Why you should upgrade your 4WD's brakes for towing

It’s almost time to pack the caravan for a well-earned summer holiday. Before you hit the road, particularly when hauling a heavy load, it’s critical to make sure the brakes on your four-wheel drive tow vehicle have the stopping power to get to your destination safely.

At the very least, have your brake pads, rotors and brake fluid inspected by a specialist. Further to that, if you regularly tow a caravan, it is well worth investing in an improved brake set-up such as Bendix’s Ultimate 4WD Brake upgrade.

Bendix is a powerhouse in the aftermarket automotive industry with more than 60 years of experience and is Australia’s largest automotive friction material manufacturer.

The Ultimate choice

Bendix offers a wide range of brake upgrade solutions, and the best place to start is by replacing the front disc rotors with its Ultimate 4WD Brake Upgrade.

Considering the front brake discs do most of the work most of the time, fitting the Bendix Ultimate rotors provides increased stopping power. They are less prone to brake fade under extreme driving conditions, such as when driving though hilly terrain at the height of summer.

The brake rotors are manufactured using high carbon metallurgy steel for better thermal stability and feature diamond tipped slots and v-shaped dimples. The combination of the materials and its design ensures better thermal stability and improved dissipation of hot gases for improved stopping power, more consistent pedal feel and reduced brake fade in extreme driving conditions.

At the same time, the Ultimate 4WD rotors are better optimised when the vehicle is fitted with Bendix’s Ultimate 4WD Brake Pads, which are specifically designed for slotted rotors and utilise a unique ceramic formula that further enhances braking performance.

They also produce less brake dust, which keeps your alloy wheels looking shiny for longer, and generate less brake noise, making long road trips more enjoyable.

Drumming to every beat

When towing a heavy load such as a caravan, all four wheels’ brakes work harder than normal. This is especially the case with vehicles fitted with rear drums.

When upgrading your tow vehicle therefore, it is highly recommended to also upgrade the rear drums and shoes when you uprate the front discs. Designed to work in conjunction with the upgraded front brakes, the Bendix Ultimate 4WD Brake Drum upgrade further enhances the braking power and ensures maximum stability while towing.

Manufactured as a direct bolt-on replacement kit that doesn’t require any modifications to existing parts, it includes a pair of high carbon metallurgy brake drums that provide improved temperature stability and heat transfer as well as four high friction brake shoes that offer a 15 percent increase in friction over standard parts.

Like the front rotors, the drums have a special Swiftfit protective zinc coating and an epoxy coated hub with corrosion inhibitors to ensure they maintain their great aesthetic appearance and will not degrade over time. The black painted steel shoes also offer improved rust protection and built tough to withstand the harshest driving conditions.

Bendix says the combined effect of a front and rear brake upgrade reduces the stopping distance of heavily laden four-wheel drive dual-cab utes. Although results differ from model to model, in all cases the Bendix-equipped dual-cabs perform better than standard vehicles.

This gives caravanners additional peace of mind that they have the stopping power they need.

Suitable for all off-roaders

The Ultimate 4WD Brake upgrade options are suitable for a wide range of popular four-wheel drive dual-cab utes, including the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Mazda BT-50, Holden Colorado, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton and Volkswagen Amarok, and their wagon siblings such as the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Isuzu MU-X and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport.

So, before you hitch the van and head out of town for the summer holidays, make sure you’ve got the stopping power to get you there – and back – safely.

For more information on the Bendix 4WD Brake Drum upgrade visit the Bendix website or contact your nearest Bendix stockist for expert advice