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Under the dash when disconnecting the booster rod from the brake pedal is there a clip (and a washer) holding the brake booster rod onto the pedal ? Is it a clip and a washer, or just one clip ? TY.
Last edited by ~ Anno Domini; Aug 27, 2019 at 11:15 PM.
Not sure if they changed things but on my 85 there was a washer and a pin that held the rod in place. At some point I believe they went to a clip vs the pin but I'm not sure when that occurred.
Thank you for that, 85WHITEZ51. I am reading conflicting things and not sure if there is just one clip (I think it shaped like a horse shoe) holding the rod in place on the '89, or if there is a washer on there too. I want to be prepared because it may be under pressure and I don't want them flying all over the place and getting lost when being disassembled.
Last edited by ~ Anno Domini; Aug 27, 2019 at 11:20 PM.
Either design shouldn't be under any pressure. The pin on mine was just a cotter pin and a reg washer. Pin like this:
The clip style is like the clip that holds the throttle cable to your throttle body. What you do want to do though is put some type of towel or rag at the top of the foot well so if you drop either the pin or clip it doesn't fall behind the carpet. Don't ask me how I know this ;-)
...haha I won't ask, 85WHITEZ51. You just answered my question and gave me more confidence going into this. I've got a brake booster being shipped to me right now as I type this.......THANK YOU !
UPDATE & QUESTION: I installed a used brake booster and confirmed there is a clip and washer connecting the booster rod to the brake pedal in the 1989. The clip looks like 85WHITEZ51's post #4. It is easy to disconnect. Use a hook tool and keep your finger on top and gently pry. It is not spring loaded. Biggest challenge were two 13 mm bolts under the dash. Use an extension and I found the best way to loosen the bolt closest to the radio is by approaching it from as far right as possible. The brake booster is installed, idle is back to normal, and brakes work fine. :-) Here is my question. After installing the booster my cruise control stopped working. I don't recall disconnecting anything other than the booster rod from the brake pedal. Any thoughts on why my cruise control is not working now ? TY.
Last edited by ~ Anno Domini; Sep 2, 2019 at 08:23 PM.
Pretty sure there is a vacuum line that goes to a distribution block (or maybe it's a switch) that is just to the left of the steering column. You could have bumped it and knocked something off there. That would be the first thing I checked.
Thank you, 85WHITEZ51. I started a thread in General discussion at link below. Not getting much feedback. I went under the dash and there seems to be a vacuum line connected to something. It does not look disconnected though, but i will look again. I tried to adjust the cruise control switch and brake pedal switch under the dash so they are both in contact with the brake pedal and clutch pedal, but I took the car for a drive and the cruise control still did not work. It was working fine before I installed the brake booster. I may readjust the two switches and look at the vacuum line under the dash again. I checked the fuses and they are fine. Does anyone know what parts could be dislodged when installing a brake booster related to the cruise control ? In the engine compartment I had to push wires and cables down to get the booster in over top of them and into the firewall. Could something on the outside of the car be disconnected ? I need a checklist or something. Peace.
Not to much that I can think of. Those switches under the dash would be my most likely concern after a Brake Booster change. Is it possible you pinched the vacuum line in the engine bay that goes by the booster?
I am going to look again, 85WHITEZ51. I did have to push wires aside to get that booster in. Just have to find time to examine under the dash and outside again......more later as I can.
UPDATE: I went under the dash and adjusted the brake switch and cruise control switch so that when the brake pedal hits them they are FULLY pushed in and that solved the problem. I said a little prayer to the Lord and then took the car for a drive and the cruise control worked again. Yay ! TIP: Both switches look threaded like a screw, but they're not. You get a secure grip on them and push them and listen for clicks. You push them like a nail, you don't turn them. I think what happened was when I took the clip and washer off the booster push rod, the brake pedal loosened and flopped down towards the floor. When I was outside the car I noticed the brake lights on. This being the first time I changed a brake booster, I went back in the car and pulled the brake pedal up by hand and must have inadvertently moved the two switches. What worked was adjusting both so when the brake pedal hits them they are fully pushed in. I also reviewed the two articles below. Hope this helps.
89 Brake Booster Installation
