overnight brake issue
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Palm Coast FL
overnight brake issue
Brakes functioning properly until one morning when pedal is hard as a rock and brakes barely stop the car
Checked Chiltons where it seems there are various electronic checks that are possible
I'm a bit electronically challenged Is there anyone who has knowledge of this brake issue and a possible fix?
Checked Chiltons where it seems there are various electronic checks that are possible
I'm a bit electronically challenged Is there anyone who has knowledge of this brake issue and a possible fix?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 339
From: Simi Valley CA
Sounds like the power booster. Is the idle off too? Is it the original power booster? These cars do have an ABS pump, but if there's a problem with that you'll get an ABS light on the dash. A failed PB won't trigger any lights.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Palm Coast FL
Thanks for your response
All of the above I believe original PB erratic idle and ABS light on
any more thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 339
From: Simi Valley CA
If you have a poor idle a simple test to confirm it is the PB is to clamp the vacuum hose going to the PB. If your idle improves you know it is definitely the PB. I used a pair of vice grips on mine. Open them up a little to not cut into the hose and use electrical tape on the teeth. That hose is very difficult to find a replacement for.
As for the Chilton manuals, I agree with WVZR-1 above. Get a Factory Service Manual. The Chiltons are very generic.
The ABS light is usually triggered by uneven pressure in the master cylinder. I did the PB on my 92 and left my original master cylinder. Brakes worked fine, just to have a leaky master cylinder a few weeks later. Had to take the master cylinder off again, replace, rebleed the entire system. On the positive side of doing that my brake fluid is now super clean by getting flushed 2x.
As for the Chilton manuals, I agree with WVZR-1 above. Get a Factory Service Manual. The Chiltons are very generic.
The ABS light is usually triggered by uneven pressure in the master cylinder. I did the PB on my 92 and left my original master cylinder. Brakes worked fine, just to have a leaky master cylinder a few weeks later. Had to take the master cylinder off again, replace, rebleed the entire system. On the positive side of doing that my brake fluid is now super clean by getting flushed 2x.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 339
From: Simi Valley CA
One other thing, you might want to try the Prestone Dot 4 fluid. It has a higher boiling point and is compatible with dot 3. I noticed brake drag on mine after it warmed up. My car is a manual trans so I noticed when I was in neutral coming to a stop it didn't have that slight roll. I don't have that brake drag by going with the dot 4. All the lines going down from the MC are right next to the cat off the driver's side exhaust manifold.
