diff --git a/gradle/libs.versions.toml b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
index c85611c9..40899217 100644
--- a/gradle/libs.versions.toml
+++ b/gradle/libs.versions.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 [versions]
 # product
-brave = "6.0.1"
 caffeine = "3.1.8"
 jackson = "2.16.1"
 jsr305 = "3.0.2"
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@ version-catalog-update = "0.8.4"
 
 [libraries]
 # Product libs
-brave-bom = { module = "io.zipkin.brave:brave-bom", version.ref = "brave" }
 caffeine = { module = "com.github.ben-manes.caffeine:caffeine", version.ref = "caffeine" }
 jackson-bom = { module = "com.fasterxml.jackson:jackson-bom", version.ref = "jackson" }
 jsr305 = { module = "com.google.code.findbugs:jsr305", version.ref = "jsr305" }
diff --git a/spring-pulsar-dependencies/spring-pulsar-dependencies.gradle b/spring-pulsar-dependencies/spring-pulsar-dependencies.gradle
index 3a58baf2..a6220642 100644
--- a/spring-pulsar-dependencies/spring-pulsar-dependencies.gradle
+++ b/spring-pulsar-dependencies/spring-pulsar-dependencies.gradle
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ dependencies {
 	api platform(libs.micrometer.bom)
 	api platform(libs.micrometer.tracing.bom)
 	api platform(libs.reactor.bom)
-	api platform(libs.brave.bom)
 	api platform(libs.assertj.bom)
 	api platform(libs.awaitility)
 	api platform(libs.junit.bom)
diff --git a/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/build.gradle b/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/build.gradle
index ae70382f..c3dedc25 100644
--- a/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/build.gradle
+++ b/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/build.gradle
@@ -21,10 +21,9 @@ ext['pulsar.version'] = "${pulsarVersion}"
 dependencies {
 	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-pulsar'
 	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-actuator'
-// TODO add back in once samples are not run during part of the 'test' target
-//	implementation 'io.micrometer:micrometer-tracing-bridge-brave'
-//	implementation 'io.zipkin.reporter2:zipkin-reporter-brave'
-//	implementation 'io.zipkin.reporter2:zipkin-sender-urlconnection'
+	implementation 'io.micrometer:micrometer-tracing-bridge-brave'
+	implementation 'io.zipkin.reporter2:zipkin-reporter-brave'
+	implementation 'io.zipkin.reporter2:zipkin-sender-urlconnection'
 	developmentOnly 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-docker-compose'
 
 	testImplementation project(':spring-pulsar-test')
diff --git a/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/src/main/resources/application.yml b/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/src/main/resources/application.yml
index d5178113..17330408 100644
--- a/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/src/main/resources/application.yml
+++ b/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-failover-custom-router/src/main/resources/application.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ spring:
   pulsar:
     producer:
       message-routing-mode: custompartition
+    template:
+      observations-enabled: true
+    listener:
+      observation-enabled: true
   docker:
     compose:
       # when run from Intellij via "Run" button, path must be set from project root
diff --git a/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-pulsar-functions/sample-signup-app/build.gradle b/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-pulsar-functions/sample-signup-app/build.gradle
index 7b1bb5b6..15b63218 100644
--- a/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-pulsar-functions/sample-signup-app/build.gradle
+++ b/spring-pulsar-sample-apps/sample-pulsar-functions/sample-signup-app/build.gradle
@@ -25,10 +25,6 @@ dependencies {
 	implementation "org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-pulsar"
 	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-amqp'
 	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-data-cassandra'
-	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-actuator'
-	implementation 'io.micrometer:micrometer-tracing-bridge-brave'
-	implementation 'io.zipkin.reporter2:zipkin-reporter-brave'
-	implementation 'io.zipkin.reporter2:zipkin-sender-urlconnection'
 	implementation 'com.devskiller:jfairy:0.6.5'
 }
 
diff --git a/spring-pulsar/src/main/java/org/springframework/pulsar/core/PulsarTemplate.java b/spring-pulsar/src/main/java/org/springframework/pulsar/core/PulsarTemplate.java
index 6233096d..11109e7b 100644
--- a/spring-pulsar/src/main/java/org/springframework/pulsar/core/PulsarTemplate.java
+++ b/spring-pulsar/src/main/java/org/springframework/pulsar/core/PulsarTemplate.java
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import org.springframework.context.ApplicationContextAware;
 import org.springframework.core.log.LogAccessor;
 import org.springframework.lang.Nullable;
 import org.springframework.pulsar.PulsarException;
-import org.springframework.pulsar.core.PulsarOperations.SendMessageBuilder;
 import org.springframework.pulsar.observation.DefaultPulsarTemplateObservationConvention;
 import org.springframework.pulsar.observation.PulsarMessageSenderContext;
 import org.springframework.pulsar.observation.PulsarTemplateObservation;