. He had it for 42k miles and 9-1/2 years. He never changed the brakes, still have 2/3 pad left or so but they squeal like crazy. Sounds like a city bus, has for years.

So time for pads and rotors. On Amazon I see Raybestos rotors for $28 each and Bosch brake pads for $25. Good enough?

Or what's better?

 

[RooflessVW]

Re-bed the pads.

If it doesn't work, then I'd probably go with the same parts you picked. Keep in mind that rotors are probably better purchased from a store so you can take advantage of whatever warranty. AAP has price-matched Amazon for me before.

Where are the pictures? Let's see the Jeep!

 

[jeepman3071]

I have drilled/slotted rotors on mine from a company called Brake Motive on ebay. I also have Akebono ceramic pads. Awesome combination. My Jeep stops great even with a trailer. It is also important to keep the rear drums adjusted on these for the best performance.

I tried other brands/combos and the rotors always warped in short order. My buddy even has the same combo on his Cherokee with a 4" lift and 31s and after a year it still stops great.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Re-bed the pads.

If it doesn't work, then I'd probably go with the same parts you picked. Keep in mind that rotors are probably better purchased from a store so you can take advantage of whatever warranty. AAP has price-matched Amazon for me before.

Where are the pictures? Let's see the Jeep!
Here's a picture I took 2 years ago. It's still over at their house, just put on a new track bar and it needs an alignment.

 

[Chris142]

AutoZone gold. Work great on my jeep and are the same number I believe.

 

[The Critic]

Mopar pads with Centric Premium or Bosch Quietcast rotors.

 

[RooflessVW]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Here's a picture I took 2 years ago. It's still over at their house, just put on a new track bar and it needs an alignment.

Now THAT is a good-looking Jeep. I actually had one as a beater in Germany, of all places:



Awesome trucks. Do try a re-bed once it is aligned. Many times this is all you need for squealing brakes.

 

[AZjeff]

Nick, is it 4wd or 2wd? People back in Pa didn't believe me when I said I bought a 2wd Cherokee out here. Never heard of one!

With a little 2" lift and some 29-30 inch tires it will go most anywhere. Nice!

PS, I think I've got a set of 2" front spring spacers if you want them.

 

[daves87rs]

Very nice jeep!!!!

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Nick, is it 4wd or 2wd? People back in Pa didn't believe me when I said I bought a 2wd Cherokee out here. Never heard of one!

With a little 2" lift and some 29-30 inch tires it will go most anywhere. Nice!

PS, I think I've got a set of 2" front spring spacers if you want them.
It's a 4x4. Has definitely seen it's days out in the desert. Extremely capable, tires are 235/75-15 so a little larger. My grandpa has a gold mine out in Western Arizona so we usually take it and go exploring.

Thanks for the offer, my brother has some 2" spacers I can use if I wanted. I want to leave it stock for now and lift it in the future with a real lift. Has new rear leaf springs so it's much higher than it used to be.

 

[bvance554]

Since the pads are still good I assume they didn't eat into the rotors so why replace them? Any aftermarket rotor is just going to be garbage compared to what you already have. Squealing isn't really a good reason to replace good pads either, but it sounds like you have money you want to burn.

 

[Nick1994]

Well, I ordered the Bosch pads and Raybestos rotors. Doesn't sound like they're bad
Originally Posted By: bvance554
Since the pads are still good I assume they didn't eat into the rotors so why replace them? Any aftermarket rotor is just going to be garbage compared to what you already have. Squealing isn't really a good reason to replace good pads either, but it sounds like you have money you want to burn.


I don't want to drive something that sounds like a school bus coming to a stop. I've driven this Jeep off and on for years and it has driven me nuts.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Here's a picture I took 2 years ago. It's still over at their house, just put on a new track bar and it needs an alignment.

Now THAT is a good-looking Jeep. I actually had one as a beater in Germany, of all places:



Awesome trucks. Do try a re-bed once it is aligned. Many times this is all you need for squealing brakes.


Was it diesel??

I saw many CRD WJ's while in Europe. Only 1 diesel Cherokee oddly enough.

To the OP, I am sure cheap rotors and pads would work. Can't be any different than parts store branded parts.

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
It's a 4x4. Has definitely seen it's days out in the desert. Extremely capable, tires are 235/75-15 so a little larger. My grandpa has a gold mine out in Western Arizona so we usually take it and go exploring.

Thanks for the offer, my brother has some 2" spacers I can use if I wanted. I want to leave it stock for now and lift it in the future with a real lift. Has new rear leaf springs so it's much higher than it used to be.


I had the 235s on mine, perfect size for stock WJ. Lots of fun times right there. You going to try 40 wt in it?

 

[Kira]

Why not try having the rotors turned? Be certain to lube the parts correctly when reassembling.

Your grandpa's XJ has no roof rack. That's a first for me.

I've seen one XJ 2WD in my life. I remember "Freedom" being the model. Kira

 

[Chris142]

You need to take me prospecting

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Kira


Your grandpa's XJ has no roof rack. That's a first for me.


The most basic model didn't have a roof rack. But they are very few and far between.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: jeepman3071
I have drilled/slotted rotors on mine from a company called Brake Motive on ebay. I also have Akebono ceramic pads. Awesome combination. My Jeep stops great even with a trailer. It is also important to keep the rear drums adjusted on these for the best performance.

I tried other brands/combos and the rotors always warped in short order. My buddy even has the same combo on his Cherokee with a 4" lift and 31s and after a year it still stops great.


I have heard a few good things about them. I am probably going to replace the fronts on mine with them (as much as I dislike drilled/slotted rotors for off road) and throw on new drums and shoes in the spring.

 

[Lyman]

Nice looking Cherokee!

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff


I had the 235s on mine, perfect size for stock WJ. Lots of fun times right there. You going to try 40 wt in it?

I've used 10w40 MaxLife off and on. Seems fine on 10w30, so I'll probably stick with that.

Although I do have some 5w40 I got cheap, might do a frankenbrew.

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Kira


Your grandpa's XJ has no roof rack. That's a first for me.


The most basic model didn't have a roof rack. But they are very few and far between.


Yes, it is as base a model as it gets. Doesn't even have rear speakers.

It was a Arizona Department of Transportation vehicle for 11 years and 100k miles. Had a siren on the roof at one point (little orange one). You can sometimes still see where the stickers were on the doors. They had the most base model they could get, but it had a Trac-lok rear end which I have since replaced with an open diff (bad bearing).

Originally Posted By: Chris142
You need to take me prospecting
Yeah some day we'll have to plan something. Here's a picture I took last weekend of the mine.