chefeagles

I was on the highway today doing 70ish mph and I had to hit the brakes pretty hard not hard enough to lock up a wheel but the weird thing is out of the corner of my eye I see the red e-brake light to the left of my stearing wheel came one for about a second. Is something wrong or is that suppose to happen? E-brake lever was down completely.

chefeagles

and just a few mins ago I was backing down my drive way to park out front to let the jeep warm up a little the pedel went right to the floor and the e-brake light came on again.Jeep stopped fine tho. I did front pads 2 weeks ago. I topped off fluid again took about 2oz more. I dont want to die on the highway so any advice would be great.

Desertfox1023

Whever your brake fluid gets low or your brakes lose presure your red brake light will come on. Could be a number of things: Low fluid level, air in the lines, Master cylinder is going bad, or vacum booster is bad. I would start checking things in that order.

First: check your fluid and add if needed.

Second: Bleed your brakes at all four wheels.

Third: Beench bleed the master cylinder to see if it is functioning properly.

Fourth: Check for any vacum leaks with the motor to see if it is cuasing the booster to mis function.

Post up exactly what the pedal is doing when you push it and how the brakes react. For example: When I hit the pedal it is firm and the jeep stops but when you hold it down the pedal starts droping to the floor. When you release the pedal it goes back up and the engine revs up. This would be the case with a vacum leak.

chefeagles

before i put new front pads on the pedel pretty much went to the floor to stop it after new pads(2 weeks ago) the pedel felt perfect but now after the e brake light thing the pedel feels like it did before new pads not entirely to the floor but not like after the new pads so something happened after i hit the brakes hard. but all day today the light didnt come on or anything but when i was backin down my drive that really freaked me out. i will check and do the things u said. soon.

tommy

make sure your brakes are properly bled. Then Check your pressure differential switch and your metering valve

chefeagles

pressure differential switch and your metering valve are new to me...ill check them out too. all i have had the time to do is make sure im not losing fluid anywhere.

Heres somemore of what its doing maybe will help someone narrow down more what could be wrong.

When the jeep is off and I pump the brakes pressure builds in the pedel almost to the point where it doesnt move at all anymore.
then when I start the jeep pedel goes right to the floor. but tonight the first couple times hitting the brakes it went to the floor then a few times they felt perfect but then it doesnt last and pretty much goes to the floor and the e-brake light came on a few times through out all that but then after it gets warm the light no longer comes on at all. Im have no problems stopping tho (which is a good thing).

thanks for any help I love this fourm I have saved so much money and time in figuring out things gone wrong.

tommy

I thinnk its either your metering valve, which basically gives pressure to your back brakes before your front brakes to overcome your return springs. Or its your brake booster, but it sounds like its operating ok. When you pump the pedal, does it make a hissing sound?

chefeagles

no, makes no sounds at all. wheres metering valve?

tommy

I'm not sure.... What year is your Xj?

chefeagles

1991

tommy

Ha alright so is mine. And I'm not sure, I cant find it in my book, it's possible that jeep never put one on in 1991, it may be too old. Other than that I'd say check your brakes thoroughly for leaks. If pressure builds up more on one side it will trip that pressure differential. You dont have ABS do you?