Seems like when it rains it pours, you know what I mean? Early last week the X's front brakes started making the dragging noise created when the wear indicator tab contacts the rotor, meaning it's time for new pads. Ok, I figured I would wait until payday to pick up some new pads and drive my DD ZJ until then. On the way home from work the next morning, the ZJ's front brakes started grinding! This whole time the Silver Tracker has been sitting in the garage patiently waiting for new pads and tires.
Friday evening I picked up new pads for the ZJ and the X and managed to get them installed over the next couple days. The X-90 actually only had one thin pad and that was the one making the noise, the others were still at half or so. I also managed to finally get to my buddy's shop to pick up my old swampers now that he has purchased himself new ones. Yesterday I tore into Silver's front brakes only to discover that the right side was fine, it was a bent backing plate that was making the grinding noise. The driver's side had a frozen caliper and thin pads, so I dug through the X's old pads and came up with a pair that matched the pass side of Silver, thickness-wise. I also found a spare reman caliper and stuck that on as well. Now that everything is fixed, I took it to town and had the swampers re-mounted.
I had 31-10.50x15 BFG AT's that were dry rotted and about 1/2 tread on there and I put the swampers back on that are 31-9.50x15 and at least 3 of them are better than half. I instantly noticed a huge difference. The swampers hum more, but ride much smoother. Also the swampers suck more power, making me downshift lower for hills. I am currently running stock sammy wagon wheels painted black and the 9.50 wide swampers fit those rims perfectly. Now I just need to sell my 33" swampers so I can go get a new pair of 31" swampers, trash the less than 1/2 tread one and have a 1/2 tread matching spare with new fronts! LOL!
I can't wait till next weekend... I might actually get into the woods again!
