I've wondered now for long time if my brakes have the stopping power that they should have.I have been replacing the obviously worn components and as yet seen only a very small improvement.Here is how they presently feel/operate,they do a good job slowing down while driving under 40mph in town traffic.That is to say light to medium pedal pressure,gearing down[3rd gear],flat and level roads with medium to high traffic volumns.Now if I had to stop suddenly,standing on the brake pedal full force will bring the jeep to a stop.I cannot lock up the wheels,not possible,I've tried,believe me.The pedal resistance is firm not hard,perhaps a touch spongy/firm.The pedal does not go to the floor [bottom out]Pumping them does help,but this is not always an option when you have to stop suddenly.highway driving and steep downhilling without benefit of lower gearing is down right frightening.Here is what I've done to the brakes--- new front rotors and pads, new rear drums and shoes/wheel cylinders, new master cylinder, and yes I must have bled the brakes a dozen times.
All thats left is the front calipers and proportioning valve,so before I do that does any one have similar experience,or am I just looking at poor brakes?
Oh one more thing, I have seen some cj's with a booster,mine does not have a booster.
1986 cj 7 ,You might want to stay out of the way! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

One very common problem with brakes is the shoes! Everyone sells a "lifetime" shoe. Buy the cheapest shoe you can find. It will be softer and will stop better. The "lifetime" ones can be really hard and they need to be on a circle track to get hot enough to stop your Jeep.
That's my two cents.
Big JIm

do you have a lift on your jeep?? it may be time to upgrade to a power brake system

Thanks for the replies so far. I'm not running a lift yet or larger tires.What power brake add on is available? Do you think the front calipers, which could still be the originals,may not be operating at their best? After replacing the master cylinder I did get the most improvement so far and my thinking is that all that new hydraulic pressure is just not working on the calipers. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" />

the calipers usually give signs like sticking after you let off the pedal, not saying it couldn't be them but when my jeep was having that problem and i kept throwing new parts at it a buddy of mine gave me a set of rubber lines that go to the front calipers from the frame problem solved i guess the lines start to fray and plug up over time. power brakes are a very worth while investment especially if you want a lift and bigger tires <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Hydralic pressure being what it is, pretty near constant, I still think the problem is where the pads meet the rotors. I, too, have made the mistake of using too hard of brake pads. What happens is you stomp on the pedal and the pad hits the rotor and just slides around and around the rotor without grabbibg hold of it much. After a few hard stops the rotor and pad will heat up and start to work better. (as in a race track situation) But since we are not running balls to the wall like that the pads and rotor stay mostly cool...and never work as advertised!
Whats it gonna cost? $20.? Try a set of the cheapest you can find at any parts house. That may be your only problem.
Big JIm

Aloha again dude
I forgot to say what I do to the front end of a ride like yours.... I go down the the parts store and get a pair of new rotors and some pads and a pair of rebuilt calipers. I pay less than $100. total for these items. Then I put them on and return the caliper core and throw everything else away. This has been the easiest and most dependable way for me to redo the front brakes on them jeeps. I stopped turning jeep rotors a long time ago. It takes years for the all new stuff to wear down to needing to be redone.
Big Jim

Thanks again,the next time I'm in the wrenching mood [jeep is not my main ride]I'll do the remanufactured calipers that come completely assembled with pads.I actually did just that and rotors on my daily work horse '93 Dakota v8 4wd now theres a truck thats gone thru a set of pads every year and this would be the second rotor change I've made.I hear you Jim about the pad hardness issue,I do use the cheap ones on the truck, after having used the 'premium' kind which I'm sure were too hard and helped to wear out rotors.Well lots of practice changing these things out,can get this done in a couple hours after work and yes it is pretty cheap. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

You might wanna look at the rear wheel cylinders on the rear backing plates. I've seen many of these rust or collect brake build-up, leading to failure. I'm with BJ about the pads. Cheapest you can get on the Jeeps. Repack the front bearings like it's a maintenance item, so I'm already there once a year or so.

I would consider spending a little money and replace the existing rubber brake lines (as stated above) with some good stainless braided lines (when your replacing them, flush out your steel lines real good), the cost is minimal and you will get better fluid pressure to your brakes, the old style rubber ones expand under pressure and take away some of your stopping force, and if they are original, they are likely due for replacement anyways, it will make a difference.