Fun With Drum Brakes -Not
11-17-2017, 08:34 AM
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Fun With Drum Brakes -Not
Replaced all drum brake hardware on a 91’ XJ. 4L, AX15, 4X4, 30 front, 35 rear, 231.
Before... The passenger side was rusted to the hilt. Making horrible noise.
After... On the driver’s side, new drum barely fit over the shoes. Making noise.
But last night, after a few hundred miles, horrible noise, thump, thump, thump, thump (I know, so descriptive... bash me now). And the Jeep was vibrating with each thump. Sounded like the tire was going flat, or was going to fall off.
Took the driver’s side drum off, spayed all down with brake cleaner, put it back together.
Still hard to get the drum back on. But the loud thump and vibration gone. Now it’s back to a quiet thump.
Suggestions so far, switch drums to test the drum (but don’t drive with them switched), check the wheel cylinder, bleed the driver’s side.
Anything else?
Want to switch to disk, but i am trying to plan all out to replace the 35 (and maybe the 231, but that is another story).
Before... The passenger side was rusted to the hilt. Making horrible noise.
After... On the driver’s side, new drum barely fit over the shoes. Making noise.
But last night, after a few hundred miles, horrible noise, thump, thump, thump, thump (I know, so descriptive... bash me now). And the Jeep was vibrating with each thump. Sounded like the tire was going flat, or was going to fall off.
Took the driver’s side drum off, spayed all down with brake cleaner, put it back together.
Still hard to get the drum back on. But the loud thump and vibration gone. Now it’s back to a quiet thump.
Suggestions so far, switch drums to test the drum (but don’t drive with them switched), check the wheel cylinder, bleed the driver’s side.
Anything else?
Want to switch to disk, but i am trying to plan all out to replace the 35 (and maybe the 231, but that is another story).
Last edited by Rlmx; 11-17-2017 at 08:56 AM. Reason: TYPOS
11-17-2017, 02:03 PM
#4
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Join Date: May 2015
Location: Arizona
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Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Replaced all drum brake hardware on a 91’ XJ. 4L, AX15, 4X4, 30 front, 35 rear, 231.
Before... The passenger side was rusted to the hilt. Making horrible noise.
After... On the driver’s side, new drum barely fit over the shoes. Making noise.
But last night, after a few hundred miles, horrible noise, thump, thump, thump, thump (I know, so descriptive... bash me now). And the Jeep was vibrating with each thump. Sounded like the tire was going flat, or was going to fall off.
Took the driver’s side drum off, spayed all down with brake cleaner, put it back together.
Still hard to get the drum back on. But the loud thump and vibration gone. Now it’s back to a quiet thump.
Suggestions so far, switch drums to test the drum (but don’t drive with them switched), check the wheel cylinder, bleed the driver’s side.
Anything else?
Want to switch to disk, but i am trying to plan all out to replace the 35 (and maybe the 231, but that is another story).
Before... The passenger side was rusted to the hilt. Making horrible noise.
After... On the driver’s side, new drum barely fit over the shoes. Making noise.
But last night, after a few hundred miles, horrible noise, thump, thump, thump, thump (I know, so descriptive... bash me now). And the Jeep was vibrating with each thump. Sounded like the tire was going flat, or was going to fall off.
Took the driver’s side drum off, spayed all down with brake cleaner, put it back together.
Still hard to get the drum back on. But the loud thump and vibration gone. Now it’s back to a quiet thump.
Suggestions so far, switch drums to test the drum (but don’t drive with them switched), check the wheel cylinder, bleed the driver’s side.
Anything else?
Want to switch to disk, but i am trying to plan all out to replace the 35 (and maybe the 231, but that is another story).
11-17-2017, 02:28 PM
#5
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I always replace my drums when doing the rears, however you can get them machined, use to be for around $10.00 each or for both, but perhaps the price has gone up.
How is the brake line going from the master cylinder to rear and line between two drums? Is your brake hardware fitted correctly? Something possibly could be off. You need to first adjust the shoes so their as close together as possible.
If somethings off with the hardware the shoes won't fit and adjust correctly.
How is the brake line going from the master cylinder to rear and line between two drums? Is your brake hardware fitted correctly? Something possibly could be off. You need to first adjust the shoes so their as close together as possible.
If somethings off with the hardware the shoes won't fit and adjust correctly.
Last edited by Anony; 11-18-2017 at 12:38 AM.
11-17-2017, 11:53 PM
#7
CF Veteran
Parking brake cable is rusted and not letting the shoes retract all the way. Drum overheats and warps. Need new drum.
Last edited by 97grand4.0; 11-18-2017 at 12:06 AM.
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12-01-2017, 07:14 PM
#8
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
So I am a father of four, married 27 years, work in IT, keep jobs for many years, educated, veteran, sane, stable, not brash, or over imaginative.
All to say... I am not a nut case.
I went hunting the night this started.
Lug nuts on BOTH FRONT tires were loose.
On that night I took a doe. Came out of the field early.
I say that because I believe I may have returned after dark to zero wheels on the vehicle.
A truck passed the parking area back and forth five times. I thought it very strange, like the driver was looking at me.
SOB, i could have had a major accident.
Was totally focused on the rear because I didn’t recently do anything to the front wheels. I had taken one of them off to “install” one of those plastic Jeep center caps.
But that was like day 3 of ownership. When this happened, had owned the little Jeep for at least three weeks and driven hundreds of miles.
All to say... I am not a nut case.
I went hunting the night this started.
Lug nuts on BOTH FRONT tires were loose.
On that night I took a doe. Came out of the field early.
I say that because I believe I may have returned after dark to zero wheels on the vehicle.
A truck passed the parking area back and forth five times. I thought it very strange, like the driver was looking at me.
SOB, i could have had a major accident.
Was totally focused on the rear because I didn’t recently do anything to the front wheels. I had taken one of them off to “install” one of those plastic Jeep center caps.
But that was like day 3 of ownership. When this happened, had owned the little Jeep for at least three weeks and driven hundreds of miles.
Last edited by Rlmx; 12-01-2017 at 07:21 PM. Reason: typos
12-01-2017, 07:32 PM
#9
CF Veteran
I too am an IT professional. So the split personality... I like to build fast computer networks and fast cars..... well, now Jeeps 
... (not fast but you get the point) lol.
Hearing what the root cause was.... that's enough to make anyone's backside pucker right up. That would've been a serious accident waiting to happen. Glad you figured it out in time!
... (not fast but you get the point) lol.Hearing what the root cause was.... that's enough to make anyone's backside pucker right up. That would've been a serious accident waiting to happen. Glad you figured it out in time!
12-01-2017, 09:11 PM
#10
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 Cyl / 4L
So I am a father of four, married 27 years, work in IT, keep jobs for many years, educated, veteran, sane, stable, not brash, or over imaginative.
All to say... I am not a nut case.
I went hunting the night this started.
Lug nuts on BOTH FRONT tires were loose.
On that night I took a doe. Came out of the field early.
I say that because I believe I may have returned after dark to zero wheels on the vehicle.
A truck passed the parking area back and forth five times. I thought it very strange, like the driver was looking at me.
SOB, i could have had a major accident.
Was totally focused on the rear because I didn’t recently do anything to the front wheels. I had taken one of them off to “install” one of those plastic Jeep center caps.
But that was like day 3 of ownership. When this happened, had owned the little Jeep for at least three weeks and driven hundreds of miles.
All to say... I am not a nut case.
I went hunting the night this started.
Lug nuts on BOTH FRONT tires were loose.
On that night I took a doe. Came out of the field early.
I say that because I believe I may have returned after dark to zero wheels on the vehicle.
A truck passed the parking area back and forth five times. I thought it very strange, like the driver was looking at me.
SOB, i could have had a major accident.
Was totally focused on the rear because I didn’t recently do anything to the front wheels. I had taken one of them off to “install” one of those plastic Jeep center caps.
But that was like day 3 of ownership. When this happened, had owned the little Jeep for at least three weeks and driven hundreds of miles.
12-02-2017, 05:16 AM
#11
Senior Member
Drum brakes are a pain on these Jeeps. Self-adjusters don't work well. If it were me, I'd have fun with the D35. It's lasted this long hasn't it?