4LO and Brakes

[Caymanedge]

So I hate my brakes when off-roading in 4LO. Pedal goes all the way to the floor and on steep declines barely holding on.
I had some brake fade last year after a long day on the Rubicon but this is different, I have bled all the fluid and upgraded to a higher temp fluid.
It almost feels like the brakes are going on and off when in 4LO. I can hear the rotor grab screech at times.
Anyone experience this!

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[C.Sco]

I've never experienced this, and I almost don't even need to use my brakes at all while in 4-low.

How steep of an incline are we talking about here? And in which transmission gear? Is it a 6MT or 8-speed?

Weird that you're only having this issue in 4-low. I'm at a loss, I have no idea what the issue is. Maybe it's because of the torque to the wheels in 4-low at idle RPM is too much for the brakes to handle? Pop the transmission shifter into Neutral and see if you have the same braking issue, if you don't then that might be the cause. If you do, then I'm not sure what else it could be.

 

[GATORB8]

Any other braking issues? Is the pedal stiffer than it used to be?

Are you saying it's like ABS is firing?

 

[C.Sco]

The more I think about this, I'm betting the issue is almost for sure that the torque to the wheels while in 1st transmission gear in 4-low (even at idle RPM, there's still hundreds of ft/lbs of torque at the wheels in that scenario), combined with steep downhill incline, is just too much torque for the brakes to overcome and hold the Jeep at a stop. I'm betting that's the issue here. And in that case your solution might be to just shift to Neutral (the transmission, not the transfer case) any time you want to come to a complete stop while in 4-low on a steep downhill incline.

Probably the reason I haven't encountered this issue on my Jeep is simply that I've never really tried to hold my Jeep at a stop in 4-low on a steep decline with the transmission in gear before.

 

[Medsker]

I have the exact same problem. I just installed Teraflex Delta big brakes and they are doing the same thing. Around town they work great and the pedal feels good but get it in a step incline and the pedal goes to the floor. I've bled them a dozen times including the abs bleed to no avail. I've had 3 different mechanics look at them and they are all baffled as well. One said they have seen it before and the guy had recently upgrade to Teraflex Delta brakes too but they couldn't figure out anything with that one either. If you find a solution post up and I'll do the same. The only thing I can think of is if the master cylinder is going out but I can't imagine the incline making a difference. Any ideas forum?

 

[Caymanedge]

You all may be right. Flipping to neutral could be an option and I’ll certainly give it a try. I thought about bigger brakes but I’m not sold they are needed.
Started a trail this morning, Cliff Hanger, and the drop in was too much for my confidence.

 

[AZ Hella]

It almost feels like the brakes are going on and off when in 4LO. I can hear the rotor grab screech at times.
Anyone experience this!

That is BLD (brake lock differential) doing what is is supposed to do.

 

[Caymanedge]

The pedal is firm and under great pressure slowly goes to the floor.

 

[Vanburi]

I believe that something is wrong in your brake system. The wrangler should have no problems holding the jeep with the brakes and no throttle applied.

 

[GATORB8]

The pedal is firm and under great pressure slowly goes to the floor.

Like you're loosing pressure?

There's enough fluid in the reservoir to clear the pickup at angle, right?

 

[Caymanedge]

No signs of fluid leak. Reservoir is topped up and brakes were completely flushed and bled several times. I’ve been Offroad a few times since that work. Things work fine under moderate trails but under severe work this issue appears.

 

[GATORB8]

For some ideas:

 

[Caymanedge]

What about the Off Road+ buttton? I usually hit it when I drop t9 4LO but I’m now wondering if it is applying the brakes at times.
What exactly does that do?

 

[Megawatt]

4lo and 23 degree decline. Brakes felt no different than when in 4 hi or 2 hi. My brakes will hold the wrangler like it’s stuck on Velcro when I’m on the rocks or gravel.

When you say brakes feel like they are off and on are you using the hill decent function? Because that is exactly what they do when that system is used.

 

[GMONEY]

I definitely have to put more pressure on the pedal to hold in 4 LO than I do in 2H. I just assume it is from the amount of torque at the wheel. I have no problem holding it in place but like I said it is a stronger push than on either 4h or 2H

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