I'm back on the road but with a reacurring problem...

I really hate to disagree with you here, but it seems like every car, truck or Jeep I've ever owned locked the rears 1st in a panic stop. That includes my '94 YJ, my wifes '96 XJ and our '02 Ram.
I could be wrong though. I am by no stretch the wizz kidd who knows it all.
As a rule I try to avoid locking up the tires. A skidding tire is not slowing down very well.

 

I think he is probably just having a weight distribution problem. I wouldn't worry about it and get use to driving it like it is. But then again, half the stuff I drive don't stop worth a darn.

 

My 2 cents...converted the 79 Blazer with 3/4 ton dana 44 front/GM 14 bolt rear to rear discs because the mud would eat the rear drums up and they were such a bear to work on.... one of the best mods I ever did and really the only improvement a 14 bolt needs.... Brakes 101 tells us the fronts must lock just before the rear or the rear will try to come around on you, which it DEFINITELY did on the Blazer.... tested it on a long, downhill, straight (!) gravel road and the first time I hit the brakes nearly lost it.... I had installed an inline adjustable valve to the rear brakes (which is in addition to the stock prop valve), such as available from Summit racing... the way these work is you can dial them down to reduce the pressure, all the way down is about a 2/3 reduction in pressure. I had to dial it almost all the way down (one turn from all the way down) to get them to even out, that's how effective the new discs were.... with the short blazer wheelbase, 454 up front, about 5" lift and 35s I think the handling dynamics would be comparable to a CJ-5 just on a larger scale, if that makes sense.... I would recommend the adjustable valve as a good fix and worth time/effort/money. My summit catalog lists a billet aluminum one with up to 57% reduction for $33.95 part number SUM-G3905

 

My cj5 hasn't had brakes since we drug it home.
Just not enough time and or money at the same time.

 

Good point, we used to run the valves on our drag cars to keep the rears from locking up.
I think in normal braking though he is not having problems.
His front may be right on the edge too. Real hard to diagnose over the net.

 

I remember when I drove a truck for a living and the 2ton flatbed didn't have brakes. The old warehouse man always told me if you drove a straight shift you didn't need brakes. I guess thats why I never worry too much about them while I'm on the road. I just use the 25 car length rule. Don't get any closer than that to the car in front of you.