QTDDTOT: Questions that don't deserve their own thread

[Solar Sailor]

OK - I have never owned a jeep but hope to get a 2 door Wrangler - JL most likely unless the dealers are REALLY excited about discounts on JKs.

As an experiment on vacation, I rented a Wrangler Unlimited (no 2 doors available) in Hawaii and drove it for a week ending up with just over 1,000 miles. Looking at the serial number, it was a 2016 Sport model, hard top with no head liner, 5 speed auto with the power and convenience option and A/C. It had 46,000 miles on the clock.

What I noticed most:

Occasional odors of gasoline - is this normal for a wrangler or just bad maintenance on this model

The room for my left foot (where the clutch would be an a manual was OUTSTANDING - will this also be on the JL 2 door automatic?

Wind noise went up dramatically around 50 MPH - is this expected

In a cross wind with about 30 MPH gusts the side motion was very noticeable - is this expected?

The average MPG on the instrument cluster showed between 23 and 24 MPG when driving at a steady 55 MPH with the A/C on - is this real or just due to inaccurate gauge?

Thanks for any tips

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[homerun]

OK - I have never owned a jeep but hope to get a 2 door Wrangler - JL most likely unless the dealers are REALLY excited about discounts on JKs.

As an experiment on vacation, I rented a Wrangler Unlimited (no 2 doors available) in Hawaii and drove it for a week ending up with just over 1,000 miles. Looking at the serial number, it was a 2016 Sport model, hard top with no head liner, 5 speed auto with the power and convenience option and A/C. It had 46,000 miles on the clock.

What I noticed most:

Occasional odors of gasoline - is this normal for a wrangler or just bad maintenance on this model

The room for my left foot (where the clutch would be an a manual was OUTSTANDING - will this also be on the JL 2 door automatic?

Wind noise went up dramatically around 50 MPH - is this expected

In a cross wind with about 30 MPH gusts the side motion was very noticeable - is this expected?

The average MPG on the instrument cluster showed between 23 and 24 MPG when driving at a steady 55 MPH with the A/C on - is this real or just due to inaccurate gauge?

Thanks for any tips

Here are my thoughts on your questions, there maybe some who disagree.

Gas smell - not normal, that said you can smell exhaust if you role the back window up on a soft top but leave the roof on, doors on and rear side windows on. For this reason that configuration is not recommended.

Wind noise - yes the jeep will have more wind noise then most any other vehicle. Soft top obviously worse, however even the hard top has a good amount of wind noise. I never had one, but the optional headliner is suppose to help.

Cross wind - yes that is very normal, when talking about MPGs “driving a brick” is a common joke. When talking about cross wind, you might as well be driving a big rectangular sail.

Highway MPG seems pretty good but I still think it falls in the realm of believeable. Depends greatly on Mods, lifts, tires, axle gears, etc.

 

[Solar Sailor]

Is the heavy duty spare tire support hinge system needed assuming I find some way to hang two bicycles (30 pounds each) on the back on the spare tire? I'll be using the upgraded tires (KO2). The manual says 87 pounds max on the standard support.

 

[BillyHW]

So why is the rear brake rotor diameter bigger than the front? Isn't that bizarre? Usually the rear is smaller.

 

[DanW]

So why is the rear brake rotor diameter bigger than the front? Isn't that bizarre? Usually the rear is smaller.

I can tell you it makes sense to me because my rear brake pads on the JK always wear faster than the front pads, especially the OEM pads, but even aftermarket, although to a less extent.

 

[PhoenixM3]

I can tell you it makes sense to me because my rear brake pads on the JK always wear faster than the front pads, especially the OEM pads, but even aftermarket, although to a less extent.

Rears wearing before fronts is extremely odd. The front brakes provide about 70% of a vehicle’s stopping power.

 

[TXRubicon]

Not odd at all on the Wrangler. My Rubicon needed rear brakes at 25k miles.

Rears wearing before fronts is extremely odd. The front brakes provide about 70% of a vehicle’s stopping power.

 

[BillyHW]

But why? What is the reason then?

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

But why? What is the reason then?

Rear wheel drive and big heavy tires?

 

[AZCrawl]

Rear wheel drive and big heavy tires?

No, the weight shifts to the front under braking, it makes no sense that rear brakes would wear out first. Must be a Jeep Thing.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

Just noticed that "Rear Compartment Assist Handles" are only standard on Sahara and Rubi. Are these the B Pillar Grab Handles?

 

[word302]

Rear wheel drive and big heavy tires?

Front or rear wheel drive has nothing to do with braking.

 

[DanW]

It does seem odd, but my 2015 Ford Transit van is the same way. The rear brake pads are quite a bit smaller than the front. Also, the rear brake disc is not vented, so I'm sure they get hotter, or at least don't dissipate the heat as well.

 

[RussJeep1]

I'm sorry if this has come up elsewhere--I believe it has, I just don't remember where, or the answer:

On the new JL/U, what does the owner need to do, (i.e. what is the process an owner needs to effect) once lowering the windshield on to the hood, to secure the windshield to the hood, if any?

Thanks.

 

[Bearded_Dragon]

I thought BLD was responsible for rear brakes wearing quicker?

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