What did you do to your Cherokee today?
Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I hate to say it, but you probably didn't need to replace the whole caliper.
Brake Calipers are fairly simple animals and taking one apart and cleaning the rust off of the piston(what most commonly causes lock-up) is free minus the brake fluid to bleed the lines and the $5 in new seals if they're needed.
Happened to me earlier this spring where my passenger side caliper would do a partial lock-up and I'd pull over and you could hear the thing cooking the brake fluid inside it. I hate replacing stuff that doesn't need it so I did some research and decided to go ahead and take it off and take it apart. Low and behold there was some light surface rust on the piston that was keeping it from retracting into the caliper, I took some fine grain sandpaper, removed the rust there and on the inside of the caliper bore and it hasn't given me the slightest problem since. All it cost me was the sandpaper I already had plus like $5 in brake fluid.
Brake Calipers are fairly simple animals and taking one apart and cleaning the rust off of the piston(what most commonly causes lock-up) is free minus the brake fluid to bleed the lines and the $5 in new seals if they're needed.
Happened to me earlier this spring where my passenger side caliper would do a partial lock-up and I'd pull over and you could hear the thing cooking the brake fluid inside it. I hate replacing stuff that doesn't need it so I did some research and decided to go ahead and take it off and take it apart. Low and behold there was some light surface rust on the piston that was keeping it from retracting into the caliper, I took some fine grain sandpaper, removed the rust there and on the inside of the caliper bore and it hasn't given me the slightest problem since. All it cost me was the sandpaper I already had plus like $5 in brake fluid.
I didn't throw it away, after I did a search on this fine site (I luuuuv this site!!!). Contacted a Jeep parts guy in the South Island of this fine country, who is sending me up two caliper repair kits (I'm gunna do both sides). I'm going to do a complete front pad change, and the fluid while I'm at it. My 'parts guy' said that the front 'calipers locking up' is a very common problem!!
Cheers for throwing in your comments tho... much appreciated.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 6
From: Tenn. and Mich.
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8
Returned to Mich. on Memorial Day from a two week trip back home and started looking for some good brake pads for the WJ. Less than a year on these pads and the rotors are warped and the pads are toast. My ZJ's pads are 5 years old and have lots of mountain driving on them with no problems, but can't remember what I bought. 
Any suggestions? Post here or PM me.
Dan
Any suggestions? Post here or PM me.
Dan
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,145
Likes: 0
Didn't do anything to the XJ today...however I did pick up a welder that I'm borrowing from a buddy and started teaching myself to weld. Picking up a bunch of scrap steel later this week for $20 and I'll be well on my way to building bumpers. 
VGX makes good stuff. My pads need replacing after only a year because I had a caliper lock up so both sets are all messed up, and I'll need to get my brand new rotors resurfaced. FML.
Returned to Mich. on Memorial Day from a two week trip back home and started looking for some good brake pads for the WJ. Less than a year on these pads and the rotors are warped and the pads are toast. My ZJ's pads are 5 years old and have lots of mountain driving on them with no problems, but can't remember what I bought.
Any suggestions? Post here or PM me.
Dan
Any suggestions? Post here or PM me.
Dan
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Southern Indiana
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
got me a mig welder off craigslist for $40, plan to do some rust repair soon along with fabricating a safari rack and rocker shields. Luv craigslist, just wish I could catch the posts for f250 part outs before someone snatches the dana 60s 
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Since I've only owned mine for a week I haven't done much. the driver seat was flopping all over the place so tonight I yanked it out, stripped it down, re-welded all the broken stuff and re-installed it. Much better!! Now it doesn't throw you into the passenger seat when you get in.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 1
From: West Springfield, MA
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
took some flex shots, and finally found a grille and headlight doors that are the same color as my jeep off a Cherokee Classic instead of the all black one that came on mine
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,145
Likes: 0
Its a Lincoln HandyMIG. Belongs to a buddy of mine. The 4 heat settings leave something to be desired but its a great welder overall. Welding is easy to learn but will take lots of practice. I started teaching myself today....and will be for the next week.
What kind?
What kind?
Seasoned Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Rebuilt 4.0L
Visited my favorite JY and got a water pump pulley, went to my second favorite JY and got a fan w/ clutch and pulley, radiator, and was too close to stealing a bunch of 32" BFG All-terrains scattered around the yard!! I think someone strategically placed them so that only they would get the set....but now, they're hidden in 4 different spots so I can take em next week! Still had over half-tread on them, with no weather cracking!!
Seasoned Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: North, Ga
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Did my rear brakes pads. Not to bad but the first one took a few min, after I figured out how they worked it was a breeze. Then prepped it for the trails tomorrow.