For a car as powerful and muscular as a Jeep Wrangler JK, on the heaviest duty brakes must be used. You will need something powerful and durable, brake pads that can not only control the Wrangler but also last long in the job. In terms of friction power, dust production and general resistance to fading, a pair of brake pads should be closely examined if they are to be expected to be put on the Jeep Wrangler JK. And that is exactly what we have examined to provide you the list of the best brake pads for Jeep Wrangler JK.
Best Brake Pads Comparison Table
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Top 4 Best Brake Pads Review
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It is true that the article says that this is about the best brake pads for Jeep Wrangler JK, but this certain product has both the rotors and the pads in the box. This is because the two parts are specifically engineered to provide the best brake system together.
The Power Stop K2798-36 Z36 rear and front brake kit can handle the pressure of towing, hauling and the rugged mountainous driving. Perfect for your Jeep Wrangler JK adventures. The Z36 carbon fiber ceramic formula provides extreme braking performance that is designed for the most rigorous 4x4 driving.
This combo produces a dust free braking experience; the rotor runout measurement is within 0.0004 millimeter inch and the DTV tolerance specification is within 0.051 millimeters. The rotors are drilled to specially accommodate and cool down the heating pads even in the most extreme conditions. They are also slotted in such a way that they keep debris away so brake pad contact is maximized.
In the box are also included pin bushings and a high temperature brake lubricant. The kit is silver zinc dichromate plated to ensure that it will not easily corrode or rust away.
- Dust free
- Cooling system
- Anti-corrosion and rust
- Fades quite quickly
Unless you are willing to break the bank to get brakes that will last forever, the Power Stop K2798-36 is a great way to improve your braking power on a Jeep JK.
Get your Power Stop K2798-36 front and rear brake kit here!
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R1 Concepts seeks to increase your safety by increasing the power of your brakes. This particular product is part of their eLine Series and it provides a high quality stopping power.
Their state of the art design makes sure that the rotors will last longer when used with the pads specifically made for it. The rotors are drilled to better dissipate the heat building up when brakes are applied. They are also slotted in order to remove the debris that compromise brake pad contact and might cause you unwanted braking issues. The diamond shaped slots are also a way of indicating whether you need to replace the rotors or not. In short, the drills and slots feature of the rotors ensure durability, stopping power and performance.
The rotors are also zinc coated to protect itself from corrosion due to rusting.
- Dust free
- Cooling system
- Anti-corrosion and dust
- Clips bought separately
Overall, the R1 Concepts give you your money’s worth in terms of stopping power, efficiency and performance.
Check out the R1 Concepts brake kit for yourself here!
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Now here is a stand-alone braking pad that can increase the effectiveness of your brake system. The ACDelco 14D1273CH Advantage is made of ceramic, only semi-metallic to provide better braking power and a quiet and low-dusting experience.
These brake pads have shims, slots and chamfers that help diminish noise, vibration and braking harshness. These pads are easy to install, no need to cure or put through a machine, they can be installed right out of the box.
The ACDelco 14D1273CH Advantage adds braking power to your ride silently and in an almost dust-free way.
- Silent
- Dust free
- Compatible with all makes and models
- Fades rather quickly
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The EBC Brakes DP61799 6000 series is high friction and innovatively silent. This is an upgrade pad from your regular aftermarket pad.
This unit only covers the rear brakes (two pads for each rear rotor). Each pad is systematically chamfered, slotted and fully shimmed for extra silence. In EBC’s 6000 series, each pad is GG rated for better stopping friction.
Another wonderful improvement you will experience if you upgrade to these pads is less dusting. The box includes a thermo quiet gel that helps for a quieter brake and to help maintain your rotors. However, because they are upgrade pads, they will most likely not last as long as regular aftermarket pads.
For upgrade pads, the EBC Brakes DP61799 6000 series have very good perks that certainly helps you better control your Wrangler JK.
Check out the EBC Brakes DP61799 here!
- Improves silence and dusting
- Better braking performance
- Thermo quiet gel included
- Not as long lasting as regular aftermarket brake pads
Factors to Consider when Buying Brake Pads for your Jeep Wrangler JK – A Buying Guide
Getting the best brake pads for your Jeep Wrangler JK is not easy because the best brake pads differ from person to person, and you totally rely on other people’s judgment. There are factors, however, that each driver must consider so they can make the best decision according to their preferences. To help you get started, we have a list of factors you should first weigh in so you can judge the quality of a potential brake pad accordingly.
Effectiveness
The very first factor you should consider is how effective the brake pads are in doing their jobs. Sure there are a lot of good quality brake pads out there in the market that can easily stop regular cars, but you have to look for particularly powerful brake pads because you drive a powerful car.
It is a no brainer that a set of brake pads made to handle a Corolla can’t bring the same level of performance to a Wrangler JK. You have to look in the category of brake pads that are designed for SUVs or trucks.
Then again, in that category you have to look for the pads with the best stopping power. For this, you might have to check out customer reviews, particularly of those who drive the same model of car as you do so you can get the most accurate picture of how well the product can perform.
Material Used
The material of the brake pads usually determines the longevity of their function. The harder the material, the longer it can resist brake fades caused by the high temperature the brakes produce when used. Harder materials also produce less dust than softer materials. The other side of the coin, though, is that harder materials cause more damage on the rotors so those would have to be changed sooner.
With those in mind, you should know that there are three general types of materials used in brake pads: non-metallic, semi-metallic and metallic.
Non-metallic materials are composites of various synthetic substances that are very gentle on the rotors but dust heavily and fade easily.
Semi-metallic brake pads are made of synthetics mixed with flakes of metal. They are harder than non-metallic brake pads, produce less dust and are more resistant to fading. Of course they also cause the rotor to wear faster and they need more force to generate enough braking force.
Metallic brake pads are the most durable pads; they are mostly used for racing cars. They resist fading the most but need more force to slow down a vehicle. They wear the rotors extremely fast and are very loud when used.
There is another material that is used that is not generally part of the three main categories: ceramics. Ceramics are composed of clay and porcelain bonded with copper. Ceramics are a very good compromise between durability, grip for braking power and fade resistance.
Ceramics brake pads have one great drawback. Ceramics brake pads do not distribute heat well despite having the highly thermal conductivity of copper. Perhaps the greatest perk of using ceramic brake pads is that the sound produced is beyond that of human hearing; this means that they are the most silent brake pads as far as drivers are concerned.
To determine the materials the brake pads are made with, a little research may be in order. There are times, the materials used are listed in the product details. But most of these are not in depth.
Durability
Although technically durability is covered in the materials used section of this buying guide, it was not covered enough.
Durability also covers the brake pad’s ability, not only to withstand friction, but also the heat involved. Although the materials it is made of play a vital role, there are manufacturers who go the extra mile and use special engineering techniques to better improve the pad’s cooling system.
The most common technique using heat outlets like holes or slots. There are a lot engineering shenanigans going on in there so we will not go in-depth on that. Unfortunately, there is no “best” way to determine a brake pad’s level of heat dissipation. You can either see it for yourself or rely on others word for it.
Another aspect of durability is the pad’s resistance to corrosion due to moisture induced rusting. When brake pads are wet, there are a number of factors that affect its performance. The applied brake pads generate heat. What you want to look for is a brake pad that performs well in both moisture and heat, either drying or cooling, and all the while resistant to corrosion.
All About Brake Pads – Most Frequently Asked Questions
How do brake pads work?
Brake pads are part of a disc brake system in a car. It is connected to the calipers and is responsible for creating friction against the rotors (the metal rim of the tire). When the brake pedal is stepped on, the hydraulic line squeezes the calipers against the rotors.
The pads then absorb the heat and energy providing enough grip to stop the car. Since the brake pads are really the ones taking the burns from the friction, they should be changed when necessary to not compromise your safety.
What materials are brake pads made of?
After WWI, asbestos became a common material of brake pads. Research showed that they give the brake pads the ability to absorb heat that can reach up to 500°F and still provide enough friction to stop the car. However, serious health-related hazards were found in asbestos, hence the search for other materials.
Today, there are non-asbestos organic materials found in the main four brake pads categories. These are the non-metallic, semi-metallic, fully metallic and ceramic materials.
The non-metallic is made of a combination of various synthetic substances bonded into a composite. They initially come in forms of cellulose, aramid, PAN and sintered glass. They are especially soft on rotors but produce a fair amount of dust as they wear off thus a short service life.
Semi-metallic pads are synthetic combined with flaked metals. They are harder than the non-metallic pads and last longer. Though they wear longer it is at the cost of the increased wear of the rotors, requiring rotor replacement. To generate the braking torque, the semi-metallic pads need a stronger active force.
The fully metallic pads are made with sintered steel without any form of synthetic additives. Usually applied on race cars, they need extremely strong force to bring the car to a stop. They also produce loud noise and damage the rotors quickly.
And lastly, for a good compromise between the pads, grip and fade resistance of the synthetic variety, is the ceramic pads. It is made of combined clay and porcelain bonded with copper flakes and filaments. However despite the presence of copper, which is a good conductor of heat, these ceramic pads generally do not dissipate heat well causing distortion to some components of the brake system. On the bright side, the ceramic materials cause the braking sound to elevate beyond human hearing, hence it will sound uncommonly noiseless.
How to maintain an effective brake system concerning brake pads?
Brake pads wear off and it is important that they get replaced. They should be checked every 5,000 miles for excessive or uneven wear. When their built-in shims make grinding noise, it is to alert the drivers that the pads are wearing thin. If this continues the exposed metal of the calipers are rubbing against the rotor, carving on it.
When this occurs, the rotor then must be entirely replaced or turned. Though inexpensive, many mechanics would suggest replacing the rotors entirely. Essentially, brake pads should be replaced at the same time. Uneven wear is as bad as both pads wearing thin. With the right tools and patience, it will take a few hours to replace the brake pads.
When doing so, it is important to apply lubricating grease between the calipers and the new brake pads to avoid horrible grinding noise. You may also have to adjust the calipers to the thickness of the new pads.
When on the market you might encounter "lifetime" brake pads. These pads tend to wear for a long time however, they are abrasive to the rotors. A wise move is to ask the recommendation of the vehicle manufacturer.
Conclusion: The Best Brake Pads for Jeep Wrangler JK – Make the Right Choice
The brake pads of your Jeep Wrangler JK can make your driving experience either the best, ok, or terrible. There is the question of comfort and of safety. You should only be confident about your brake pads; you should know that they will not fail you because you know that they are the best brake pads for your Jeep Wrangler JK. But to get to that confidence, you have to choose right.
What do you think of our list? Are there products that you think should have made our list? Are there more questions you want answers to? Let us know in the comments below!
