I mentioned in another thread that Nix's brakes couldn't hold the car at idle at a red light. I got a clue she had a brake problem.

So I jacked her up this morning and crawled under for a thorough inspection. Both rear calipers were dry except for where one of the diff seals is leaking (changed at one time, new rotor installed on that side), which makes it a little oily, but not with brake fluid. I was pleased to find that.

Right front was dry, left front Far from dry.

Fittings were completely dry but fluid was dripping off the bottom of the caliper. This also explains why she was dodging to the right lately, along with the soft pedal.

Tear down and inspection revealed really grungy innards


and a badly notched cup in the bottom inboard position.


This is completely unacceptable. Looks like someone took water pump pliers to it. These were supposedly new calipers from O'Reiley's. We won't be getting any more from them. Pads of course are wet on that side.


Time for new caliper/pads combo from someone other than O'Reilly's.
That's what husband is doing this afternoon.

At least it's raining. I would hate to spend a nice day on this.
(';')

 

take them back, they usually have a good warranty even after it expires.

 

That might work, Jose, but the slips got lost (I have NO idea how that happened! I'm OCD when it comes to paperwork), and even if it didn't, husband says No More from them.

He's buying so they'll come from someone else.
(';')

 

I understand but remember no matter who you buy them from, they still come from someone else, remaned most likely.

 

Glad the problem was in the front.

 

You're right, Jose, and cooler heads have prevailed.
I called the store, and we have a lifetime warranty on these.
Fella says he'll have one for me tomorrow morning.
(';')

 

told ya! I go to my local O'Reilly's, Napa, and CarQuest because they have the old parts people there, unlike the AutoZoner and Advance kids who "need an application" before they can move their behind to go find a foot of 1/4" vacuum hose.

what's more, O'Reilly's can find a purchase you made as far back as 2004, no matter the State where you purchased it. So you don't even need a receipt.

 

Easy replacement and then bleeding... you got lucky this time.

 

Thank you, Roger, I did!
I have everything ready for reassembly. I'll probably have it buttoned up by noon including bleeding and maybe even tools put away.

Actually, this had been a welcome diversion from the oil pump drama in the next bay.
(';')

 

One thing I've always like about these older Jags is that, in my experience, the brake systems always bleed easily. I dunno know why, specifically. The way the pipes are shaped and routed?

Some cars, jeeeeez, you bleed and bleed and bleed until you're nigh-on exhausted before getting the air out.

Cheers
DD

 

LnrB:


Well, it sure does seem that things are coming out as good as one could expect. No smash up. No one hurt. A front vs rear caliper. Reilly's standing tall. Seems like rebuilt stuff can always be subject to an issue, no matter where sourced or what facility did the rebuild.


What's with the oil pump ?


Doug;


A few decades ago, dear departed's car was a 71 Hornet aka Rambler. Nice six and AMX. Would "pull it's share of SBC"s" Very torquey 258 CI's. Akin to the one in my 94 Jeep.


Alas, it's brakes were a bear to bleed. Early front disk's new to me at the time. Pump and hold just didn't seem to get enough PSI for a good "burp". Solved. Fire the engine. Boost enabled dear departed to get the good "burp".


Jeep got new tires. Interesting! CARB now prescribes the PSI!!!! 33 here. A bit stiffer than it was, but it got Wanglers in lieu of it's Yokohamas.


Sorry for the thread theft.


Carl

 

Noon:15 here and all finished except tie wires on the caliper bolts.
Soon as I get that done we're off on a test drive for Bake-It-Yourself pizza.
(';')

 

It looks to me that there is a posibbility that a gravel stone got in there
and messed it up.

Walter

 

I can't remember the last time I bled mine, must have been 1998 because I had the car on blocks to replace the exhaust pipes with Euro pipes and my pretty neighbor came around asking curiosity questions about what I was doing so I put her to work, and yes, I bled them with engine running. Yes I know it was cruel to put her to work, but she wanted to sit in the driver's seat anyway, so we killed two birds with one stone. The old "everybody wins".

 

Looks like you ended up with a Friday caliper - I would have thought they'd have replaced a piston that chewed up. I had kits to rebuild mine but the pistons were beyond saving so I put two on Blue Six from O'Reilly's last month. Those reman calipers were cheaper than replacement pistons! Had both swapped out and on the car in an hour. The wife helped me bleed them and they were good to go.

 

This car has Never had brakes this good, probably for Years!
When I test drove her September 2013, the brakes seemed not quite right so I asked, "Are these power assist?" I was told on no uncertain terms, "These are 4-wheel disc brakes!" so I said no more.

Within 3 months I had to replace both the master and booster because of catastrophic failure (100 miles from home, steep hill, stop light at the bottom, cross traffic and suddenly no brakes!). During 2014-2015 we replace all the calipers and hoses. But there was still something not quite right with the brakes, they were soft. I jacked it up more than once to see if I had a leak somewhere but never found one so I quit looking, thinking it would show itself plainly in good time. In the meantime I was cautious -- sort of.

I think that piston was scarred from the refurb facility. Those are tooth marks from a large plier of some sort or a vice grip. Husband says it looks like A1 Cardone's work; clean most of the grease off, put it in a new box and get it out the door. No matter, with O'Reilly's lifetime replacement warranty I only pay once. They don't make much money off me.

Air tools make short work of this sort of repair. Most of my time was spent on the road to and from the parts store.

When I bleed brakes I fill the reservoir, pump a couple times and let it sit for a while, so fluid can ooze its way down into all the cavities. In a week or so I'll bleed that caliper again just to see if a bubble was missed, but I don't think one was. I would Really like to have a pressure bleeder but they're too expensive for the use it would get here.

Anyway, this afternoon I was driving a virtually different car. There's a whole new level of confidence when you Know you'll stop straight and true when you jump on the Large peddle.
That should mean I can drive even faster! <<<
(';')

 

That's exactly what they did - used a pair of channel locks or a Stillson wrench to get that piston out. I've done that when I was young and inexperienced. That should never have passed QC.
A piston like that can be reused - but the rebuild will not last. Found that out the hard way many years ago.

 

Peddle??? I always termed the control as a pedal. Never mind, just me and my delight in words.


And boost is boost ! Whether to pads or shoes!!!!


Congrats on finding the fault and fixing it the correct way.


Caveat; Although the brakes are better than ever, don't over drive them... I'm sure you will drive fast, but in safety.


Although my much "younger" Jeep has ABS and my jaguar does not, each brakes well, in their own way.


The Jeep's pedal is "jumpier" than the Jaguar. Even, in an all out stop, the Jaguar does not "lock 'em up", it merely squats and stops. Much like the old Cow Pony I had as a kid.


Carl

 

Thank you, Carl,
That's the result of Auto-Correct which, as we all know, is way smarter than us mere mortals, and my proof reading negligence.
(';')

 

anybody got parts for my '97 4.0 liter extended body Ford Aerostar?

'Cause Ford Motor Company doesn't make them, Ford Dealers don't have them, everything is obsolete at Ford. E V E R Y T H I N G.

Like I told Ford's Customer Service: Look here: you almost destroyed Jaguar, but you couldn't. But you sure are experts at copying Jaguar styling aren't you?

and I can find any parts for any Jaguar as far back as 1930 which by the way, you were trying to prohibit the supply but you couldn't, AND I cannot find ANY part for a miserable 1997 FORD minivan? You tell THAT to your CEO and tell him JOSE wants to know WHY ARE NEW FORD PARTS MADE IN CHINA?