Brake pads make a difference?

[Whaler27]

zouch
I did some calculations
After about 10k miles on the Teraflex brakes they still look like new. No rotor wear
This is because the brake are not being over texted or over heated
I figure I will get about 50k more or less out of a set of pads
I put abut 6250 miles a year on my Willys
In about 8 years I will have to do my first pad replacement and in 16 years my second
In 16 years I will be 82 years old and the Teraflex brakes will probably still going strong put I don't Know about me. lol

My brother has about 35,000 miles on his Alcon’s, about half of which is off-roading around Colorado, and the brakes show very little sign of wear.

Mine look like new, but my jeep has spent most of its life in my shop getting built, so I have only a few thousand miles on them.

I stepped up to the Alcons because my jeep is a heavy overlanding build on 37s, and brake performance and durability matter more than acceleration (to me). I didn’t test OEM braking distance, but I did do before and after testing when I installed the Alcons. The difference was stark — and that was after a relatively short period of bedding in the Alcons. I believe they are even better after a few thousand miles.

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[Whaler27]

I’ve linked a Teraflex v. Alcon discussion below.

I’ve learned quite a bit since that thread. I love the Alcon’s. Their reputation, customer service, and performance are fantastic. Having said that, they are still stupid-expensive, and the Teraflex option has been performing very well... As much as I love the Alcons, if I had it to do over again I’d look HARD at the Teraflex. Now my only concern is whether new ownership will cause a decline in quality.

Alcon or Teraflex brakes?

 

[CarbonSteel]

Not “best” but certainly much better, and they have a cool self-bleeding feature that make the installation even easier.

Alcon is much better, but they are expensive.

Best for the price. Nothing else comes close at a $2300 price point. You also have to consider the Teraflex will typically (not always) fit many aftermarket 17" wheels.

When I looked at Alcon, Baer, and Wilwood I would have had to change my wheels which further pushes Teraflex into the "best" range.

Without question, this:

Will never match this:

 

[roaniecowpony]

I’ve linked a Teraflex v. Alcon discussion below.

I’ve learned quite a bit since that thread. I love the Alcon’s. Their reputation, customer service, and performance are fantastic. Having said that, they are still stupid-expensive, and the Teraflex option has been performing very well... As much as I love the Alcons, if I had it to do over again I’d look HARD at the Teraflex. Now my only concern is whether new ownership will cause a decline in quality.

Alcon or Teraflex brakes?

Does Alcon have a rear set as well?

 

[Whaler27]

Does Alcon have a rear set as well?

Yes but, strangely, I couldn't find sales packages that included the full set of front and rear, so I ordered the fronts from Vendor-A and the rears from Vender-B. Vendor-B subsequently cancelled my transaction, because Alcon won't let them sell only the rears. (But, apparently, Alcon is okay with people buying only the fronts.). I called "B" back and told them I'd ordered the fronts from another vendor because they didn't have them in stock. They documented our conversation and shipped my rears.

 

[Whaler27]

Best for the price. Nothing else comes close at a $2300 price point. You also have to consider the Teraflex will typically (not always) fit many aftermarket 17" wheels.

When I looked at Alcon, Baer, and Wilwood I would have had to change my wheels which further pushes Teraflex into the "best" range.

Without question, this:

Will never match this:

The Alcons fit a lot of 17s too, including the two sets I run on my Jeep -- but I'm not arguing your "best for the price" point. Based on what I've learned I'm inclined to agree with you.

 

[zouch]

TL:DR
if this setup had been designed so that the rotors were shared with some other vehicle and were widely and readily available (like the pads), i might be more interested.

zouch
I did some calculations
[snippage]
I figure I will get about 50k more or less out of a set of pads
I put abut 6250 miles a year on my Willys
In about 8 years I will have to do my first pad replacement and in 16 years my second
In 16 years I will be 82 years old and the Teraflex brakes will probably still going strong put I don't Know about me. lol

i started a few years behind you, and drive significantly more miles per year. i'm likely to be looking for rotors at least a couple of times before you.

It really doesn't worry me, because of several variables that I can't predict and all of it can be solved with money.
[snippage]
When you really lay it all out, it starts to become apparent that trying to predict what will happen in the future is futile. In the scheme of things, this is small potatoes.

If you're really worried, buy an extra set of rotors. My guess is that you'll never need them.

i definitely don't have a crystal ball; that's one reason i try to stay as Future Proof as possible and not let myself get painted into a corner easily. since i typically keep my vehicles for quite a while and like to wander, building with single-sourced boutique parts that aren't readily available in Podunk isn't a strong option for me. keeping updates of critical parts backwards compatible for easy sourcing is a priority.

as for putting the stock stuff back on; not only would i have to keep the stock stuff around, but that would kinda' defeat the purpose. seems like a waste of time, money, storage space and energy.

[snippage]
Without question, this:

Will never match this:

interesting; i had pictured a bigger difference in outer diameter and swept braking surface.

 

[CarbonSteel]

interesting; i had pictured a bigger difference in outer diameter and swept braking surface.

The rotors are larger as is the pad contact area, but the magic is 4 pistons on all 4 calipers for a total 16 pistons versus 6.

The clamping force is exponentially higher than OEM and because the pistons are pushing on both sides simultaneously, less pedal effort is required for more braking pressure.

As far as the rotors not being interchangeable, it is much ado about nothing. I would guess than many of the brake rotors included with aftermarket brake systems are not interchangeable with anything OEM nor would you want them to be.

The Teraflex rotors are not only thicker, but much heavier. You may eventually wear them out, but it will not be any time soon. You could always run softer pads and allow them to be the "sacrificial anode".

 

[azwjowner]

TL:DR
if this setup had been designed so that the rotors were shared with some other vehicle and were widely and readily available (like the pads), i might be more interested.

I share your philosophy. Consider, however, that you can have the rotors turned. People don't do that much anymore but in this case with proprietary rotors it might make sense.

 

[zouch]

wow; almost reads like ad copy. do you get a kickback? ?

sorry, no point in going over it all again; still No Sale here.

The rotors are larger as is the pad contact area, but the magic is 4 pistons on all 4 calipers for a total 16 pistons versus 6.

The clamping force is exponentially higher than OEM and because the pistons are pushing on both sides simultaneously, less pedal effort is required for more braking pressure.

As far as the rotors not being interchangeable, it is much ado about nothing. I would guess than many of the brake rotors included with aftermarket brake systems are not interchangeable with anything OEM nor would you want them to be.

The Teraflex rotors are not only thicker, but much heavier. You may eventually wear them out, but it will not be any time soon. You could always run softer pads and allow them to be the "sacrificial anode".

 

[CarbonSteel]

wow; almost reads like ad copy. do you get a kickback? ?

sorry, no point in going over it all again; still No Sale here.

No, I put my money where my mouth is.

Meh...get Alcon, Wilwood, or Baer then. Easy enough... except on your wallet.

 

[Willys41]

I have done 1000s of brake jobs and have machined 1000s of rotors and still have my amco brake lathe
The way my terafex brakes are wearing after 10,000 miles I can see the rotors lasting well over 100k
I really doubt Teraflex rotors are a one off rotor. They probably get them from a rotor manufacturer that make rotors for other after market brakes manufacturer and built there brake system around a per-existing rotor. They did this with the brake pads using Toyota tundra pads
We just need to find out where they are getting there rotors from

 

[CarbonSteel]

I have done 1000s of brake jobs and have machined 1000s of rotors and still have my amco brake lathe
The way my terafex brakes are wearing after 10,000 miles I can see the rotors lasting well over 100k
I really doubt Teraflex rotors are a one off rotor. They probably get them from a rotor manufacturer that make rotors for other after market brakes manufacturer and built there brake system around a per-existing rotor. They did this with the brake pads using Toyota tundra pads
We just need to find out where they are getting there rotors from

I was very impressed with the quality of the rotors as well as the thickness and weight. Whoever made these for Teraflex did not cut corners. These are not your typical rotors from Rock Auto or the like.

I would opine you could spend the money for a spare set of Teraflex rotors and still be cheaper than Alcon, Baer, or Wilwood out of the gate.

 

[zouch]

that's great, for *your* money.
again, wallet isn't the issue.

point is, *if* i was to get anything, points would go to parts that
- are readily available for replacement parts, and/or
- are from a company that's established enough in that market.

if (again, *if*) i were to get something aftermarket, some of the other sources you listed might be considered better established in their market, and last i checked, Teraflex didn't even list replacement parts for their kit on their website. add in their recent buyout and their corporate future and future parts support is even more in question.
if (as @Willys41 suggested) we were to find out what other readily available rotors fit, that would carry some weight in the decision process. until then, the rotors being heavy isn't a good thing (more unsprung weight is not a Good Thing); all that might matter is their minimum thickness rating for the 1 or 2 times it might be possible to turn them before you hope that Teraflex still has them available.

i've spent enough vacation time out of state in salvage yards looking for parts i needed because they weren't available elsewhere; WonderPup enjoyed it more than i did, and i'm in no hurry to put myself in that position any further.

i'm hoping this thread gets back on track soon and we hear more about pads soon, and less about people trying to sell others on their fav complete brake update..

No, I put my money where my mouth is.

Meh...get Alcon, Wilwood, or Baer then. Easy enough... except on your wallet.

 

[Willys41]

Teraflex could not sell a brake system at this price with out all the parts being off the shelf parts
They put together an assume well designed brake system that exceeded all my expectation
One note. Before I installed the Teraflex brakes I put Baer SS4 on the rear of my Willys when I had 35in tires. That was a $1300 mistake. They made very little difference and squeaked so loud it was ear piercing and are very poorly designed. I contacted Baer about the squeaking and no response

Again here is the response from Teraflex

Taylor Black (Teraflex)
Dec 26, 2023, 09:08 MST

Hey Larry,
We are all still here. I just call a different guy "Boss". That's all. We have no intentions of discontinuing the Delta Brake system, we have plenty in stock, and you should not have any concerns about
product availability. We will be having these brakes for the foreseeable future.

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