My EX hates me.

[ThatGuy]

The last week has been nothing short of a pain in my ass.

I have come to the conclusion that my Explorer hates me.

To begin with, I have had some overheating problems that needed addressing. I decided I would fix that stuff once and for all and not look back so Friday I went and got a new radiator, water pump, electric fan, and adjustable thermostat. I replaced all of that stuff Fri. evening as well as a new cap and hoses. Cooling system done.

Go riding Sat. morning and find out my hubs are still giving me problems. I took them apart 4 or 5 times on the trail and ended up putting the locking collar in and packing the hub with rocks, then putting the face on. I had 4wd. Had to tear it all back apart after the ride to dig it all back out so I could drive home. Went to James Duff and got new hubs later that day. 4wd done.

Ever since I done the SAS I've had a soft brake pedal. I figured since I've done so much work this weekend, might as well fix the brakes too. Gravity bled the system, pedal still soft. Bled the traditional way (3 times), pedal still soft. Replaced both rear wheel cylinders (front were new when axle was put together) then bled 2 more times. Still soft. Unhooked booster and pedal was hard as a rock. So hard that I was going to drive around the block but got scared getting out of my driveway because I was pulling on the steering wheel to put more force on the brake pedal. Hooked booster back up and BAM! soft again.

Went back out to do some more work on the brakes today and the damn thing won't start! It turned over for several tries but never started. Then it acted like the battery died from trying to start it. I hooked jumper cables to it but it never would do anything. Guage on the dash shows I got juice but starter sounds like dead/weak battery. I even took the battery out of my Jeep and put in it but nothing. I'm done for today, just had to rant for a second while dinner is cooking.......























..........I think something is burning

 

[84stealthranger]

picss i wanna c this thing lol

 

[ThatGuy]

Only new pics I have is when it was still in the shop. No wheeling pics yet......

 

[adsm08]

Have you checked the adjustment of the brakes? I assume you have drums up front, try turning the adjusters up a bit.

 

[ThatGuy]

Ummm, no drums up front. '79 Bronco full width HP44 (disk) and 9" rear (drum for now).

New calipers up front and now new wheel cylinders in the rear.

 

[--weezl--]

out of adjustment drums wouldn't cause spongy brakes, unless it dropped your fluid too low and you sucked air... i would say it's either a caliper, wheel cylinder or master cylinder issue, one is going to need replacing or rebuilding... but it's hard to say...

 

[trail B2]

Yea my Ex hates me too, fills the room it does.
Did you let it run out of fluid maybe need to bleed by master again.Look for upside down U's to trap air in your brake lines up front.

 

[fordwheelinman]

id be looking at master cylinder. I had problems with my first 92, and now with the current 92 that my father has. Have you ever leaked any fluid out? My master would get mysteriously low, and show no leaks anywhere. After it was wrecked and we stripped it, i pulled the master off the booster and found what i think was my problem. Seals leaking by and not holding pressure. The current Ex will have decent brakes to a point but then it doesnt stop any better but the pedal goes to the floor, i believe master is my problem.

 

[88_Eddie]

i thought you meant your wife

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Did you change your master when you installed the new axles?

You need to run a half ton master cylinder with the half ton axles.

Get one for a fullsize bronco or f150, problem solved.

 

[ThatGuy]

Any years in particular for the master cylinder?
Is it a bolt on mod or what?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Well I know when we did my buddys 87 B2 with the fullwidth d44 and 9" we used the 79 f150 master, but i'm sure a newer one (up to a 96) would most likely work.

The old ones are the cast iron ones with the metal lid, but you can probably use the newer style plastic one if you want.

 

[trail B2]

What is the difference in the full size master cylinder?Bore stroke orifice size?

 

[fordwheelinman]

get your brakes straightened out yet? Or have you even got it running again?

 

[Captain Ledd]

did you bench bleed the master cylinder? I'm told you need to do this or it'll remain soft no matter how much you bleed the system. There's a little air pocket in there that just doesn't come out. Which explains what I was doing wrong the first two times I fiddled with the things.

Brakes have been fine since.