Jeep Wrangler JK: Why is My Brake Pedal Squeaky?

The brake pedal squeak is quite the source for frustration. Your Wrangler may be less than a year old in some cases and now your pedal is noisier than a ten year old car. To complicate things, you may interpret the noise as a serious brake problem (an easy thing to do) and avoid driving to ensure your safety as well as the safety of others. Thankfully, the problem is usually not serious and the remedy is easy to perform.

By Weston Chadwick - November 12, 2015
Contributors: jpr79, Baticon

This article applies to the Jeep Wrangler JK (2007-Present).

When you apply pressure to the brake pedal, the pivot rod moves through the firewall and compresses the brake fluid inside the master cylinder. To achieve smooth pedal operation, the pivot rod is supported by a teflon bushing. This bushing comes in contact with the rubber dust boot behind the brake pedal. The friction created between the two during contact makes the common squeaking noise. Synthetic grease is designed for this purpose and works great on teflon. Once the grease spreads throughout the bushing, the noise should disappear for good.

Materials Needed

Rubber gloves
Synthetic grease
Safety glasses

Make sure the source of your noise is originating from the brake pedal. This noise will occur when your Jeep is stationary.

Step 1 – Lubricate teflon bushing

Behind the brake pedal you'll see a rubber boot. This boot is designed to keep the grease on the bushings and dirt out. Carefully pull the boot towards the firewall to expose the white teflon bushing. Apply some synthetic grease or similar lubricant to the surface of the bushing. Press and release the brake pedal several times to spread the grease throughout the bushing. You may have to repeat the application several times through the next week to reach all areas on the bushing with a dry surface.