Dadinator

carnuck, Tried that already. No change.

No, I guess I did not. I'll have to look that up and see. Just bled like a normal vehicle. Hopefully, I will have time to do that later this week or weekend.

The original master cylinder and booster were stock. The truck has been in the family since new. The brakes have not worked well for years. Not sure when they started becoming weak, because the son had the truck for years and didn't pay too much attention to it. I have had it for about 3 years now and the darn brakes have never been right. I just started messing with it because I changed out the front axle and it seemed they were worse. But after doing what I have so far, it is back to just plain crappy like it was when I took it over. It doesn't seem to be slow in applying, just weak. The booster seems fine. When starting the truck with brake pressed, you can feel it just like a normal vehicle. Maybe something needs adjusted in there. Is there anything else I am missing? What about the proportioning valves? Where's my 12 gauge?

I just did. I am not sure it helped. The booster seems to be working fine. :dunno: Why would the push rod need adjustment? If it is that, would it not go all the way to the floor? I don't think it does. I will have to look. Maybe I am just stupid... :yes:

All reassembled yesterday, and the brakes are still just as crappy as before. :wall: New master cylinder, new wheel cylinders, new fluid flushed through the lines, bled the lines to the point where new fluid was coming out of all 4, adjusted the rears as stated above. Took the wife's TJ out for a quick spin and can lock them up easily. WTF? :headpop:

Just replaced the wheel cylinders and took the rear adjusters apart and cleaned and lubed. They were both locked in place. No movement. Move nice and free now. Reassembled. Took the master cylinder off and behold, the new one is WRONG! :fs1: Crap! This stuff happens to me all the time. I must be cursed. Took it back and am awaiting another new one. Hopefully delivered to store this afternoon so I can finish this evening. :???:

No rear ending anyone because I am not driving it until I fix it. Not my driver. That's a hell of an article. Master cylinders are fairly cheap. I may just buy one and 2 wheel cylinders for the rear, replace all of them and flush with all new fluid and see what that does for me. I appreciate all the input from everyone. Thanks.

Pads rotors, shoes are all good shape. Brake lines seem OK. I am thinking the master cylinder may be the culprit, but I don't know.

I figured that both should come out the same. Yep, I know they are cheap. Just don't like buying parts I don't need. What about that proportioning valve? Anything I need to check there?

I was thinking master cylinder. but did not know how to tell for sure.

Bled them in order. Test drive, No good. Vacuum present in Booster. Did the reverse, brake forward brake procedure to adjust rears. When pulling off the drums, they seemed to be adjusted OK. when I put them back on, there was slight drag. No bubbles in master cylinder when pedal pressed. When pedal pressed, you can see it in the front of the master cylinder(like a little geyser), but the rear does nothing visible. When pedal pressed, 1 side of each wheel cylinder pushes out the shoes, not both sides. Is this normal when looking at them? Also, the brake proportioning valve is in tact. But now the rear sits approx. 2 inches higher. Is there some adjustment to it that needs to be done? Next steps?

Thanks Keyav8r and Cruiser54. I will try that stuff :thumbsup:. Not working on it tonight had to work late. Going out with friends tomorrow, so it will be a weekend project.

LOL!! I wondered how long it would take someone to notice that. Just a piece of sheet metal. I had a broken dishwasher in the garage for a week or so before the garbage picked it up. At the time, I was working on the truck and had a rust hole just below and behind the drivers door. I thought, hey the front of that dishwasher is sheet metal and is going in the trash. So, I cut a section out and formed it to fit the rust hole and fixed it. So I put that in my signature a long time ago. Took a lot longer for someone to notice (ask about it) than I thought it would. :rotf:

Rear shocks on tonight. Suspension done! Woot! Now have to address those brakes.

Shackles on rear tonight. Wish I would have measured before doing this. It is very noticeable eye balling it. It has approx. 5.5 inches clearance front and rear from top of tire to bottom of flares now. Truck is now the height it should have been from the factory. IMHO. :thumbsup: . :XJ 1: .

Anyone else? This has been an ongoing problem with this truck. Brakes getting weaker and weaker. Pads and shoes are OK. Pedal is not soft. Kind of stiff. Booster? Master Cylinder? Or should I just do what he says and bleed the rears. How do you adjust the rears? Been working on other stuff on it right now. Yesterday was the first time it has been off of jackstands since November. Replaced shocks and front axle. 2" pucks in front and chevy drop shackles in rear. Putting the rear shocks on tomorrow and then will focus on the brakes. Hope to get it back on the road by next week. Let me know your ideas oh brake gurus!

Not today...

Finally got the front axle back in. New shocks installed and 2"pucks. Took it for a test drive. Think master cylinder is done. Brakes are OK and lines are bled. Weak brakes. Now on to the rear. Shocks and Shackles. Then address the brakes, replace the blower motor, windshield, etc. etc.

So, just replaced the front axle with a HP Dana 30 from a 97ish Cherokee. Goodbye CAD! Anyway, my brakes have been getting worse and worse even before I replaced the axle. Once everything was back together, (and brakes bled), I took it for a test drive. Brakes are weak as ever. Maybe even weaker. Cannot lock them up now matter how hard I slam. Not spongy and no air in the lines. I am thinking the master cylinder is just crapping out. Thoughts?

The boneyard just south of Corydon Indiana (If anyone is from around there) has 4 MJ's and a bunch of XJ's.

Got the axle out and the new one ready to install. Ordered a set of Monroe Sensa-Tracs for all 4 corners, some 2" pucks and will be picking up some Chevy Drop Shackles for the rear. Then reassemble. Cannot wait to get it finally back on the road!

Just bit the bullet and ordered some Monroe Sensa-Tracs from local parts store. I am cheap, but figure this will be the only set I will buy so spent a little extra. They seem to have good reviews. Ordered the 2" pucks online. The shackles I can get at the local parts store too. Still need new tires, emergency brake cable, windshield and heater blower motor. And headliner and probably new seats. :ack:

Great Start!

Thanks. What about all the other questions? :)