Brakes kinda suck

[TheGerman]

The brakes on my JTRD are far better then the stock brakes on my 2012 JKU. I replaced the brakes on the JKU 2 weeks after I got in 2016 after almost rear-ending somebody in morning highway commuter traffic twice.

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[RavensEyeOffroad]

I don't like the transmission downshifts sometimes but the brakes are fine.

 

[MrZappo]

I don't like the transmission downshifts sometimes but the brakes are fine.

Seems unrelated.

My carpet is not plush enough, the tailgate swings down to fast for my taste.

But ...

The brakes are fine.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

Seems unrelated.

My carpet is not plush enough, the tailgate swings down to fast for my taste.

But ...

The brakes are fine.

the transmission downshifts when you stop, down through each gear. so you get some engine braking going on, sometimes its pretty mellow other times its harsh. #related.

 

[texanjeeper]

Brakes on my JT are better than any other vehicle I have driven.

That said, they're lasting only 50k miles of city/hwy driving with a light foot

If you replace them early, you're likely to not have to pay a whole lot though. I keep seeing coupons from my dealership for replacing the pads on 2 wheels for $100. That's not too bad at all and definitely worth even doing it a little early, so you don't have to worry about the rotors needing to be turned or, worse, replaced completely.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've had my Gladiator for 5 months, about 6000 miles, and it seems like the brakes kind of suck. I'm not a leadfoot, but it seems like either I'm always coming up to a stop too quickly, or the brakes are kind of grabbing.

I didn't have any issues in my two JKUs, and I've had Grand Cherokees for years with no issues.

Is anyone else finding that the brakes kind of suck?

Suck? I think they grab and stop better than any brakes I've ever had. I had to learn to not wait and stand on them or I'd be through the windshield. They've also mellowed with time.
They are more effective than the brakes on my Silverado were.
My bet - they are new and they are different and you may be used to crappy brakes????
Mine has 14,000 miles and they've lost their "grab". They still stop easily and quickly, but they aren't as sticky as they used to be.
I love 'em.

And I see someone mentioned another plus about the JT - engine braking. It senses and downshifts and adds to the braking effort. I like that, especially with our HILLS. I rarely have to ride brakes going down our hills. I hit them once and it downshifts and controls my speed down the hill.
Love it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Seems unrelated.

My carpet is not plush enough, the tailgate swings down to fast for my taste.

But ...

The brakes are fine.

Sometimes she runs, sometimes she don't
More than once she's left me on the side of the road
The older she gets the slower we go
But there ain't nothin' wrong with the radio

 

[Casique]

Love my JTHA brakes! Perfect feel and solid.

 

[Aonarch]

My brakes are great and my other car is a 911.

 

[TrainMan]

When I first got my Gladiator I felt the brakes were touchy/over sensitive. Took a while to get used to them. I feel they are very good brakes ?
The engine braking is a cool feature. I never experienced that before and thought it was very odd, hearing my engine rev while going down a mountain road. But it really saves on braking and feels very controlled!

 

[Cripton805]

The brakes do suck. I've had 19 cars, and the Wrangler JL / Gladiator JT are down at the worst. They're mushy and no feeling to modulate. They have a float feel to them. Although, I expected that from a truck / SUV. They're not dangerous, but just lackluster and unimpressive. They don't bother me. Although, I will admit that they are crappy.

 

[am1978]

I've had my Gladiator for 5 months, about 6000 miles, and it seems like the brakes kind of suck. I'm not a leadfoot, but it seems like either I'm always coming up to a stop too quickly, or the brakes are kind of grabbing.

I didn't have any issues in my two JKUs, and I've had Grand Cherokees for years with no issues.

Is anyone else finding that the brakes kind of suck?

Which model? Not sure on the JT because I don’t have mine yet and I haven’t researched it, but on the JL, only the Sahara and Rubicon’s have the big brakes kit. Sport and Sport S have smaller brake kits, or so I read. What size brake kits are used on the various JT models? Are you riding stock or larger wheels or tires?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The brakes do suck. I've had 19 cars, and the Wrangler JL / Gladiator JT are down at the worst. They're mushy and no feeling to modulate. They have a float feel to them. Although, I expected that from a truck / SUV. They're not dangerous, but just lackluster and unimpressive. They don't bother me. Although, I will admit that they are crappy.

What in the heck are you comparing to? Lexus? Infinity? BMW? Mercedes?
These are on par with the large HD brakes of my F250, and better pedal feel than my Silverado (although it stopped just fine, I never cared for the pedal feel)
These are also on par with the WK2s we've had over the years (several) and almost anything else I've driven.
These of course aren't your old-school system, these are more electronic than vehicles of the past - and combined with an automatic, which does apply engine braking under certain combinations of conditions, it's a different ride for sure - but I have absolutely complete control over them. I can feather the pedal, or I can give it a good push and let up and the truck takes over on hills, etc.

 

[AggieJeep]

My JT brakes are as good as any vehicle I owned. I have had a couple of instances where the engine kept pushing the truck for a brief moment. I chalked it up to the computer learning the balance of engine braking vs fuel economy.
My 2012 JKUR brakes are the worst. They will stop just fine but require much more foot pressure. I never gave it any thought when I only drove that vehicle for several years. Then I fly somewhere for business, get a rental car and get whiplashed brake-checking myself In whatever throwdown Nissan, Mazda, VW... they gave me.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My JT brakes are as good as any vehicle I owned. I have had a couple of instances where the engine kept pushing the truck for a brief moment. I chalked it up to the computer learning the balance of engine braking vs fuel economy.
My 2012 JKUR brakes are the worst. They will stop just fine but require much more foot pressure. I never gave it any thought when I only drove that vehicle for several years. Then I fly somewhere for business, get a rental car and get whiplashed brake-checking myself In whatever throwdown Nissan, Mazda, VW... they gave me.

I'll never forget my first drive in this JT. I had driven a couple of others, test drives - Sport S versions, then ordered this one. It arrived on a Tuesday AM early and I picked it up late that same day. It was 6pm before I left the dealership and anyone who knows that area of Des Moines knows you do NOT want to be there from about 4:30 to 6:30 if you value your sanity (where's that put me????)
Traffic was crazy - heavy and people trying to get home are stupid, they see you coming and they close gaps, close ranks, and try to make sure you can't get in front of them. They literally will purposely hit the gas to keep you from getting in front of them. There's no "be nice" here around West Des Moines/Waukee area.
I'm trying to get onto I35 south from Hickman and of course - there's one gap about 3 or 4 car lengths, I figure I gotta try to merge (a concept Iowan's don't understand, seriously, that's another story). I hit the gas and was totally amazed at the zip. I get up lined up just right and figure I needed to brake to set myself perfectly in that gap- and that's when I learned how well these brakes worked. OK, don't do THAT again. I had to learn the JT brakes as they were definitely strong for that truck - I could see why the other trim levels were rated for the payloads and towing that they were rated for. Brakes are very capable, and yes, the truck does seem to learn and downshift, etc. in conjunction with brake use. I've never had a vehicle brake like this does - with some intelligence and engine braking applied on hills, etc. Generally an automatic will free-wheel, especially in the OD gears, this doesn't act like that.

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