i just got done bleeding my brakes on my 79 cj5, i bleed them just like i did on my old 88 chevy and my girlfriends 81 k-5, now the problem is when its not running they feel tight, but when i start it they get really mushy and don't feel like they're engagin until the pedal hits the floor, any suggestions will help, oh and things i've done, new pads and shoes, turn rotors and new drums, new front hoses

Sounds like you might have to adjust the rears, if it is a low, holding pedal.. Also it wouldnt hurt to crack sll four bleeders and have a :beer: & :smokin: , let em gravity bleed for 5-10 minutes to make sure all the air is gone, top the master with brake fluid not the beer :D

Manual or Power FMI

Oh yea. Ajust rears until thay start to drag, that will fix that problem.

If that fails try a new master cylinder, I have had the same thing happen before. One time it was the master cylinder the other air in the brakes lines.
good luck

aggielr, have you fixed it yet? I've got the same problem with my Nissan Pathfinder. Please let me know how you fixed it.

no, haven't fixed it yet, tried the adjustment of the rear brakes, now i'll have to try a master cylinder, i'll let ya know when i get the money to do it

Do you still wheel it? Or have you declared it unsafe to wheel?

haven't wheeled it yet, only driven on the street a few times, its stops, and i can lock up all the wheels, just have to press the pedal really far

gotcha... well, looks like a new MC for me then...

hey aggie, do you have a vacuum booster?? i don't know what year they started putting those in CJ's, but a lot of them do not have a vac. booster
did you get new tires when you did your SOA??
if you just got bigger tires, like 33's or 35's, then what you are feeling is normal. I have driven a couple if CJ's with no booster, and 33's or 35's, and the brakes just suck. No offense-

Good Luck!

well its got 33's, they look really REALLY small on it now, but yes i do have vacuum booster, but its like no pressure gets to the brakes till the petal gets about 3/4 of the way down, i know cj brakes suck, thats why over the summer i'm gettin an intership and goin full width, d44, and either 14-bolt and d60, and new booster and mc, but thanks for the help

Try bleading the master cylinder before you replace it. Had a similar pedal feel when i put power brakes on and after fighting it for a while i re-blead the master really well and it made a huge difference. Must have had a air pocket that regular bleeding wouldn't get rid of.

I've looked, and I'm almost certain that Nissan didn't put a bleeder on their MC.. (Stupid fawking Nissans... No american solid axle trucks, no bleeder on the MC... Do I need to go on?)

This is the best way to bleed a master cylinder. Make sure the ends of the lines are in the fluid and pump the master cylinder several times. All the air will bubble out. Then connect your lines and bleed at the wheels again.

So, should I go out and buy some hard brake lines that will fit into the holes and turn them into the MC, and pump the brake? That picture kinda confused me... Sorry.. I'm an ASU student. I can't help my stupidity..

Originally posted by McSoo
So, should I go out and buy some hard brake lines that will fit into the holes and turn them into the MC, and pump the brake? That picture kinda confused me... Sorry.. I'm an ASU student. I can't help my stupidity..

Yep, thats exactly what it is. Sorry, I should have been more specific.