Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSJEEP1986CHEROKEE CHIEF, 4D UTILITY, 2.8 W, AUTOMATICREPAIR AND DIAGNOSISGENERAL INFORMATIONBASIC TROUBLE SHOOTINGBASIC TROUBLE SHOOTING - GENERAL INFORMATIONBRAKESBRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING
1986 Jeep Cherokee Chief, 4D Utility, 2.8 W, Automatic
Brake System Trouble Shooting
1986 Jeep Cherokee Chief, 4D Utility, 2.8 W, AutomaticSECTION Brake System Trouble Shooting
NOTE:
This is GENERAL
information. This article is not intended to be specific to any unique situation or individual vehicle configuration. The purpose of this Trouble Shooting information is to provide a list of common causes to problem symptoms. For model-specific Trouble Shooting, refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles available in the section(s) you are accessing.
BRAKE SYSTEM TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART
| CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE | CORRECTION | |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes Pull Left or Right | ||
| Incorrect tire pressure | Inflate tires to proper pressure | |
| Front end out of alignment | See WHEEL ALIGNMENT | |
| Mismatched tires | Check tires sizes | |
| Restricted brake lines or hoses | Check hose routing | |
| Loose or malfunctioning caliper | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Bent shoe or oily linings | See DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Malfunctioning rear brakes | See DRUM, DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Loose suspension parts | See SUSPENSION | |
| Noises Without Brakes Applied | ||
| Front linings worn out | Replace linings | |
| Dust or oil on drums or rotors | See DRUM, DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Noises With Brakes Applied | ||
| Insulator on outboard shoe damaged | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Incorrect pads or linings | Replace pads or linings | |
| Brake Rough, Chatters or Pulsates | ||
| Excessive lateral runout | Check rotor runout | |
| Parallelism not to specifications | Reface or replace rotor | |
| Wheel bearings not adjusted | See SUSPENSION | |
| Rear drums out-of-round | Reface or replace drums | |
| Disc pad reversed, steel against rotor | Remove and reinstall pad | |
| Excessive Pedal Effort | ||
| Malfunctioning power unit | See POWER BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Partial system failure | Check fluid and pipes | |
| Worn disc pad or lining | Replace pad or lining | |
| Caliper piston stuck or sluggish | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Master cylinder piston stuck | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Brake fade due to incorrect pads for linings | Replace pads or linings | |
| Linings or pads glazed | Replace pads or linings | |
| Worn drums | Reface or replace drums | |
| Excessive Pedal Travel | ||
| Partial brake system failure | Check fluid and pipes | |
| Insufficient fluid in master cylinder | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Air trapped in system | See BRAKE BLEEDING or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Rear brakes not adjusted | See Adjustments in DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Bent shoe or lining | See DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Plugged master cylinder cap | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Improper brake fluid | Replace brake fluid | |
| Pedal Travel Decreasing | ||
| Compensating port plugged | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Swollen cup in master cylinder | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Master cylinder piston not returning | See MASTER CYLINDERS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Weak shoe retracting springs | See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Wheel cylinder piston sticking | See DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Dragging Brakes | ||
| Master cylinder pistons not returning | See MASTER CYLINDERS BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Restricted brake lines or hoses | Check line routing | |
| Incorrect parking brake adjustment | See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Parking Brake cables frozen | See DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Incorrect installation of inboard disc pad | Remove and replace correctly | |
| Power booster output rod too long | See POWER BRAKE UNITS BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Brake pedal not returning freely | See DISC, DRUM BRAKES BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Brakes Grab or Uneven Braking Action | ||
| Malfunction of combination valve | See CONTROL VALVE or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Malfunction of power brake unit | See POWER BRAKE UNITS or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Binding brake pedal | See DISC, DRUM BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Pulsation or Roughness | ||
| Uneven pad wear caused by caliper | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Uneven rotor wear | See DISC BRAKES or BRAKE SYSTEM | |
| Drums out-of-round | Reface or replace drums | |
RENDER: 1.0x
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.