The most important feature of any vehicle is not how fast it goes – it’s how fast it stops! When driving your Jeep you never know when you’ll need to stop suddenly, especially if you drive off-road, so you want to keep Willys Jeep brake parts in top condition.
Which Brake Fluid?
Willys owners generally use one of two types of brake fluid: DOT3 or DOT5. Neither type is necessarily better but each has advantages.
DOT3 is the most common and cheapest brake fluid you’ll find. It’s easy to find not only in auto parts stores, but even in many grocery or drug stores. Its biggest drawback is that it is hydroscopic, meaning it absorbs water. Over time moisture will build up in the fluid and that will corrode your Willys Jeep brake parts. Owners should drain and replace the fluid annually to avoid the danger of moisture buildup.
DOT5 brake fluid is a silicon-based, high performance brake fluid. While the average Willys isn’t a racecar, many owners like it because it does not absorb moisture, won’t corrode Willys Jeep brake parts and doesn’t need to be replaced. However it entrains air bubbles, which are as bad as water and removing the air from the brake line can be a difficult task. It is also harder to find and significantly more expensive than DOT3.
Whichever fluid you use, never ever mix DOT3 and DOT5. If you change from one to the other, you must completely drain the system before adding the new fluid.
Bleeding and Adjusting Your Brakes
Over time you will find that you have to push the brake pedal farther to get good stopping power. This is a clear sign that your Willys Jeep brake parts need some attention so don’t put it off. There are two reasons for this: air in the brake line or misaligned brake shoes.
The traditional two-person method of bleeding air from the lines involves one person pumping the brake and another opening and closing the bleeder screw. These actions must be coordinated perfectly to avoid putting more air into the system. There are also a number of devices that allow a person to bleed the air without a helper.
Over time as brake linings wear down, they don’t make full contact when the pedal is pressed and require greater pressure for the same stopping power. Modern cars have self-adjusting brakes but Willys Jeep brake parts don’t have this feature. Owners must periodically get out the tool box and adjust the brakes manually.
Staying on top of brake fluid levels, air in the lines and brake shoe adjustment is important for ensuring the safety of the driver and passengers. Rather than waiting for problems to start, a regular program of maintenance is the best way to keep your brakes working their best.