NO BRAKES, HELP
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,926
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
NO BRAKES, HELP
I went out to start the Vette, and when I put it in drive the brakes were hard as a Rock. I thought vacuum was bad, and it is steady. The line going to the brake booster is definitely sucking air. I drove it yesterday and it was fine all day, and this was after I blued the front brakes. But I have done this before with different brakes onthis car, and never had this feeling before. Any ideas?? Booster? How do I test the booster. Fluid is full, no leaks anywhere? I have the C5 brakes up front and the factory C4 brakes in the rear. Thanks, Steve
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 378
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Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (zelement)
I cracked my booster and that is exactly what it felt like. I am pretty sure it is a cracked booster.
The exact same thing happened to me this past summer! :mad I had the exact same symptoms so that it what your problem is. A new one with core charge is about 140. Good Luck, IM for more questions.
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Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (steve40th)
:cheers: I think it is MAD, but it may be Ecklers that sells a metal booster to replace the plastic!
T o me plastic and brakes don't go together! I still have the plastic on my 88, but I think I would opt for the metal if the plastic is cracked.
Be sure you have checked your vacuum lines! Discoonect the booster line while it is running and be sure you have vacuum
:seeya
:steering:
T o me plastic and brakes don't go together! I still have the plastic on my 88, but I think I would opt for the metal if the plastic is cracked.
Be sure you have checked your vacuum lines! Discoonect the booster line while it is running and be sure you have vacuum
:seeya
:steering:
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (ittlfly)
Sounds like a textbook booster failure.
On a side note, C4 'vettes were the first domestic car produced with a plastic brake booster. (for weight savings)
On a side note, C4 'vettes were the first domestic car produced with a plastic brake booster. (for weight savings)
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,926
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (CentralCoaster)
I checked the vacuum to the booster, 13.5 HG, which is right on with the motor. I ordered a new GM unit, DELCO, and I will start taking the old one out tonight. ANy tool help or ideas please let me know, as I hear the bolts underneath the dash are difficult. Steve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,169
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From: Manhattan
Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (CentralCoaster)
if you go to autozone online, they have 2 different booster options. the shipping weight of one is about twice the other. i'm assuming one is the metal, the other plastic. both are the same price.
my brake pedal is also as described above. i'm assuming it's the booster. they tend to crack, especially on c4's w/ headers. a heat shield, heat reflective tape or something similar has been recomended.
my brake pedal is also as described above. i'm assuming it's the booster. they tend to crack, especially on c4's w/ headers. a heat shield, heat reflective tape or something similar has been recomended.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,926
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (Raistlin)
I have one bolt left to get this thing out. I had to get the Master cylinder and the bar that goes from the latch area where the hood goes to down to the frame. What a pain. The bolts under the dash were easy, all I did was lay down on the seat/sill area and they came out pretty easy. I will not want to do this again. I will put some form of heat shield to the booster, so the long tubes dont put extra heat to it. I havent got it out yet, as I am tuckered out. I will finish it tommorow, and the new one should be here by Thursday. What a project. :crazy:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
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From: Kempner Texas
Re: NO BRAKES, HELP (steve40th)
Welcome to the club!
I just had to replace mine two weeks ago; header heat cracked the booster; pedal hard as a rock.
I used aluminum faced foil insulation on the header side of the new booster (about $120 from O'Reilly's exchange; lifetime warranty).
Saw the same trick used on an 88 in my new edition of Corvette Fever.
If yours is like the others I've seen, the crack will be (as you face the firewall)in the 7 to 8 o'clock position, engine side as. Mine was over 6" long.
Jake
[Modified by JAKE, 7:37 PM 2/24/2004]
I just had to replace mine two weeks ago; header heat cracked the booster; pedal hard as a rock.
I used aluminum faced foil insulation on the header side of the new booster (about $120 from O'Reilly's exchange; lifetime warranty).
Saw the same trick used on an 88 in my new edition of Corvette Fever.
If yours is like the others I've seen, the crack will be (as you face the firewall)in the 7 to 8 o'clock position, engine side as. Mine was over 6" long.
Jake
[Modified by JAKE, 7:37 PM 2/24/2004]