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4 posters

    Power Brakes

    Hubie
    Hubie


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    Post by Hubie Sat Oct 12, 2013 1:50 pm

    Morning Gang.

    1991 Cherokee Laredo, Auto, 4.0L, 273,000 miles.

    The brakes are really, really, really, sucky. No stopping power at all. I've replaced the rear shoes so the E-brake works great now. You can stop, you just have to "anticipate". If I stomp the brakes, the left front will lock up, but no other wheels.

    Plenty of fluid, and bled thoroughly. Vacuum Booster checks out good.

    I'm thinking it's the proportioning (balance) valve.

    I don't want to just keep replacing stuff until I find the bad actor. Is there any way to test a balance valve?
    booth9c1ss
    booth9c1ss


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    Location : N44*19 W70*02, KC1BSS

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    Post by booth9c1ss Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:02 pm

    How long has it been since they worked right?

    If you have stuck slide pins (disk brakes), only one pad grips the disk, instead of the two clamping. It seems that your left front is working just fine, but really check the right side.

    The rears, take off the drum and see if everything is okay in there. There is a piston in there that expands the shoes.
    Hubie
    Hubie


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    Post by Hubie Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:28 pm

    Thanks Booth, I'll check that. Would the stuck pin make the pedal really soft too? It feels like only half the brakes are working via the pedal as well. The pistons are working okay.

    It's been like this since I bought it a couple months ago. The PO isn't very mechanically inclined, he always took it to Mineke in Augusta.

    The brake light is on as well, which makes me think it might be the balance valve.
    wntrcmpr
    wntrcmpr


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    Post by wntrcmpr Sat Oct 12, 2013 10:00 pm

    I had the same symptoms on my jeep. Soft brakes and the brake light was on. The P.O ( Me ) put the front calipers on the wrong sides...Swapped them around and what do you know ...They worked fine
    booth9c1ss
    booth9c1ss


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    Post by booth9c1ss Sun Oct 13, 2013 6:08 am

    In GM products, the light only warns you of two things; the fluid is low in the reservoir, or the parking brake is on.

    Maybe air in the lines? Try bleeding the brakes too.
    MtnClimber
    MtnClimber
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    Post by MtnClimber Sun Oct 13, 2013 7:45 am

    How are the knuckles where the brake pads slid back-n-forth? Do they have lil indents where the pads sit? If so, knuckles are pooched (but repairable). Pop the calipers off. It sounds like both knuckles have those grooves/indents where the pads have sat for the past 20 years. They are repairable, but you better know a damn good welder.

    Caliper bleeders screws must always point up OR be above the caliper piston itself for proper air extraction.

    The proportioning valve is only for front-to-rear balance, so you may have a few issues happening at the same time.
    The light on tells me there's an issue with the proportioning valve since the light is mounted to it. Maybe a simple piece-o-dirt got in there during one of the brake fluid flushes. They're easy enough to replace too. Upgrades are possible but really only good for the rocks Cool

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