Upgrade and save – better braking without the new car price tag

If you're the owner of a well set-up 4x4 but can't justify the cost of upgrading to a new one to benefit from better braking, Bendix offers brake upgrade options that will enhance stopping power without the new car price tag.

There’s been a recent shift in the braking set-up of some dual cab 4X4 ute models in Australia and New Zealand, with several brands starting to ditch rear drums in favour of the adding stopping power of disc brakes.

Recent Ford Ranger and Ford Ranger Raptor models now feature front and rear disc brake rotors, while models including the Volkswagen Amarok and Jeep Gladiator, have had disc brakes all round for several years. This trend is expected to continue.

Bendix offers kits for many popular dual cab 4x4 utilities and their wagon derivatives.

And while the added braking performance is certainly welcome, it comes with a notable price premium – if purchasing new, once a few option boxes are ticked, buyers can quickly find themselves in $80K plus territory for these vehicles.

Fortunately, for owners of late model dual cab 4X4s or their wagon derivatives, who have spent considerable effort building up their vehicles to suit work and recreational needs, and can’t justify a new car, Bendix has two cost effective answers.

The Ultimate 4WD™ range offers all the required components for a brake upgrade in the convenience of front and rear kits.

Front kit

Bendix Ultimate 4WD™ Big Brake Upgrade Kits deliver vastly improved braking performance and are available in the convenience of two comprehensive kits (front and rear). The front kit includes larger diameter Ultimate 4WD™ Disc Brake Rotors, Bendix 6-Piston monoblock calipers with bracket mounting kit, as well as Ultimate 4WD™ Brake Pads and Ultimate 4WD™ Braided Brake Hoses.

The larger Ultimate 4WD™ Disc Brake Rotors are a generous 365mm in diameter and 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. Other benefits of the rotors include High Carbon Metallurgy which improves noise dampening while lowering thermal conductivity – together this results in added durability and stopping power, while robust pillar construction aids thermal stability.

Complementing the Disc Brake Rotors are Ultimate 4WD™ Brake Pads which have been specially designed for use with slotted rotors. The pads feature ceramic friction material that has low dust and noise properties, while providing high temperature stability and excellent fade resistance. Also included is a Mechanical Retention System (MRS) backing plate, a technology that’s used in commercial vehicle brake pads and offers improved pad attachment strength in heavy duty operating conditions.

Another important component of the front kit is the Bendix 6-Piston calipers – with additional pistons compared to OEM calipers, greater pressure is applied to the brake pads, resulting in shorter stopping distances.

Kits also feature SAEj1401-approved Ultimate 4WD™ Brake Hoses which comply to international design standards and offer the added protection of a braided line with sleeve, leading to firm and consistent brake feel in all conditions. Rounding-out this exciting offering is a litre of Bendix Heavy Duty Brake Fluid, a can of Bendix Clean-up, a tube of Ceramasil brake parts lubricant and a 60 litre Bendix branded icebox.

The rear kit introduces a drum to disc conversion, significantly improving braking performance.

Rear drum to disc conversion

The rear Ultimate 4WD™ Big Brake Upgrade Kit is a full drum to disc conversion kit, that removes the OE drum assembly and replaces it with the Bendix Ultimate 4WD™ disc rotors and hydraulic calipers. Kit installation requires removal of all components from the vehicle axles, which is why the kit comes complete with replacement bearings and seals (ABS rings and collars depending on vehicle model).

The kit also includes a replacement park brake mechanism that’s actuated using the OE park brake cable, Bendix Brake Hoses, Ultimate 4WD Brake Pads™ and all the ancillary components and accessories mentioned for the front kits.

As well as offering a larger diameter, the Bendix Disc Brake Rotors feature Diamond Tip Slots to help dissipate heat, while Bendix 6-Piston monoblock calipers increase brake force.

The rear kit exchanges the OEM drum set-up for Bendix rotors and hydraulic calipers.

Meeting ADRs

All kits meet ADRs. Some legal variances from state to state will mean that in VIC, NSW, ACT, SA and TAS, an engineering inspection is required to ensure the kits have been installed properly and are functioning correctly, after which a mod plate will be issued. For owners in QLD and WA, Bendix have a pre-authorised LG1 certificate, and all that’s required after fitment is to advise the registration authority of the installation.

For Kiwi buyers, the New Zealand registration authority (NZTA) recognises ADR master reports and the compliance process is similar to in VIC, NSW, SA and Tas, so a vehicle that’s fitted with either front or rear (or both) Ultimate 4WD™ Big Brake Upgrade Kits will require a Low Volume Vehicle Certification (LVVC).

Once fitted, the installer will need to contact the Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (LVVTA) to have the vehicle inspected by an independent certifier before a plate is applied to the vehicle. The certifier will apply to the LVVTA on behalf of the fitter/vehicle owner to have the vehicle plated, which will allow the vehicle to gain a Warranty of Fitness.

Test results show big braking gains

In developing the Ultimate 4WD™ Big Brake Upgrade Kits, Bendix undertook extensive testing on an unmodified Dual Cab PX Ford Ranger 4x4. Stopping distance from 80 to 0 km/h in this standard, unloaded Ranger was 41.5m. The same vehicle fitted with both front and rear kits in 32.5m, an improvement of 9m or around 1.5 car lengths.

Vehicle compatibility – Front Kit

Front kits are available for a wide range of popular dual cab utes and wagons, including Ford Ranger (PX, PX II & PX III); Holden Colorado (RG & RG2), Colorado 7 (RG); Isuzu D-Max (TFR, TFS & RG), M-UX (RG); Mazda BT-50 (UP & UR); Mitsubishi Triton (MQ & MR); Nissan Navara (D23 & NP300) and Toyota Hilux (Gen 7, KUN26, GGN25, Gen 8 & GUN136).

Vehicle compatibility – Rear Kit

Rear Ultimate 4WD™ Big Brake Upgrade Kits are available for the Ford Ranger (PX, PX II & PX III), Isuzu D-Max (RG) and Toyota Hilux (Gen 8 & GUN 136). Additional kits are coming soon.