You are describing back brake shoes out of adjustment. They usually
need to be hand set up before the automatic adjusters start working.
The automatic adjusters adjust when you hit the brakes in reverse after
hitting them in the forward direction to cock it.

This also usually means the emergency brake will be at the end or almost
all the way out.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

wrote:
>
> I have a 94 Grand Cherokee and I think it has a problem with the
> master cylinder. I changed the brake shoes on the rear this weekend and
> the front was done last year but I have excessive brake pedal when I
> apply the brakes. They do not drift down when I apply them, but they
> travel further down than I would like and if I let go and press again I
> have full pressure on the brakes like normal. Someone said either I
> need to bleed the brakes or the master cylinder is at fault. If it is
> the master cylinder, I can replace it but since it has ABS brakes I was
> told I cannot bleed the brakes without the DRB II scanner mentioned in
> my manual. The manual says to bleed as normal, then use the DRB II
> scanner tool, then bleed again as normal. Is there a way I can bleed
> the brakes without this tool, someone said I could just start the car
> and let it idle so the ABS can cycle on and then bleed as normal, can
> this be done?
> Thanks,
> Mike Francis