Brake Problem driving me mad. (Please Help)
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Georgetown KY
Brake Problem driving me mad. (Please Help)
88 with low miles. Here are the symptoms. When I apply the brakes sometimes they will feel normal and sometimes they will not. By not feeling normal I mean the pedal gradually increases but not all the way to the floor. If I put the brake on and the pedal starts to go to low I can release the pedal and quickly reappy the pedal and everything is O.K. I thought this may be a master cylinder so I replaced but Problem still exist. GM manual makes it sound like a possible power head problem, but I want to make sure this is it before yanking this big dog out of the car. ANy advice would be appreciated. I am sick of troubleshooting this one.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 246
Likes: 2
From: Philadelphia Pa.
Re: Brake Problem driving me mad. (mjharris88)
The best why to solve this is to start from the begining. Clamp off all four rubber brake lines at the wheels. This will isolate the master and ABS unit. Start the car and then push on the pedal, if it goes down to the floor or you can make it go to the floor by changing pressure on it, the problem is in one of those two units. Try bleeding them first before replacing. If the pedal don't go down, remove one clamp at a time and see which caliper has a problem. Don't forget to replace the clamp on the line you just tested when testing the next caliper. Good luck.
Joe
Joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Re: Brake Problem driving me mad. (mjharris88)
I just had this exact problem with my Impala SS. The start of the problem was just as you describe. After a couple of months, there was a hissing uder the dash when the brakes were applied, and the power brakes weren't there, they were the old fashion manual style (not nice to have on a 4200lbs car, esp when the wife drives the car). It was the vacuum booster.
BTW, the local dealer wanted $370 for a new one. I purchased mine for $192 +$35 overnight shipping from Dal.
Eric
BTW, the local dealer wanted $370 for a new one. I purchased mine for $192 +$35 overnight shipping from Dal.
Eric
