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Soft brake pedal

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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 08:37 PM
  #1  
xjmafia's Avatar
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From: Iowa
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default Soft brake pedal

All of the sudden my 88xj brake pedal gt squishy with. No fluid loss....I always had great brakes. I'm not losing fluid so where do I begin?
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 08:56 PM
  #2  
Jeepster242's Avatar
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L
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Did you just check the reservoir? Are you sure there isn't a small leak at one of the calipers, or possibly the rear drums?
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 09:00 PM
  #3  
xjmafia's Avatar
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From: Iowa
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Yeah I have I've never had to add any juice to it which I found odd
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 09:56 PM
  #4  
Roler's Avatar
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From: Australia
Year: 1997 (RHD)
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 ltr
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I got a similar thread going atm, see link at bottom. Haven't got mine sorted yet, but there is already a lot of input on the subject in that thread.
So here it goes:
Squishy brake pedal, can be caused by several things. Since you state you have no (visible) leak, air in the system is nr reason for squishyness. Do you have any LOSS of brake power or just the squishy sounds? I'm currently trying to solve mine, and I can't recall really if the brake pedal has always made this sounds and gotten worse over time or not. Brakes were just not enough for 4WD going down steep hill. For completeness, inspect your rear brakes and especially the wheelcylinders. Peel back the rubber and check for any fluid. If so, they're up for replacements.
So, try bleeding the system thoroughly. Make sure mastercylinder reservoir is topped up at all times and crack bleeders, starting with rear wheel (your LHD that would be right rear), bleed till no air comes though tube (google the correct method to do this), than left rear wheel, then front right wheel and last front left wheel.
Make sure your rear brake shoes are adjusted before this. Extra play will cause extra travel in the pedal.
After I did this, the squishy sound was still present in mine, and it was suggested that a master cylinder could be at fault. I replaced mine last week, but no change so far with the squishy sound (lost all brakes after this swab, therefore my thread started, but that improved a great deal after also bleeding the proportioning valve).
Your booster could be bad, however in mine I can pump the brake pedal with engine of 3-4 times and pedal becomes solid, indicating there is no leak at the booster. Check yours for this.
so, going down the list of remaining possibilities, there are the rubber brake lines as well, that over time can loose there 'rigidity' causing them to 'give'some when brake is applied. Not sure if this would cause the squishy sounds, however can attribute to softness of pedal.
See what you can do with this, I'll follow this thread closely.

Here the link to my thread:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/no-...r-swap-181812/

Last edited by Roler; Nov 6, 2013 at 09:59 PM.
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 10:25 PM
  #5  
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
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Typical brake master cylindere failure.
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 10:35 PM
  #6  
Roler's Avatar
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From: Australia
Year: 1997 (RHD)
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(wasn't for me
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Old Nov 7, 2013 | 05:45 AM
  #7  
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
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Originally Posted by Roler
(wasn't for me
I know.
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