Is it time to change out those organic disk brake pads for semi metallic?

[47v6]

When I first installed GM disk brakes on my CJ2a, I had a D25 axle and manual brakes. Years have past and I have recycled that same setup to today where I have power brakes, a D30 and 37"tires on 17" rims.

Jeep stops fine, but not awesome. These brakes are made for 1/2 ton truck and blazers from the 80s and should be awesome. Rock auto had fleet semi metallic heavy duty pads on sale for 30 bucks so I bought them. They showed up today.

In about 20 min I had new pads on both sides and noticed the old ones were a bit glazed and looked kind of greasy. No contamination to be found anywhere, and I guess they are just old organic pads.

I bed them in with a couple quick stops and the brakes just keep working better.

So yeah, change out those old pads. It’s nice to stop in traffic with all the modern cars with their crash avoidance stuff so they can read ECJ5 while they are driving on their smart phone.

 

[colojeepguy]

IME, if you don't have power brakes go organic. Power brakes, semi metallic.

 

[47v6]

IME, if you don't have power brakes go organic. Power brakes, semi metallic.

Yeah, that’s the prevailing idea. YMMV

 

[nickmil]

IME, if you don't have power brakes go organic. Power brakes, semi metallic.

This. Personal and professional experience bears this out.

 

[nickmil]

When I first installed GM disk brakes on my CJ2a, I had a D25 axle and manual brakes. Years have past and I have recycled that same setup to today where I have power brakes, a D30 and 37"tires on 17" rims.

Jeep stops fine, but not awesome. These brakes are made for 1/2 ton truck and blazers from the 80s and should be awesome. Rock auto had fleet semi metallic heavy duty pads on sale for 30 bucks so I bought them. They showed up today.

In about 20 min I had new pads on both sides and noticed the old ones were a bit glazed and looked kind of greasy. No contamination to be found anywhere, and I guess they are just old organic pads.

I bed them in with a couple quick stops and the brakes just keep working better.

So yeah, change out those old pads. It’s nice to stop in traffic with all the modern cars with their crash avoidance stuff so they can read ECJ5 while they are driving on their smart phone.

Your problem is 37” tires on smaller brakes and organic pads. Not a problem with the organic pads themselves.

 

[47v6]

Your problem is 37” tires on smaller brakes and organic pads. Not a problem with the organic pads themselves.

I have no problems with the organic pads, semi metallic pads, stopping distance or 37" tires. In fact my jeep gets driven safely every day I care to do so on public roads and is a fully insured registered vehicle.

The brakes that are installed on my Jeep are not "smaller", rather they are pretty large for the size and weight of my jeep compared to the Chevy half ton C/K truck platform they were designed for.

You don't have to like my jeep, 37" tires, me or semi metallic pads. This post is just a content builder for members to read in their spare time. Thanks for your interest!