Brake question

[Pat]

What should I be looking at (whenever I eventually get my Eagle back)? The problem (never tried anything to fix) is the pedal goes way down before stopping. NOT soft, just a lot of travel. Did check fluid & was a LITTLE low in one side. Always stopped okay, again, just a lot of travel. Never puled a wheel to check lining or anything beyond topping off the master cylinder. This is one of those things for "in the future sometime" as I still don't have my Eagle back yet. Just wondering what to check first? No VISIBLE leaks & fluid was staying up after topping off.

[mr.mindless]

Does it get higher if you pump the pedal? If so, adjust your drums, they're probably loose, or in need of shoes.  If your rotors are warped and/or slide pins are unhappy the front calipers could be backing off too far, too.

[Pat]

Thanks Mr. Mindless. Pumping didn't seem to help (according to my memory. Over 1½ years ago, going from memory here now.).

[hypereagle]

What should I be looking at (whenever I eventually get my Eagle back)? The problem (never tried anything to fix) is the pedal goes way down before stopping. NOT soft, just a lot of travel. Did check fluid & was a LITTLE low in one side. Always stopped okay, again, just a lot of travel. Never puled a wheel to check lining or anything beyond topping off the master cylinder. This is one of those things for "in the future sometime" as I still don't have my Eagle back yet. Just wondering what to check first? No VISIBLE leaks & fluid was staying up after topping off.

Rear brake adjusters are seized and or adjuster cable either stretched or broke.

[BenM]

Yup, make sure that the rear brakes are clean and adjusted, the front calipers are sliding freely, and none of the flexible hoses are swollen.

I had a Jeep with a brake adjuster that had frozen completely retracted, it had a noticeable drive train windup on easy stops because the rear brakes didn't got enough fluid to extend. It's probably not so noticeable in AWD mode on an Eagle. A nice cheap fix, though.

Bad discs have given me a lot more travel in the past, check that they're wearing the whole width of the pads.

[Pat]

Thanks for the advice everybody. Will TRY (with my memory or actually, lack of that may be difficult) to remember these whenever I get it back.