White Lightning

My 89 has had a problem with its brakes for almost a year now. If I'm out on the highway for about 15 minutes or so without touching the brakes, when I do hit them, they sink down about 1/4th of the way before engaging.

Last month, I had to hit the brakes hard for someone who cut me off, and I heard a loud noise like someone blowing a cazoo really hard. It did not come from my ABS. I have since heard the same noise when I braked hard to avoid hitting an rabbit that darted across the road. Today, while driving around, I heard a hissing type noise whenever I had my foot on the brake.

Do I have some sort of vacuum hose that's going bad and causing these problems? I know there is some sort of hose that goes through the firewall behind the brake booster thing that the master cylinders are attached to. I replaced that booster thing last year when I first had the soft pedal problem, and I replaced all the hoses and lines except for that one that goes through the firewall. So could that hose be the problem? If so, how do I replace it?

Thanks in advance.

jimswhite92

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=510801

Hope this helps.

jackdaroofer

:cheers: Almost sounds like two problems, but perhaps it is all the same problem.

Generally the hissing sound is a vacuum leak and more than likely that is the vacuum booster tank ( the big black thing behind the Master Cylinder) has developed a leak.

There is a vacuum hose, to provide vacuum to the booster. You will find it if you look at the booster( it's black rubber), trace it to it's source. If it is loose or worn/detoriated, that might be your problem.

Is the pedal "hard" when it finally grabs? If not, then you might have a second problem (not necessarily related to the booster) of air in the brake system.

Check the vacuum hose to the booster, but more than likely there is a vacuum leak around the booster

:steering: [I love that Lil Guy!]

LowFlight

I am not having the hissing problem, but I am having the brake problem as mentioned before. I have to move the pedal about 1/4 of the way before the brakes begin to grab. When I got my car yesterday, the front reservoir was empty. I filed it and the brakes worked better, but still have too much travel. I think (and hope)it is just air in the lines. What else could it be?

vader86

Change and bleed the fluid, but i'm thinking the Master Cylinder is toast.

92TripleBlack

:iagree:

LowFlight

On Mine or the original poster's car?