Yea I searched a little bit and found I could bleed it that way while its still in. Ill try this after work and report back.

 

Ok bled the MC. Had no air in it. Bled the system. But didnt get any air bubbles. Brakes are the same as yesterday, no change. Drives and stops fine (for now). I actually got the front only to lock when slamming on the brakes in reverse at 25 mph. Peddle is still soft but stops quickly. Im going to call it good for now. Keep an eye on the rears and deal with the soft peddle.

I wish I had another xj to compare to. Idk maybe my work trucks brakes have me a little spoiled.

 

70% of the braking force is provided by the front brakes. If the rears lock all the time, the front brakes are just along for the ride.

 

Guess you know peddle free-play is pretty much all in that "auto" adjuster. Something you can try. Hold the brake peddle down firm, and shift from forward to reverse a number of times. I think with the shoes clamped out in the drum, that works the business back and forth such that that stupid auto adjuster can actually turn the star wheel.

I wonder if your somewhat extreme brake testing isn't just overwhelming Jeep's somewhat wimpy brakes. There are upgrades.

 

OK, I found it in an old post from 2011. Freedgr suggesting a double booster> http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticl...des/index.html

Edit. Ok, that is only for earlier Jeeps. "From '84-'94, the Cherokee and Comanche were stuck with a single-diaphragm brake booster."

 

Are rears adjusted so tire spins 1 revolution b4 stopping .

 

Thats for 95 and older xjs ..

 

on the new axle, are the wheel cylinders installed properly? again, bleeder must be above the brake line.

it's possible the last guy installed them wrong and you just may not have noticed...

 

Iv got acsoft peddle as well mine did the same thing. I just live with it and really watch what im doing.

 

This is the best upgrade you can do ......http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/tr...stem-upgrades/

 

its been a while since i updated. so far the drums are doing ok. still soft but not locking up. i do notice when im coming to a complete stop the right drum squeaks. i think thats either crappy shoes or wore drums. but at $40/drum ill have to wait to replace those. i might try to get them turned if theyre still in spec.


ill try this. hopefully they wont over adjust,

you mean jacked up in the air or while driving?

when i did the lift i swapped the axle and put all the brake parts from my original axle onto the new one. after some driveline vibs i thought maybe the pinion bearing was bad in the new axle so i put my original axle and brakes back in. turned out be pinion angle causing the vibs, so i dropped the tcase, for now. which took care of most of the vibes, until i get a full sye.


Since then all the hardware has been replaced except for the drums and cylinders. The cylinders are not that old. They function and dont leak. And they are in the right position though.

im starting to think the stock brakes just suck. i dont drive it much durning the week. i drive a 2012 f250 during the week for work, so im thinking the brakes on my work truck have me spoiled. when i swap to 4.10 gears im going to do the disc brake conversion and upgrade the MC and brake booster. that will probably be for tax returns next year.

 

^ He means with it jacked up. ^ I don't think it can "over adjust". When the play is taken up the lever won't move enough to grab the next tooth.

 

Lol ok thats what I thought. Thanks for the info.