CJ5 Brakes, hard to stop??

I have a good pedal no spongyness or going to the floor but these brakes just take a REALl hard push to stop the jeep! Is this normal for this year of Jeep? Seems that they are adjusted right but maybe there is some rust on the shoes and drums from sitting a while. No leakage around the drums like a seal is bad also. Any thoughts on this? Thanks, Mark

 

Yes used to not having power brakes with the 48 Power Wagon and the 53 M37 I had. Just with those I could at least skid the tires with a hard pedal. Do know that if every thing is not perfect the old ones don't stop near as good as when there adjusted right ect. The PWs and M37s have Toe and Heal adjustments so they are tricky to adjust right. I think I have 9" to 10" drums sure not 11" ones. If I remember right the ones in the military I drove 30 some years ago stopped better? Driving the old iron you learn to leave plenty of room for stopping! These new cars can stop on a dime and love to do it in front of you. I hope to pull the drums tonight, it is in the 90s degs out and was waiting for it to cool off some. Mark

 

9" brakes are about as good as Fred Flinstone's method.

 

Stopping is highly over rated.
Ah just kiddin, if you have the 9" brakes there marginal from what I hear, I had factory 10" drums all around, they worked pretty good but they were prone to fade under ahrd use, especially in the summer heat. I now have a dana 30 up front with disk brakes and the 10" drums in the rear, they stop really good even though the pedal has more than stock pedal travel, the watercrossing at Tellico never affected them one bit. I may still drill my rear drums to aid in stopping though.

 

Right on the button! Just pulled the drums and found one with a section of lining gone and the rest 1/8"-3/16" lining left. They were dirty heat cracked, decomposing, dirty, ect! The drums tho looked good no gruves or signs of rivet damage. No lip in them either I could slide them right off the shoes after I hit them lightly a few times with a hammer. Cylinders are not leaking and no signs of leakage inside the drums. I think it is in for a new set of lining to say the least. Yes they are the 9" drums to. Mark

 

Auto Zone has the best price. I ordered mine on line and got free shipping. Part # is 40 for front and back I think.

 

Brakes, rims and tires are done waiting for my new springs and shocks! Got the tub bed lined yesterday and need to beef up the 2 front role bar mounts today to finish it. Be a few more days till I can drive it again to test them but it is coming along just fine now. Mark

 

yes you must stand on the pedel to stop //////////you must plan your stops ahead of time