Jeep Wrangler Brake question

if the star wheel adjusters are that far 'out" (frozen up or self adjuster cable broke) it wont adjust and as they wear, you gotta push farther to push the plungers of the wheel cylinders out far enough to work, The M/C only pushes so much fluid per stroke. If out of adjustment you gotta use more fluid to activate the wheel cyls, hence the pumping.

another possibility M/C leaking internally between chambers, M/C may just be shot