My New CJ - Already have questions

[kenny 84 CJ7]

Hello All

First want to say this forum was instramental in giving me advice/help in the selection process for my first Jeep CJ7 . I ended up with a 1984 CJ-7 that I got for a good price. It was not the year i wanted or the Transmission (T-5 ) but I'm not a huge off roader (yet) and most important was the body. Which is rust free and with the tub rhino lined. I am going to do all the basic checks through the jeep, brakes, fluids, engine, trans, but I have one thing that I'm not sure how to address.

My emergency/park brake will not hold the car on a hill. Is this something I can easily tighten? Should I look at replacing it? Right now I park in gear, but I don't want to chance it on hills.

I'm relatively new to this, and don't have a lot of mechanical skill yet, but ready to learn.

Thanks

 

[CJ]

:ww: Glad we could help - nice find...

First I would just try adjusting the rear brakes. Try backing up at a low speed then stopping as hard as you can safely. Do this several times and then see if that helped. Backing up and stopping engages the automatic shoe adjusters in your rear brakes as long as they are not stuck (stopping forward does not engage the adjusters).
You can also adjust the shoes by acessing the adjuster through the back plate (litte rectangular hole.)

An adjuster wrech is a nice cheap tool that makes it easy to adjust the star wheel but a screw driver will work in a pinch.

 

[alpha6]

Like CJ said...it probably just needs adjusting unless it is completely shot. But I have seen them for sell on Ebay fairly cheap. Good luck.

 

[kenny 84 CJ7]

Thanks guys, that sounds like it just might work. I'm going to go out and try it now.

 

[alpha6]

Post a couple of pics of your jeep when you get time...always like seeing what people have.

 

[kenny 84 CJ7]

:ww: Glad we could help - nice find...

First I would just try adjusting the rear brakes. Try backing up at a low speed then stopping as hard as you can safely. Do this several times and then see if that helped. Backing up and stopping engages the automatic shoe adjusters in your rear brakes as long as they are not stuck (stopping forward does not engage the adjusters).
You can also adjust the shoes by acessing the adjuster through the back plate (litte rectangular hole.)

An adjuster wrech is a nice cheap tool that makes it easy to adjust the star wheel but a screw driver will work in a pinch.

This seams to have worked. I did the trick then tried my driveway which is a little hill. Brake holds the car. Now I just need to find a monster hill and see what its limits are.

Thanks

 

[mtnwhlr]

Be sure to leave in 1st gear when parked also to keep it from rolling. You may already do this but I thought I would mention it.