I just got back from doing the first part of the Slick Rock trail as well as the Corral Hollow trail in the Northern Sierras near Lake Alpine. Here's some photos for your time:
Here's the problem:
My brakes have always been what I've considered pretty typical for a 20 yr old heavy SUV on 33's - a little vague but they stop fine as long as you don't treat it like a sports car. PO replaced both rear calipers about 3 years ago. Never had any braking issues in my year of ownership.
However, on the trail this weekend while doing lots of slow, technical work in 4-Lo with the center diff locked, my brakes started to feel mushier than usual with more pedal travel.
On top of that, at one point I actually think I smelled brake fluid.
I never lost brake pressure or anything, but it got to the point that it was taking a lot of force to stop the thing on steep declines.
Once I got back to the highway and into high range gearing, my brakes went back to their old selves.
Here's my current thoughts:
Option 1 - my symptoms have something to do with my ABS system? In 4lo, ABS is disabled so maybe by doing that there is some air being released that isn't an issue when the ABS is enabled again?
Option 2 - My LSPV was being worked pretty hard going up and down rocks slowly in 4Lo, perhaps the valve being pushed up and down was opening up a leak that isn't detected when the valve is stationary on road conditions?
I plan to bleed the system this weekend, but I figured I'd see if any of you have experienced anything like this. I'm also wondering if I should have a shop pressure test the system before I start bleeding as there's no point bleeding air out if a leak is just going to let more in.
Any thoughts?
Here's the problem:
My brakes have always been what I've considered pretty typical for a 20 yr old heavy SUV on 33's - a little vague but they stop fine as long as you don't treat it like a sports car. PO replaced both rear calipers about 3 years ago. Never had any braking issues in my year of ownership.
However, on the trail this weekend while doing lots of slow, technical work in 4-Lo with the center diff locked, my brakes started to feel mushier than usual with more pedal travel.
On top of that, at one point I actually think I smelled brake fluid.
I never lost brake pressure or anything, but it got to the point that it was taking a lot of force to stop the thing on steep declines.
Once I got back to the highway and into high range gearing, my brakes went back to their old selves.
Here's my current thoughts:
Option 1 - my symptoms have something to do with my ABS system? In 4lo, ABS is disabled so maybe by doing that there is some air being released that isn't an issue when the ABS is enabled again?
Option 2 - My LSPV was being worked pretty hard going up and down rocks slowly in 4Lo, perhaps the valve being pushed up and down was opening up a leak that isn't detected when the valve is stationary on road conditions?
I plan to bleed the system this weekend, but I figured I'd see if any of you have experienced anything like this. I'm also wondering if I should have a shop pressure test the system before I start bleeding as there's no point bleeding air out if a leak is just going to let more in.
Any thoughts?