Ok, I know that there are already a ton of threads on this, but after searching and reading them, I still need some clarification.
I just got done completely overhauling the suspension myself, and I really mean completely! Got new tires put on, and then got an alignment. Got to drive it for 3 days (the best 3 days ever). Then, when I left work, I hit the brakes and they were rock hard. I could still stop, but obviously the brake assist was out. Got home, pulled into my garage and my car wont turn off. Checked the vacuum line to the shut off valve right away and it was still connected..my heart sank :frown Its always something!
I knew right away it was porbably something wrong with the vacuum system so I started reading through the posts and started eliminating what I could....Here;s what I have done so far
-Checked brake fluid level, right where is should be
-Started the car, hooked up the mityvac to the shut off valve, pumped it twice and the car turned off, so the shut off valve is good
-Inspected all the vacuum lines and fittings, they are all good as I've replaced most of them in the engine area
-I then tested vacuum coming directly from the pump and it was reading right at 22hg
-Disconnected vacuum line at the brake booster, removed and capped all vacuum lines by the check valve, and the was vacuum still reading at 22hg, so no leaks in the line
-Completely removed the large vacuum line and blew air into the line, I can only blow air one way through the line so I assume that means the check valve is working
-I then reconnected everything but kept all the lines by the check valve capped except one that was hooked up to the mityvac. The vacuum started building VERY slowly, I waited about 10 mins and it climbed up to about 15hg. Went and hit my brake pedal, it was back to normal on the first press, but after the that, it got super stiff, looked at my mityvac and it was at 5hg at climbing very slowly
-I then disconnected the vacuum line again at the booster, hooked up my mitvac directly to the brake booster and pumped away. It took a while to pull vacuum on it, but I got it up to about 10hg with the mityvac and then watched the vacuum go down to 0.
-Lastly, just to be sure I checked underneath the dash and made sure the lines were still connected to valve on the back of the ignition tumbler, and they were
So my questions are...
Does this indicate a bad booster? It seems like, from what I've read, that usually the brake pedal gets soft when the brake booster goes out or is going bad.
Is there a better way to check the booster?
Am I right in assuming the check valve is good if I can only blow air one way through it?
Is there anything else I should check
Thanks for the help!
I just got done completely overhauling the suspension myself, and I really mean completely! Got new tires put on, and then got an alignment. Got to drive it for 3 days (the best 3 days ever). Then, when I left work, I hit the brakes and they were rock hard. I could still stop, but obviously the brake assist was out. Got home, pulled into my garage and my car wont turn off. Checked the vacuum line to the shut off valve right away and it was still connected..my heart sank :frown Its always something!
I knew right away it was porbably something wrong with the vacuum system so I started reading through the posts and started eliminating what I could....Here;s what I have done so far
-Checked brake fluid level, right where is should be
-Started the car, hooked up the mityvac to the shut off valve, pumped it twice and the car turned off, so the shut off valve is good
-Inspected all the vacuum lines and fittings, they are all good as I've replaced most of them in the engine area
-I then tested vacuum coming directly from the pump and it was reading right at 22hg
-Disconnected vacuum line at the brake booster, removed and capped all vacuum lines by the check valve, and the was vacuum still reading at 22hg, so no leaks in the line
-Completely removed the large vacuum line and blew air into the line, I can only blow air one way through the line so I assume that means the check valve is working
-I then reconnected everything but kept all the lines by the check valve capped except one that was hooked up to the mityvac. The vacuum started building VERY slowly, I waited about 10 mins and it climbed up to about 15hg. Went and hit my brake pedal, it was back to normal on the first press, but after the that, it got super stiff, looked at my mityvac and it was at 5hg at climbing very slowly
-I then disconnected the vacuum line again at the booster, hooked up my mitvac directly to the brake booster and pumped away. It took a while to pull vacuum on it, but I got it up to about 10hg with the mityvac and then watched the vacuum go down to 0.
-Lastly, just to be sure I checked underneath the dash and made sure the lines were still connected to valve on the back of the ignition tumbler, and they were
So my questions are...
Does this indicate a bad booster? It seems like, from what I've read, that usually the brake pedal gets soft when the brake booster goes out or is going bad.
Is there a better way to check the booster?
Am I right in assuming the check valve is good if I can only blow air one way through it?
Is there anything else I should check
Thanks for the help!