Jeep CJ5 Brakes won't Bleed: Problem Resolved!
Dolamite
Jeeper
- Posts
- 180
- Media
- 9
- Thanks
- 0
- Location
- Michigan's Upper Peninsula
- Vehicle(s)
- 1980 Jeep CJ5
258 I6
3.54 gears
AMC 20 Rear Diff (1 piece Axles w/Lokka)
Dana 30 Front Diff w/Lokka
Tremec T-176 4 speed Trans
Dana 300 transfer Case w/Twinstick
Background:
I purchased a used CJ5 that had a shackle lift installed. It handled terribly and needed to be addressed. I decided to put a 4" RC suspension lift on. The lift required extending the brake lines. After installing the lift and replacing the brake lines, I could not get the brakes to bleed. Prior to doing installing the lift, the brakes worked fine.
Resolution:
The front brake calipers were positioned in a way that the bleeder screws were not at the top of cylinder. Reversing the calipers so the bleeder screws were at the highest point solved the problem.
Comments:
I worked for hours on this, installed a new rear wheel cylinders, new front calipers, a new master cylinder, and finally needed outside help to resolve the problem. I kind of felt like an idiot when they explained what they had to do, but I felt better after finding out that the tore the entire rear brakes apart first trying to fix the problem.
Hope this helps save somebody the aggravation and brake fluid that I went through!
I purchased a used CJ5 that had a shackle lift installed. It handled terribly and needed to be addressed. I decided to put a 4" RC suspension lift on. The lift required extending the brake lines. After installing the lift and replacing the brake lines, I could not get the brakes to bleed. Prior to doing installing the lift, the brakes worked fine.
Resolution:
The front brake calipers were positioned in a way that the bleeder screws were not at the top of cylinder. Reversing the calipers so the bleeder screws were at the highest point solved the problem.
Comments:
I worked for hours on this, installed a new rear wheel cylinders, new front calipers, a new master cylinder, and finally needed outside help to resolve the problem. I kind of felt like an idiot when they explained what they had to do, but I felt better after finding out that the tore the entire rear brakes apart first trying to fix the problem.
Hope this helps save somebody the aggravation and brake fluid that I went through!