2011 Dodge Journey Brakes

Tiny
SYBILWAYNE185
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 DODGE JOURNEY
  • 3.6L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 31,250 MILES
I replaced the front calipers. After I bled the brakes (assuming I bled them enough) the brake peddle firmed up without the engine running. After I start the engine, the pedal goes to the floor. I also now get a traction control failure light. Also in my haste I did not take a photo of the original brake calipers and I am not sure that I have them on the correct side. I say this because the bleed valve is on the lower half of the back of the caliper. This doesn't seem logical to me. I looked at the rear calipers and the bleed valve is on top. I tried to install them on the opposite side where the bleed valve is up but couldn't see how I could connect the brake line. Any help is appreciated.
Friday, July 11th, 2014 AT 6:22 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,100 POSTS
You're not the first person to do that. Air goes up so the bleeder screws have to be on top. Chrysler has been famous for good parts interchangeability for many decades, and part of that is making a caliper casting that fits on either side, then they install the bleeder screw on one end or the other, depending on which side it's going to be for.

By the way, you shouldn't need new calipers yet. Many years ago that was a different story, but after 255,000 miles, I still have the original calipers on my '88 Grand Caravan daily driver. No manufacturer right now is having a problem with their caliper designs. The biggest problem Chrysler has on some older models is caused by a restricted rubber hose, but even that has a real fast and easy fix.

Also be aware that the master cylinder on any car can be damaged by pressing the brake pedal all the way to the floor, as in when a brake hose pops a leak unexpectedly or by pedal-bleeding. Crud and corrosion build up in the lower halves of the bores where the pistons don't normally travel. When you run the pedal all the way to the floor, the lip seals can get torn on that corrosion. That's rarely a problem on a one-year-old vehicle, but it's a real common problem on a ten or fifteen-year-old car. Professionals will never push the pedal more than halfway to the floor. I only do gravity-bleeding, never pedal-bleeding.
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Friday, July 11th, 2014 AT 7:18 PM

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