Rubicon braking by itself... HELP!

[VeeAoki]

So my new Rubicon has about 700 miles now and i noticed that it started braking by itself. Well... at least it feels like it. When i let go of the gas it is slowing down like i would be applying the brake. Even my passengers can feel it. I checked for pinched brake lines and was touching each wheel to see if the temperature is higher but everything looks and feels normal. I know many will say it is the gearing or the 33 inch tires but it's not because it wasn't doing it before. Not sure if it has something to do with the ABS? Also my MPG's are down. I am bringing it to service but when i called a few dealers they all seemed confused and said they didn't have anything like this before. So i wanted to see if anyone had a similar issue?

Thanks everyone

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[ShadowsPapa]

So my new Rubicon has about 700 miles now and i noticed that it started braking by itself. Well... at least it feels like it. When i let go of the gas it is slowing down like i would be applying the brake. Even my passengers can feel it. I checked for pinched brake lines and was touching each wheel to see if the temperature is higher but everything looks and feels normal. I know many will say it is the gearing or the 33 inch tires but it's not because it wasn't doing it before. Not sure if it has something to do with the ABS? Also my MPG's are down. I am bringing it to service but when i called a few dealers they all seemed confused and said they didn't have anything like this before. So i wanted to see if anyone had a similar issue?

Thanks everyone

I assume an automatic? Are you applying the brake on a hill and it's downshifting?
Not sure why you think many will say it's the gearing or tires. Why would any Jeep people even suggest that since many are running 4.88 or lower gears and much much larger than stock 33" tires (which are about 32.8" if they are the falken wildpeak tires)

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Is your hand brake slightly on? Sounds like it's remaining engaged.

 

[VeeAoki]

I assume an automatic? Are you applying the brake on a hill and it's downshifting?
Not sure why you think many will say it's the gearing or tires. Why would any Jeep people even suggest that since many are running 4.88 or lower gears and much much larger than stock 33" tires (which are about 32.8" if they are the falken wildpeak tires)

On a straight road and it is not downshifting. It's actually slowing down even more after i take a turn. Many said that on a Gladiator facebook group about the gearing and tires.

 

[VeeAoki]

Is your hand brake slightly on? Sounds like it's remaining engaged.

no, checked that already as well.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

no, checked that already as well.

Did you check at the brakes or just in the cab?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

On a straight road and it is not downshifting. It's actually slowing down even more after i take a turn. Many said that on a Gladiator facebook group about the gearing and tires.

They were simply throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. Gearing - especially stock gearing of 4.10 and 33" tires - no way. It's the internet and everyone wants to be the winner with the answer so you'll get a lot of funky stuff, especially on fakebook it seems.

If you have your cluster set up to display what gear the transmission is in you can sort of watch for downshifting. Mine does when I hit the brakes just right for slowing down - I can watch it downshift as if it knows I want to slow, or after a corner it will downshift and slow down until I give it gas again.

By the way - these things "learn" with time so the transmission shifting patterns may change with miles.

 

[VeeAoki]

Did you check at the brakes or just in the cab?

Only cab. Good point, i will check tomorrow at the brakes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Only cab. Good point, i will check tomorrow at the brakes.

Right - jack up each wheel and see if you can turn it fairly freely.
Also check under your truck - right rear axle, look for any signs of grease leaking.
A lot of lube means brakes don't hold but a little bit makes brakes grabby.

 

[VeeAoki]

They were simply throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. Gearing - especially stock gearing of 4.10 and 33" tires - no way. It's the internet and everyone wants to be the winner with the answer so you'll get a lot of funky stuff, especially on fakebook it seems.

If you have your cluster set up to display what gear the transmission is in you can sort of watch for downshifting. Mine does when I hit the brakes just right for slowing down - I can watch it downshift as if it knows I want to slow, or after a corner it will downshift and slow down until I give it gas again.

By the way - these things "learn" with time so the transmission shifting patterns may change with miles.

I thought they are learning. When i first picked it up it was shifting really funky. With time it looks like it adjusted to my driving style.
Yes exactly, i was like no way... it's not the gearing or tires. I also have a XJ on 35's and it doesn't do that.
I will switch the cluster tomorrow and see about the downshifts. But i didn't really notice it downshifting while it was braking.

 

[kooltoys]

sound like abs. when I installed front trackbar bracket, before steering wheel adjustment. the wheel was far enough off to cause the abs to pulse

 

[Ball_Ze]

Tire pressure?

 

[IanNubbit]

Right - jack up each wheel and see if you can turn it fairly freely.
Also check under your truck - right rear axle, look for any signs of grease leaking.
A lot of lube means brakes don't hold but a little bit makes brakes grabby.

This. This is what I would do if it came in. Also. I still strongly suspect the parking brake. Have you done ANYTHING? And I mean anything at all besides drive to your truck? Little storage cubby’s inside added, anything?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Tire pressure?

Pressure would have to be soooo low it would look almost like he had a flat. Surely he or his passengers would notice a tire that looked flat.

"low" pressure won't have that big an impact. Flat, maybe.............I came home in my Silverado one day only to get out and look at the left front tire being down to about 12 psi - didn't even notice it while driving. It still rolled down my driveway just fine. Can't say it really even pulled but then it's almost always windy here so much is attributed to the wind.

 

[VeeAoki]

They were simply throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. Gearing - especially stock gearing of 4.10 and 33" tires - no way. It's the internet and everyone wants to be the winner with the answer so you'll get a lot of funky stuff, especially on fakebook it seems.

If you have your cluster set up to display what gear the transmission is in you can sort of watch for downshifting. Mine does when I hit the brakes just right for slowing down - I can watch it downshift as if it knows I want to slow, or after a corner it will downshift and slow down until I give it gas again.

By the way - these things "learn" with time so the transmission shifting patterns may change with miles.

So i drove it today and it is not downshifting while doing it. Also it is intermittent. It's not consistent but it's 90% out of times.

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