Front Range 4x4 Upcoming Trail Runs - Add a New Trail Run

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Thread: Mod For The Day

  1. #1321
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    I'm finally ready to hit the trails !!!

    I've been battling "satisfying brakes" since I bought the jeep several years ago (I'm quite slow on some projects). The thing has an unknown but guessable 78 Wagoneer Dana 44 rear axle with the 1985 Cadillac Eldorado disk brake calipers which give integrated parking brake capability (See caliper pic - courtesy of O'Reilly Auto Parts). I've gone through two+ sets of rear calipers, fighting them all of the way, to get sound brake performance (bonus for lifetime warranty service).

    Late last summer I tried to see how quickly the jeep would stop from ~40mph on clean, dry pavement. I pushed that brake pedal harder than I ever recall. No tire locked up. It stopped decently but wouldn't take home any participation trophy. From that curious test I graced myself with a sinking brake pedal at stop lights. That hard press had pushed the rubber seals past some rust area in the master cylinder bore and damaged the seals. Time for a new master cylinder (slap my head for the what-were-you-thinking prize). Out to the parts store - brake master cylinder for an 1990 Wrangler please.

    Dismount old MC and mount the new (blindly returning the old MC as a core charge) with proper brake bleed of the system... only to have a pedal that hits 90% to the floor to have only 70% brake performance. What the heck?!?! Double check the brake bleed - I'm good (put me as a BIG FAN of the industrial syringe bleed method - see pic). With a "one-pump" of the pedal I have fantastic brakes. High pedal. Firm. No sink while stopped. But it takes one pump to attain that. Not satisfactory. Pinch off the rear brake hose - fantastic, high, firm brake pedal. The front's are good (they're stock I believe) with aftermarket steel braid flex lines. Was the MC I turned in for core charge not a 1990 Wrangler specific MC but rather a specific MC to help with having rear discs??? No telling - water long under the bridge. Time to focus on those danged Cadillac calipers and maybe yet another MC change.

    I resolved myself to crossing the issue off of my list.

    I poured time into research on how these calipers should operate. I checked the rebuilders' web site (Cardone) for tech documents. I asked a professional mechanic buddy for his knowledge of "adjusting" the calipers and any tech docs he could funnel my way. YouTube has several "try this" / "this worked for me on this project" vids. In the end - I'd install the calipers onto the vehicle and I could not get any satisfactory brake pedal. The calipers would not adjust or function as everything I read or saw said they should. Time to jump into the deep end and conquer.

    But then you ask yourself - if you changed the MC why are you focusing on the rear calipers? Shouldn't you focus on the MC? We'll get to the MC. In process of bleeding the rear calipers and trying to adjust with the parking brake actuator arm - caliper in fully assembled mode on the vehicle / ready to be put into service - the driver's side caliper decided to puke out of the p-brake actuator seal. Since I'm already ticked at these calipers and know I have lifetime warranty I just pulled the driver's side caliper and warranty returned it. So now, I'm focused on the rear calipers.

    A basic function of conventional disc only calipers is that they automatically self adjust for pad wear. These integrated calipers supposedly do not auto-adjust and require (somewhat routine) use of the parking brake mechanism to adjust for pad wear. Sadly, working the parking brake actuator arm (P-brake cable & return spring removed, caliper removed from vehicle - no pads installed) shows the caliper piston extend out of the piston bore - but then 100% back into the bore as the P-brake actuator is returned to home position. The piston, as I now know, should not return 100% on a cycle of the actuator lever. It should stay "out" more than when the p-brake actuator lever was first cycled. If a piston does not "move out further" with actuation of the parking brake arm the caliper is not working as designed.

    Time to disassemble the piston "assembly" (it's not just a plain caliper piston - it is an assembly). Sort of an piston inside of a piston with springs, ball bearings, actuator screws (see my photo of the assembly, disassembled). I come to find out that the assembly as I have from the parts house calipers - the internal parts are locked up and don't move. I make an educated assumption that the internal, piston assembly parts should have some freedom of movement. Why else would the manufacturer put a ball bearing set in it?

    The assembly is held together via a friction fit and I'm guessing that at the rebuilding house (which does need to disassemble the assembly to replace one internal square o-ring) simply pushes the assembly together until it can't go together any more. This puts the internal mechanism into a bind where it can't properly operate. Actuation of the parking brake lever, yes, actuates the p-brake but release of the lever does not find "take up the slack" of pad wear on the release as it should.

    Time to adjust the assembly for proper operation. Remove the assembly from the caliper. Remove the yellow "dust cap / two way valve" to expose the internal piston. Set the assembly onto a couple 2x4's and with a punch and hammer, push the internal piston (and assembly) out of the major piston enough to free up the internal mechanism's operation. Install yellow dust cap / valve and install the ?properly adjusted? piston assembly into the caliper. Mount the caliper onto the vehicle and cycle the parking brake lever to have the now-properly-functioning caliper take up slack between the pads and rotor. Assemble the parking brake cable, return spring, bleed as typical.

    Having the knowledge of how these calipers operate when properly assembled settles my mind. Knowing how to adjust the piston assembly is significant. I've not found this anywhere on the internet (I'll post a dedicated page at my site on this).

    Now back to the jeep and its brake pedal - better but still not satisfactory. Was the MC that I returned a custom / specific MC for this application? I'll never know. Time for yet more 1990 wrangler with 85 Caddy rear calipers and "what works" research. Some say go 1995 Wrangler booster and MC. Some say go 1977 Mercury Marquis 4-wheel Disc Brake with Hydroboost MC with 1998 Grand Cherokee proportioning valve. Quick info on the Merc MC - Sub $30, near direct bolt-on, and I can have it in my hands tomorrow - ordered. In my hands this last Saturday. Installed Saturday evening - modify the MC cover hold down bar for reduced space between MC and brake booster - done. OH CRAP - the outlet ports are swapped from what the 90 Wrangler's MC has. Do I make new MC to Prop-Valve lines or cut the ends off of these lines and swap fittings. In the end I came out easy - buy a double flare tool, cut flares and swap fittings and re-flare (and it seems no leaks!). Test drive. High, firm pedal with decent brakes - though the pedal is unusually hard - almost like not having power assist, though, a significant improvement. The 90 Wrangler MC has a 1" bore and the Merc MC an 1-1/8" bore. Now to look into booster-to-MC pushrod length.

    I measured distances on the 90 Wrangler MC and the 77 Merc MC and came up with 0.024" difference (MC-Booster mating surface to piston-pushrod mating surface). Dismount the Merc MC and guess at 1/2 turn to lengthen the pushrod might be close to 0.02". Road test - reasonable brakes. I'm calling it done / ready for summer unless I come across some oddity (backward, down hill braking??).

    It's been a long, frustrating road but I'm happy with where things are sitting. I know more of the details of the brake system which isn't a bad thing - I just didn't wish to jump into the pool. Having reasonable parking brakes might be a nice thing (I've never used them in 7 years - I recently ordered & installed custom cables as the driver's side wasn't long enough with this setup - something the PO didn't tend [and I was a slacker in tending - I didn't need parking brakes but also didn realize I should use them for decent rear caliper adjustment - a whole ball of badness is getting cleaned out on this project]). I might toy with changing the proportioning valve to a 98 Grand Cherokee to see if there's any improvement. Bleeding brakes is but a 20 min task with the syringe...
           

  2. The Following Member Says Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    Java (May 24th, 2018)

  3. #1322
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Nice work Jim...see you soon on the trail
    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

  4. The Following Member Says Thanks to FINOCJ For This Post:

    Jim (May 22nd, 2018)

  5. #1323
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Jim previously posted:
    "I'm finally ready to hit the trails !!! "

    Congrats Jim! If you want to get out a play hooky some week day and hit some trails, you should give me a holler!

  6. The Following Member Says Thanks to Brucker For This Post:

    Jim (May 22nd, 2018)

  7. #1324
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Installed a hand throttle. Did this last week before heading up to Chinaman's - really helps with carburetor and manual transmission. I used the Teraflex kit - its specifically designed for a TJ or something but is pretty universal. Essentially I wanted the pull lever/cable and it has a couple of different cable holders/mounts for the throttle end of the wire. I ended up using a random old strip of metal I had laying around as a bracket - its held onto the intake manifold using one of the manifold bolts. I used one of the included 'hollow' bolts that allows the wire to go through it, but also has a 'seat' on the inside that holds and secures the wire housing. After measuring and estimating multiple times, I cut the wire to length and crimped on an eyelet to the end of the wire to connect it into my throttle linkage on the carb. Using some washers and nut on the hollow screw, you can 'micro' adjust the tension so that the hand throttle lever is well adjusted. I really liked having it on Chinamans.



    ___________
    James Orofino
    1970 CJ5
    1958 Willys Wagon

  8. #1325
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Hand throttles - a flipp'n fantastic, small, quick, useful mod.

    ENJOY IT

  9. The Following Member Says Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    FINOCJ (May 24th, 2018)

  10. #1326
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Great mod, I had one in my TJ and used it a lot, especially as a make shift cruise control on the trail.

  11. #1327
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Jim- he is after ease of replacement. With out the mount it is much easier to carry.

    Looks good Aaron. Hope it cures the issue.
    ___________
    Crazy- You call me crazy, but you wouldn't know crazy if Charles Manson was eating Fruit Loops on your front porch. Suiciadl tendancies- intatutionalized

  12. #1328
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Squeak Eradication

    I'll never get rid of all of them - but some are higher on the annoyance list with an easy-to-fix. The two rear bumper loops tick-tick-tick when the jeep is on a bumpy trail. Solution is to put some rubber into the hinge - it'll allow the loop to pull out for use and (hopefully) not tick back into the bumper for the annoyance.

    I tried pushing rubber into the space with a punch. That process wasn't useful as rubber doesn't like to be pushed and the punch did what punches do - push through the material. Skip pushing - let's go to pulling...

    Cut what I thought would be a proper size of rubber from a fuel hose to run interference in the joint, make a hole at one end, thread through some safety wire as a pull. Thread the pull wire through the hinge, pull the rubber into place (success on guessing the size), pull one side of the safety wire to un-thread it. Done.
             

  13. The Following Member Says Thanks to Jim For This Post:

    Java (May 29th, 2018)

  14. #1329
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Chinaman Gulch left several marks as expected. While examining underneath, it became obvious how open the JK oil pan truly is under there. I covered it up today and feel better that the pan is now protected. FIrst shot shows how exposed it and the bottom of the tranny is, second shows it all covered up, just a corner of the pan showing. There is a trap door in the picture, this allows for easy oil change. Still thinking of adding a Fumoto drain valve and some tubing tucked up there, easy add later.
          

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  16. #1330
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Getaklu previously posted:
    "thinking of adding a Fumoto drain valve"

    I put one of those 1/4 turn finger twist drain valves on my car. I like it and it'll stay but do note that it drains more slowly than "remove the plug". Perhaps 3x slower??

  17. #1331
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Thanks for the warning Jim, something to think about for sure.
    ___________
    "A wise and frugal government...shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government." Thomas Jefferson

  18. #1332
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    They do drain very slow.

  19. #1333
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Took longer than a day but added some new rock lights.








  20. #1334
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    ooohhh pudri
    ___________
    Crazy- You call me crazy, but you wouldn't know crazy if Charles Manson was eating Fruit Loops on your front porch. Suiciadl tendancies- intatutionalized

  21. #1335
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Grab handles, jeeps tall makes for better entry
           
    ___________
    Crazy- You call me crazy, but you wouldn't know crazy if Charles Manson was eating Fruit Loops on your front porch. Suiciadl tendancies- intatutionalized

  22. #1336
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    They are nice to use.

  23. #1337
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Just some tinkering today, CB install and cut the back of the hood vents to allow they to be more functional!
             
    ___________
    Crazy- You call me crazy, but you wouldn't know crazy if Charles Manson was eating Fruit Loops on your front porch. Suiciadl tendancies- intatutionalized

  24. #1338
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Got a wheel back from being repaired, huge dent in it. Mounted a tires on it so now I have a spare.

  25. #1339
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    Made an inexpensive mount for CO2 tank bracket

    Got tired of the bungee cord mount for my CO2 tank, so decided to get something more sturdy.
    Started with a Powertank bracket that a friend no longer needed. I wanted to attach this to my roll-bar in the bed of the Jeep. Sounds simple but, the problem I encountered is that all the mounts I could find were for 2.25" roll bars or smaller (not to mention most of them were $25-50 each). My Jeep has a 3" bar and I could not find a mount made for that anywhere unless I had one special made ($80 each). Also the bracket did not have holes spaced for a 3" bar so I'd need to modify that a little.

    After thinking about it for a while I came on the idea of using some exhaust clamps to attach the bracket to the roll-bar. Two 3" clamps ($3.50 each), trimmed the u-bolts to desired length (to clear the tank), and a little paint will do the job just fine...
            
    ___________
    ~Not All Who Wander Are Lost~ (at least not all the time)

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  27. #1340
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    Default Re: Mod For The Day



    ^^ Might steal this one ^^

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