Putting a stop to poor 4x4 brakes

The brakes on any standard ute or ute-based 4x4 wagon do a fine job when driven around town unladen. But when towing, or once accessorised and or heavily loaded, these vehicles braking systems can be stretched….

Especially in the case of popular 4x4 utes, the situation isn’t helped by the less consistent braking delivered by standard fitment of rear drums.

Fortunately, there are easy to access options from reputable companies such as well-known brake specialist Bendix. These brake upgrades are designed to improve your ute or ute-based 4x4 wagon’s braking, helping make it stop more consistently, repeatedly and in shorter distances.

Bendix offers an Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kit for the front brakes on a range of popular off-roaders, and rear kit options for the those equipped with rear drum brakes. Both rear kits are disc brake conversions which replace the original drum brakes.

For the front brakes, the dedicated, model-specific kits include brake pads, with ceramic friction material with low dust and noise properties, while providing high temperature stability and excellent fade resistance.

The kit’s large disc brake rotors (up 55mm from standard diameter in the case of Ford Ranger and Mazda BT-50) feature a ‘Diamond Tip Slot ’that allows gases to escape in demanding driving situations, maintaining braking performance and consistent pedal feel.

The rotor design also offers improved self-cleaning qualities for wet or muddy conditions.

There are also huge six-piston disc calipers, which apply greater pressure to the brake pads, resulting in shorter stopping distances. Although you will need 18- inch wheels fitted, as a minimum, to clear the new big brakes, the upgrade conversion can be completed in around an hour.

Meantime, the rear Bendix Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kit is a full drum- to-disc conversion kit that replaces the OEM drums with slotted, dimpled brake discs, ceramic pads, and hydraulic calipers (with the option of single-piston or four-piston calipers for some vehicles).

Bendix ensures normal handbrake operation is retained. The handbrake uses the original hand brake cable to operate the shoes within the new drum-in-disc parking brake.
The rear conversion kit also comes complete with replacement bearings and seals (and ABS rings and collars in some kits). The rear brake kit can be fitted to vehicles using 15-inch wheels (assuming you’re not also doing the big front brake conversion) and takes up to four hours to fit.

Both front and rear kits feature braided brake lines for firmer and more consistent brake feel compared to standard reinforced rubber lines.

A host of ancillary items such as appropriate Bendix Brake Fluid, a can of Bendix Clean-up and a tube of Ceramasil brake parts lubricant are also included. All mounting hardware is supplied with the kit to ensure easy conversion.

As a bonus both the front and rear kit comes with a free Bendix-branded 60L icebox to keep your drinks cool.

You can buy the front and rear Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kits individually, however, when installed in combination the results are most impressive.

Bendix’s own testing of a standard Ford Ranger found it stopped in 41.5m from 80km/h.

According to Bendix’s Ian Campbell once equipped with the Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kit the Ranger reduced its stopping distance by more than 20%.

“The same Ford Ranger fitted with the Bendix Big Brake front and rear upgrades came to a complete stop from 80km/h in 32.5m. That’s an improvement of 9m or 1.5 car lengths”.

“Comparisons of standard vehicles and those featuring the Bendix Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kit are even more marked when the vehicles are heavily loaded or towing. Our kits also perform better when multiple stops are needed,” Campbell explained.

The Bendix Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kit is available for selected dual- cab utes and their SUV derivatives (2WD or 4WD). Models covered include the Ford Ranger (up to PXIII), Mazda BT-50, RG Holden Colorado, Isuzu D-MAX and Toyota HiLux.

The front big brake upgrade kit RRP is $4300, while the rear drum to disc conversion options are priced at $3750 for the single-piston set up or $4990 for the top-spec four-piston rear brake kit. Excludes fitting.

The new Bendix Ultimate 4WD Big Brake Upgrade Kits comply with Australian Design Rules (ADR 35/05).

“The kits all have an ADR master report, meaning that they are engineered and fully compliant with ADRs. However, they will still need an inspection after installation and a modification plate fitted,” Campbell explained.

Bendix has a preferred installer program nationwide, and details of the nearest installer are available at www.bendix.com.au.

Bendix’s approved installers are experienced in the fitment of the kits and can organise the engineering approval and mod plate as well, making it a one-stop, drive-in, drive-out process.

In most cases, the fitters will only need the vehicle for the day to fit the brake kit and have the modification all approved.

For more information go to Bendix.com.au