What did you do to your XJ today??
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 3
From: Spanaway
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by OleBlue
did you bench bleed the master cyclinder? if not its going to take a lot of bleeding to get all the air out. ALOT
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
I have the benefit of living just 7 miles from where I work so....during my lunch hour I ran home and pulled the rear wheels and drums off the Jeep to satisfy my curiosity. OMG!!!!! The rear shoe linings were completely gone. The self adjusters, of course, were all the way out. The whole inside area of the brakes inside the drum was packed solid with good old Walker valley clay. The stuff was like concrete. I had to dig it out with a screwdriver. Then, blow the rest out with compressed air. Once I could see the wheel cylinders I noticed the typical little dark trails showing they were seaping fluid on both sides. So, my rear brakes have not moved, let alone worked, for god only knows how long. Hopefully, I have finally gotten to the bottom of my brake problem. I called Autozone and I have Wheel Cylinders and Brake Shoes waiting for me there when I get off work.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
This is what happens when a guy totally Nukes something...and goes right past the obvious little things and starts throwing big parts at something....LMAO!!!
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
While looking at the brakes I used the 18 inch rule and also discovered that my rear U bolts had loosened up and the spring pins are bent. I really need to get rid of my 4 degree shims. Now that I have the SYE I really don't need them anyway. After Elbe I will be drilling the springs a tinge bigger and putting a grade 8 bolt throught them. This is the 2nd set of spring pins I've had break on me with these fine Rusty's Off Road springs.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: bothell
Year: 87
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 litre straight six
Originally Posted by bothellbikes
Trying to figure out what parts to order and started welding up my exhaust.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
My Brake Crysis is solved.....FINALLY!! It was actually a combination of several issues causing the problem. Just when you think after owning and wheeling a Jeep XJ Cherokee for almost 10 years and you know it all....I found "I" didn't...LOL. As you all know from yesterday, I pulled my rear wheels and drums and found my rear brakes a complete mess!! I also did some research online yesterday and I found this little DIY proportioning valve modification that nets you better braking in an XJ after installing a different rear axle with bigger brakes. http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Suspension_Steering_Axles_and_Brakes/Proportioning_Valve_Mod.htm
The mod actually involves removing the pistion seal from the proportioning valve piston. It also talks about how a proportioning valve should be bled after maintenance. So, after swapping out my rear brakes last night I was bleeding the brakes again and still not getting that desired pedal feel I remember. So I removed the bleeder screw from the proportioning valve. I got a little suspicious when the spring didn't pop out and try to shoot across the yard like the mod write up said it would. I ended up actually having to dig the piston and spring out of the bore of the valve with a jeweler screwdriver. The thing was gunked in there solid. I was getting 0 brake pedal pressure to my rear brakes. The valve was sensing all the fluid going to just the front brakes was why my dash light kept coming on. It sensed the unbalance in the systems. So, I removed the seal from the piston and cleaned the pieces all up with brake parts cleaner and cleaned out the bore of the propoprtioning valve, bled it and then bled the brakes at the wheels one more time and done!! I was amazed when I took it for a test drive. The brake pedal has not felt that solid since I swapped out my original ChryCo 8.25 for the D44 I have in it now, back in 2006. I literally get about an inch or maybe 2 of pedal drop and it's putting me through the windshield. I highly recommend this proportioning valve mod to all of you guys who hate your XJs braking performance. I snapped a few pics along the way and you can check out what the proportioning valve actually looks like on the inside and the outside by going to the link and reading about the mod.
The mod actually involves removing the pistion seal from the proportioning valve piston. It also talks about how a proportioning valve should be bled after maintenance. So, after swapping out my rear brakes last night I was bleeding the brakes again and still not getting that desired pedal feel I remember. So I removed the bleeder screw from the proportioning valve. I got a little suspicious when the spring didn't pop out and try to shoot across the yard like the mod write up said it would. I ended up actually having to dig the piston and spring out of the bore of the valve with a jeweler screwdriver. The thing was gunked in there solid. I was getting 0 brake pedal pressure to my rear brakes. The valve was sensing all the fluid going to just the front brakes was why my dash light kept coming on. It sensed the unbalance in the systems. So, I removed the seal from the piston and cleaned the pieces all up with brake parts cleaner and cleaned out the bore of the propoprtioning valve, bled it and then bled the brakes at the wheels one more time and done!! I was amazed when I took it for a test drive. The brake pedal has not felt that solid since I swapped out my original ChryCo 8.25 for the D44 I have in it now, back in 2006. I literally get about an inch or maybe 2 of pedal drop and it's putting me through the windshield. I highly recommend this proportioning valve mod to all of you guys who hate your XJs braking performance. I snapped a few pics along the way and you can check out what the proportioning valve actually looks like on the inside and the outside by going to the link and reading about the mod.
Last edited by BuckB91XJ; Jul 12, 2012 at 05:56 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Washington
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6
Originally Posted by OleBlue
installed mudflaps, they look much bettwer than i thought they were going to.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: bonney lake
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: l6 4.0
went to evans friday and did 311 got all the way to the last part snapped my rear driveline then found out there was no way to go but back down. then tryed going through the camp ground but coudent go that way either cus someone left there cherokee in the middle of the trail. all in all i broke a tail light and driveline. but haveing trouble finding a driveline now. oh yea it was also my first time wheeling evans only ever road along


