cfr
January 1st, 2014, 03:39 PM
Went on the New Year's Day snow run on Bunce School Road today.
Didn't go very far at all before I noticed a squishy brake pedal. A minute or two later, it went to the floor. Ugh. Checked the fluid level which was a bit low then went around the jeep to look for fluid. Left-side rear had fluid everywhere. On closer inspection, it got pinched between the sway bar link and the metal plate at the bottom of the bump stop and was leaking.
I had vise grips and zip ties with me, so I pinched off the line above the leak and zip-tied the vise grips to the sway bar (saw this trail fix a while back on one of the forums and was glad I was prepared). Someone got a bottle of brake fluid from Rich (thanks!) and I topped it off, checked that the pedal pressure was good and took off. Good brakes on the trail back to the main trail so I aired up and headed home. Someone offered to drive back down with me (thanks!) but it looked good.
Limped down the mountain in 2nd gear at about 30 MPH with my foot off the gas and the flashers on. Made it back to Erie without any problem. The brake lines are the Teraflex braided-stainless extended lines so I'll have to order a pair ASAP and get them on.
Didn't go very far at all before I noticed a squishy brake pedal. A minute or two later, it went to the floor. Ugh. Checked the fluid level which was a bit low then went around the jeep to look for fluid. Left-side rear had fluid everywhere. On closer inspection, it got pinched between the sway bar link and the metal plate at the bottom of the bump stop and was leaking.
I had vise grips and zip ties with me, so I pinched off the line above the leak and zip-tied the vise grips to the sway bar (saw this trail fix a while back on one of the forums and was glad I was prepared). Someone got a bottle of brake fluid from Rich (thanks!) and I topped it off, checked that the pedal pressure was good and took off. Good brakes on the trail back to the main trail so I aired up and headed home. Someone offered to drive back down with me (thanks!) but it looked good.
Limped down the mountain in 2nd gear at about 30 MPH with my foot off the gas and the flashers on. Made it back to Erie without any problem. The brake lines are the Teraflex braided-stainless extended lines so I'll have to order a pair ASAP and get them on.