88 XJ w/ bad brakes. Need other opinions.

[kilby]

88 XJ Pioneer, 4.0L, Auto, 4x4, 4 door, many miles, D30/35, disc front/drum rear, 31" tires, gray...

Its brakes are working at about 70% I estimate. Me & Sin3kal bled all four about 3 times today. Got lots of air out of the wheel cylinders, and after each bleed the brake performance would get just a little better. Still not great though. The brakes are really weak. I can't stop quickly and the pedal goes to the floor. When we started bleeding, the thing would barely hold itself on a hill. Now it'll hold, and eventually stop when you're driving, but there's hardly any clamping force... or so it seems.

I'm looking for ideas on what to check out or any helpful tips on working on an old ghetto Jeep brake system.

Tomorrow I'll check the front pads & rotor for a stuck piston or thin rotor or something. Got dark tonight before we could get to that.

 

[greg slade]

It seems like your on the right track by bleeding the system. make sure you dont have any leaks in the lines and you use the proper bleeding sequence. It does not sound like a stuck caliper. If the pedal pumps up you still have air in the system.

 

[kilby]

There are no leaks we could find. Just had lots of air. I guess I'll do a couple more bleeds & see how it goes.

 

[Lee]

have you tightened up the rear shoes?

 

[mbalbritton]

Speed Bleeders have always given me the best results. Makes it a one man job too.

 

[ajeeperwannabe]

Speed Bleeders?

 

[Rob]

http://www.speedbleeder.com/

Google is your friend.

 

[chromerunner]

you could sell me the 88 and ill fix the brakes.