When I stop at a traffic light, the CRD stops fine, but while I am sitting at the light, if I press hard on the brake the pedal will slowly go about 3/4 of the way toward the floor. I had it checked out by my dealer and the service manager said that it is normal because the diesel engine does not produce the vacuum like a gas engine. The vacuum for the brakes is provided by the steering pump. He said the drop in the pedal is normal because of this. Question, do others have the same drop in the pedal when pressing hard on the brake while stopped at a light? I would feel better knowing that it is truly suppossed to be that way. The service manager is nice, but he has been wrong before.

Yes, mine does that too. If you pump the brakes when you're stopped they will go rock hard (or at least mine do?).

Ian

Same here

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Liberty CRD - I love the smell of diesel in the morning....2005 Limited, 2.5" Daystar in Front & 2.5" OME springs in rear. Ranchos all around

Thanks folks,

It's reassuring that it is normal for my brakes to do that. In any other vehicle I would think it would mean a loss of fluid.

I have a similiar problem with my CRD except my brake pedal goes all the way to the floor. This issue was brought to my attention in a very scary manner. I had four boy scouts in my CRD and was towing the troop equipment trailer (about 2500 lbs) home from a weekend campout. We were approaching a stop sign at a "T" intersection. I braked once to slow down and had good pedal. When I braked the second time, the pedal went all the way to the floor and we were still moving toward the stop sign. I stopped us with a strong pull on the e-brake. Two days later, on the way to the dealership, the brake pedal once again went all the way to the floor and the ETC light began to flash. The dealer had the CRD for one day and called me to pick up. They couldn't find anything wrong with my brake system; but, they called DC. Told me (three dealership employees) that DC knows that there is an issue with CRD brakes that is not there with gas models but they do not know what to do about it. I told them that they needed to look further into this and fix it. They called the next day, said that ETC light was related to brakes???? Found e-brake shoes crystalized and LR rotor was blue, replaced both and said that was why my brakes went to the floor. Picked up but still had problem. Took back and was told that they never told me or I misunderstood about DC and the CRD issues. They claim that diesels have a softer brake pedal than gas models and you can't drive with two feet or else the booster is drained of vacuum. Dealer still has my CRD and I'm leaning toward Lemon Law. I have no confidence in my CRD's brakes and how can I ever haul scouts around in it again. Main reason I bought CRD was for use with the scout troop. Anyone else experiencing stopping issues with a CRD?

CRDnostop -

I described this problem in great detail back on the old forum.

I have had the problem that you're describing. And.... I think that your issue is EXACTLY what I had.

Here's how mine "started out": (it is important to keep in mind that I was not getting the milage that I was expecting out of the truck, which prompted me to notice other things)

First, my driveway is a reasonably steep incline. When I first got my CRD (in February) I noticed that if I put the truck in neutral and took my foot off the brake, the truck would NOT roll down my driveway. I thought that this was VERY strange. So, I pulled the truck into the garage, jacked up each end (independently) and attempted to spin each tire. No deal.

I then took it to the dealer to have them check it out. They were able to duplicate the issue, so they tested the brake system, bled the system, etc, to the point that the brakes no longer "hung up" any longer. I took the truck home (drove it 20 miles back to the house). Upon arriving, I tried to let it roll down the driveway. Again, no luck. I thought @ that point that I'd have to take it back to the dealer... but I'd already been w/o the truck for two days. I didn't have time to jack it up and check to see if the wheels spun, etc.

Two days later I was driving down the interstate when traffic began to slow. I went for the brakes and the pedal went right to the floor!! A quick pump later and we're beginning to slow... another quick pump and we're engaging the ABS to get it to haul down. I pulled the truck to the side of the road and called roadside assistance.

The dealer called me the next day to determine WHY the truck was on his lot. I explained the situation to him and he said that it was acting perfectly "normal" to them right then. I told him that I didn't want the truck back b/c I had no confidence whatsoever that it would stop if necessary. The dealer agreed w/ me.

They drove it for 8 days and put 350 miles on it before the master cylinder issued a "critical fault" for them. At that time, they immediately replaced the master cylinder and the power brake booster.

I haven't had a problem since. My fuel milage immediately shot up 5mpg, the truck WOULD roll down my driveway, and since then I have put on 9000 trouble-free miles.

If your dealer is giving you the run-around on this, ask them how many school zones are they willing to have you drive through on a truck that was brought in for brake trouble that HAD NOTHING DONE TO IT!?! Ask them to put it in writing that they were unable to diagnose a complete loss of braking power. They won't do it! Their song WILL change, I guarantee it. This issue has been documented already; this isn't uncharted territory.

If you need further info on this, private email me @ liberty-jeff at at loflyby dot dot com.

- Jeff

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Current Stable: (YES, I have a problem. NO, I don't want "help".)
FOUR Wheelers: 05 Jeep CRD Liberty, 09 VW Sportwagen TDI, 2000, Honda Odyssey, 1994 Mazda Miata, 2000 Mazda Miata
TWO Wheelers: 06 Triumph 675, 04 BMW R1150RT