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Dec 17, 2012 15:56:05 GMT
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I put a 97/98 Chrysler Grand Voyager on the road recently. Great car, and I'm well happy with it, except for the brakes. In my opinion, they could do with a bleed, which is straightforward enough, but according to the Haynes manual, those vehicles equipped with ABS need a DRB 11 scanner to bleed the brakes.
Is this correct? Any current or previous Voyager owners know about this?
I'm also considering changing the complete rear axle, as my car has bloomin' great drum brakes, but I'd like to change it to disc. Does anyone know if this is a straightforward job? I.e. will the handbrake cables and brake lines fit, or is there major alterations to be done?
Thanks in advance.
p.s. I know what some people think of Voyagers, but I'd appreciate it if you could keep answers confined to the braking system. Thanks.
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NILS DESPARANDUM ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM.
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Dec 17, 2012 17:45:10 GMT
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we have run a 97 grand voyager 3.3 auto for the last 9 yrs, luv it, we have got newer cars but i kept the voyager just cos it was so useful, its carried everything from building stuff to an R1 Yam, and with all the seats out an 8x4 sheet lays flat in the back, (but realy it wasnt worth selling, they don't fetch much now) ill keep it till something goes bang. If your just worried about long pedal travel and it feeling abit soft, This seems to be the norm. campared with our other cars it does feel soft. The last time i had the mot done the tester made the same comment, "there all like this" I have replaced a wheel cylinder and the brakes bled through fine, it didnt change the pedal feel at all. I think the only time you start to have problems is if the brake fluid is allowed to empty, and you get air in the abs unit which is under the passenger side floor pan. One thing that does help pedal travel a bit is manually adjusting the rear drums instead of leaving it to the auto adjusters. The park brake also never feels solid when you pull it on, if i remeber right they have a strange cable/lever self adjusting mechanism in the lever assembly incorporating like a spring which tightens around a drum when you pull the lever, with cable being attcahed to the drum, we have a dodge nitro with same design equally not that great but the actual efficiency is fine. that goes for the brakes in general. Unless i had a major probelm or a specific reason i wouldnt bother changing to rear discs. if you did you may also have to change the master cylinder as the original may not displace sufficient fluid for rear calipers, making your pedal travel worse.   |
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Dec 17, 2012 22:36:35 GMT
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Thanks for the reply chap, makes me feel a lot better
When I got the bus, the master cylinder was about halfway down with fluid, the warning light on the dash was flashing on and when cornering. It may have gone down due to pad/shoe wear, but I'll keep an eye on it.
The brakes do the job well, but they need a bit of a shove. It's just that my mate at work used to have a W reg Voyager with discs, and he reckons his brakes were instant and right at the top, which made me think about changing.
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NILS DESPARANDUM ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM.
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VWPowered
Europe
No-Rice - Est 2002
Posts: 1,450
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Dec 18, 2012 17:28:19 GMT
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we have run a 97 grand voyager 3.3 auto for the last 9 yrs really, i find mine shockingly expensive to run  shame i'm in france, could of took mine for free  ;D |
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81 Bedford CF 2.3D Cavalier Coachman Stratus
86 Volkswagen Polo Mk2 1.6 8v
87 Austin Montego 1.6HL 'Daily'
91 Rover Montego 2.0TD Countryman Estate
93 Rover Montego 2.0LXi Estate
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820
South East
Posts: 790
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Dec 18, 2012 18:45:22 GMT
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I put a 97/98 Chrysler Grand Voyager on the road recently. Great car, and I'm well happy with it, except for the brakes. In my opinion, they could do with a bleed, which is straightforward enough, but according to the Haynes manual, those vehicles equipped with ABS need a DRB 11 scanner to bleed the brakes. Is this correct? Any current or previous Voyager owners know about this? I'm also considering changing the complete rear axle, as my car has bloomin' great drum brakes, but I'd like to change it to disc. Does anyone know if this is a straightforward job? I.e. will the handbrake cables and brake lines fit, or is there major alterations to be done? Thanks in advance. p.s. I know what some people think of Voyagers, but I'd appreciate it if you could keep answers confined to the braking system. Thanks. Its almost certainly the rear shoes need adjusting, they need regular adjustment to keep a good pedal. Its best to remove the drum and clean it out they fill with dust and get lipped quite quickly, so be prepared to replace the lot. Give it a fluid change as well if it hasnt been changed for a year or so. (I was a Chrysler Jeep Dodge tech for 6 years) 6 month service intervals on all the cars kept us busy. |
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Dec 18, 2012 18:54:25 GMT
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The diagnostic computer will be to operate the ABS pump to release any trapped air but providing you keep the reservoir topped up when you are bleeding them there shouldnt be any problem.
If you really want to make sure, after you change the fluid take it a blast along the road and nail on the brakes to activate the ABS a few times then bleed them again if necessary. That will free up any sneaky bubbles!
Of course, do this after you have adjusted up the rear brakes.
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Thanks for all the advice, people.
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NILS DESPARANDUM ILLEGITIMI CARBORUNDUM.
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shame i'm in france, could of took mine for free 
;D
