individual base brake component, refer to that com-
ponent elsewhere in this section. For information on
the brake lamp switch, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/
ELECTRONIC

CONTROL

MODULES/CONTROL-

LER ANTILOCK BRAKE - DESCRIPTION).

This vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes as

standard equipment. For information on the antilock
brake system (ABS) and its components, (Refer to 5 -
BRAKES - ABS - DESCRIPTION).

WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS

WARNING: DUST AND DIRT ACCUMULATING ON
BRAKE PARTS DURING NORMAL USE MAY CON-
TAIN ASBESTOS FIBERS FROM PRODUCTION OR
AFTERMARKET

BRAKE

LININGS.

BREATHING

EXCESSIVE

CONCENTRATIONS

ASBESTOS

FIBERS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY HARM.
EXERCISE

CARE

WHEN

SERVICING

BRAKE

PARTS. DO NOT SAND OR GRIND BRAKE LINING
UNLESS EQUIPMENT USED IS DESIGNED TO CON-
TAIN THE DUST RESIDUE. DO NOT CLEAN BRAKE
PARTS

WITH

COMPRESSED AIR

BY DRY

BRUSHING. CLEANING SHOULD BE DONE BY
DAMPENING THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WITH A
FINE MIST OF WATER, THEN WIPING THE BRAKE
COMPONENTS CLEAN WITH A DAMPENED CLOTH.
DISPOSE OF CLOTH AND ALL RESIDUE CONTAIN-
ING ASBESTOS FIBERS IN AN IMPERMEABLE
CONTAINER WITH THE APPROPRIATE LABEL. FOL-
LOW PRACTICES PRESCRIBED BY THE OCCUPA-
TIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
(OSHA) AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY (EPA) FOR THE HANDLING, PROCESSING,
AND DISPOSING OF DUST OR DEBRIS THAT MAY
CONTAIN ASBESTOS FIBERS.

CAUTION: During service procedures, grease and
any other foreign material must be kept off the cal-
iper assembly, surfaces of the brake rotor and
external surfaces of the hub. Avoid deformation,
scratching or nicking of the brake rotor and brake
shoe linings.

CAUTION: Use only Mopar

brake fluid or an equiv-

alent from a tightly sealed container. Brake fluid
conforming to DOT 4 specifications is recom-
mended. Brake fluid conforming to DOT 3 can be
used in absence of DOT 4. However, DOT 3 brake
fluid generally has a lower boiling point than DOT 4,
and is not recommended for high performance
applications. Brake fluid with less than DOT 3 spec-
ifications must not be used.

CAUTION: Brake fluid will damage painted surfaces.
If brake fluid is spilled on any painted surface,
wash it off immediately with water.

5 - 2

BRAKES - BASE

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - BASE BRAKE
SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS CHARTS

NOTE: There are three diagnosis charts following
that cover the RED BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR

LAMP, BRAKE NOISE and OTHER BRAKE CONDI-
TIONS.

RED BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR LAMP

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

RED BRAKE WARNING
INDICATOR LAMP ON

1. Parking brake lever not fully
released.

1. Release parking brake lever.

2. Parking brake warning indicator
lamp switch on parking brake lever.

2. Inspect and replace switch as neces-
sary.

3. Brake fluid level low in master
cylinder reservoir.

3. Fill reservoir to proper level. Check
entire system for leaks. Repair or replace
as necessary.

4. Brake fluid level switch.

4. Disconnect brake fluid level switch. If
lamp goes out, replace switch.

5. Air in brake hydraulic system.

5. Bleed brakes. Check entire system for
leaks. Repair or replace as required.

6. ABS malfunction.

6. Refer to Appropriate Diagnostic Informa-
tion.

BRAKE NOISE

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

DISC BRAKE CHIRP

1. Excessive brake rotor runout.

1. Follow brake rotor diagnosis and test-
ing. Correct as necessary.

2. Contaminated brake shoe linings.

2. Inspect and clean, or replace shoes.
Repair source of contamination.

DISC BRAKE RATTLE OR
CLUNK

1. Broken or missing anti-rattle
spring clips on shoes.

1. Replace brake shoes.

2. Caliper mounting bolts loose.

2. Tighten mounting bolts to specifications.

DISC BRAKE SQUEAK AT
LOW SPEED (WHILE
APPLYING LIGHT BRAKE
PEDAL EFFORT)

1. Brake shoe linings.

1. Replace brake shoes.

2. Contaminated brake shoe linings.

2. Inspect and clean, or replace shoes.
Repair source of contamination.

SCRAPING (METAL-TO-
METAL).

1. Foreign object interference with
brakes.

1. Inspect brakes and remove foreign
object.

2. Brake shoes worn out.

2. Replace brake shoes. Inspect rotors.
Reface or replace as necessary.

BRAKES - BASE

5 - 3

BRAKES - BASE (Continued)

OTHER BRAKE CONDITIONS

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

BRAKES CHATTER

1. Disc brake rotor has excessive
thickness variation.

1. Isolate condition as rear or front.
Reface or replace brake rotors as nec-
essary.

BRAKES DRAG (FRONT
OR ALL)

1. Contaminated brake fluid.

1. Check for swollen seals. Replace all
system components containing rubber.

2. Binding brake shoes.

2. Replace brake shoes.

3. Binding master cylinder.

3. Replace master cylinder.

4. Binding brake pedal.

4. Replace brake pedal assembly.

BRAKES DRAG (REAR
ONLY)

1. Parking brake cables binding or
froze up.

1. Check cable routing. Replace cables
as necessary.

2. Parking brake caliper return
spring not returning shoes.

2. Replace caliper as necessary.

3. Obstruction inside the center con-
sole preventing full return of the
parking brake cables.

3. Remove console and remove
obstruction.

BRAKES GRAB

1. Contaminated brake shoe linings.

1. Inspect and clean, or replace shoes.
Repair source of contamination.

2. Improper power brake booster
assist.

2. Refer to Power Brake Booster diag-
nosis and testing.

EXCESSIVE PEDAL
EFFORT

1. Obstruction of brake pedal.

1. Inspect, remove or move obstruc-
tion.

2. Low power brake booster assist.

2. Refer to power brake booster diag-
nosis and testing.

3. Glazed brake linings.

3. Reface or replace brake rotors as
necessary. Replace brake shoes.

4. Brake shoe lining transfer to
brake rotor.

4. Reface or replace brake rotors as
necessary. Replace brake shoes.

EXCESSIVE PEDAL
TRAVEL (VEHICLE
STOPS OK)

1. Air in brake lines.

1. Bleed brakes.

EXCESSIVE PEDAL
TRAVEL (PEDAL GOES
TO FLOOR - CAN’T SKID
WHEELS)

1. Power brake booster runout (vac-
uum assist).

1. Check booster vacuum hose and
engine tune for adequate vacuum sup-
ply. Refer to power brake booster diag-
nosis and testing.

EXCESSIVE PEDAL
TRAVEL (ONE FRONT
WHEEL LOCKS UP DUR-
ING HARD BRAKING)

1. One of the two hydraulic circuits
to the front brakes is malfunctioning.

1. Inspect system for leaks. Check
master cylinder for internal malfunction.

PEDAL PULSATES/
SURGES DURING BRAK-
ING

1. Disc brake rotor has excessive
thickness variation.

1. Isolate condition as rear or front.
Reface or replace brake rotors as nec-
essary.

5 - 4

BRAKES - BASE

BRAKES - BASE (Continued)

CONDITION

POSSIBLE CAUSES

CORRECTION

PEDAL IS SPONGY

1. Air in brake lines.

1. Bleed brakes.

2. Power brake booster runout (vac-
uum assist).

2. Check booster vacuum hose and
engine tune for adequate vacuum sup-
ply. Refer to power brake booster diag-
nosis and testing.

PREMATURE REAR
WHEEL LOCKUP

1. Contaminated brake shoe linings.

1. Inspect and clean, or replace shoes.
Repair source of contamination.

2. ABS EVBP malfunction.

2. Refer to Appropriate Diagnostic
Information.

3. Improper power brake booster
assist.

3. Refer to power brake booster diag-
nosis and testing.

STOP (BRAKE) LAMPS
STAY ON

1. Brake lamp switch out of adjust-
ment.

1. Replace brake lamp switch.

2. Brake pedal binding.

2. Inspect and replace as necessary.

3. Obstruction in pedal linkage.

3. Remove obstruction.

4. Power Brake Booster not allow-
ing pedal to return completely.

4. Replace power brake booster.

VEHICLE PULLS TO
RIGHT OR LEFT ON
BRAKING

1. Frozen brake caliper piston(s).

1. Replace caliper pistons or caliper.
Bleed brakes.

2. Contaminated brake shoe lining.

2. Inspect and clean, or replace shoes.
Repair source of contamination.

3. Pinched brake line.

3. Replace pinched line.

4. Leaking piston seal.

4. Replace piston seal or brake cali-
per.

5. Suspension problem.

5. Refer to Suspension section.

STANDARD PROCEDURE - BASE BRAKE
BLEEDING

CAUTION:

This

vehicle

comes

standard

with

antilock brakes (ABS). If the ABS Integrated Control
Unit (ICU) has been replaced, the ABS will need to
be bled following the base brake bleeding, then the
base brakes must be bled again to ensure all air is
removed from the system. (Refer to 5 - BRAKES -
ABS - STANDARD PROCEDURE)

NOTE: When bleeding the brake system, some air
may be trapped in the brake lines or valves far
upstream (Fig. 1), as far as ten feet from the bleeder
screw. Therefore, it is essential to have a large vol-
ume of brake fluid available when bleeding the
brakes to ensure all the air is removed.

The base brake system can be bled with or without

a pressure bleeder. Refer to Pressure Bleeding
Method or Manual Bleeding Method below.

PRESSURE BLEEDING METHOD

Before removing the master cylinder cover, wipe it

clean to prevent dirt and other foreign matter from
dropping into the master cylinder.

Fig. 1 Trapped Air in Brake Line

1 - TRAPPED AIR

BRAKES - BASE

5 - 5

BRAKES - BASE (Continued)

Content .. 29 30 31 32 ..