Easy Jeep JK Wrangler Brake Upgrade

Bigger Brakes For Your Bigger Jeep

- Verne Simons

IT’S A FACT. ADDING LARGER TIRES to any off-road 4x4 is one of the first things people do. And with the extraordinary popularity of the JK Wrangler as a daily driven off-road platform, there are tens of thousands of lifted JK Wranglers running around in need of better braking performance.

The idea is simple: Larger tires equate to more ground clearance underneath the lowest point of your 4x4, but along with the positives comes the fact that larger tires (and wheels) reduce both the acceleration and braking of just about any 4x4. Bummer.

Luckily there are solutions. We’ve talked many times about regearing axles to regain some of the acceleration, economy, and feel when larger tires are added. That is a great, albeit expensive and intense, solution. We’ve also talked about improving the brake system to make your brakes slow down your big-tired 4x4 better. There are several ways that the average dirthead can do that, but as with regearing, most brake modifications aren't necessarily quick and easy.