anyone know any articles on how to replace the power brake booster on a 1990 iroc-z? my brakes are **** now due to the fact the person i bought the car from never really drove it... and i was told to replace the power brake booster on my car... im kinda low on cash, (someone jacked my wallet) and im going to attempt to do it with my friend dave (who works for a chevy dealer) but i wanted to know if anyone knew of any articles online or any tips they could give me. thanks

ps: feels like im stepping on a tennis ball when i push on the brakes... they work, but you gotta put a LOT of force into it and it's too risky for me

 

mine feel the same way, i dont worry about i dont drive it but sunny clear days anyway

 

woops i have no idea what i just said. get the brake booster defiently

 

lmfao

 

it should be fairly strait forward


1...unbolt master cylinder from booster
2...remove booster vac hose
3...remove hush panel above drivers feet
4...disconnect link/pushrod from brake pedal
5...remove 4 nuts from booster on inside of car
6... carefully flex M/C out of way and remove booster from vehicle

install is reverse of removal

 

i saturday drunk afternoon post well

 

You sure that the vacuum hose is attached to it and not leaking? Also you sure that whatever it is attached to is giving vacuum?

 

yeah im 90% sure....i looked at the hoses (that was my first thought), and i had my friends look it over... everything was connected.... like i said, the brakes work... but it feels like im stomping on a tennis ball when i try to touch the brakes. i have to put my whole body weight to stop the car and it still takes forever to stop... pumping the brakes dont work either :\

 

try this test first, engine off, pump the brake pedal till good and hard, then, hold pedal and start engine, pedal should drop, if not, booster or vac supply

 

Also to make sure it is getting vacuum, run a vacuum pump into the hose and see if it holds the vacuum. If it does, you may have another problem. If it doesn't then it is the brake booster. You could hook a vacuum gage inbetween the vacuum hose to verify that it is getting vacuum. Use a mityvac to put vacuum into the hose to make sure it is holding the vacuum.

 

i pumped the brakes but they dont get hard to the point where they're stiff as a rock... it constantly feels like im stepping on a tennis ball, but i still tried to start the car like that, and it still felt the same... any clues?

 

Sounds like the booster is shot. Could be a vacuum problem or a diaphragm that is broke. Either way it is a new booster for you. Have you made sure it is getting vacuum?

 

dont have a vacuum pump... but i do have a headach from all the crap that's been going on with my iroc i was kinda prepaired for stuff to go wrong when i bought the car (this lady barely drove it, about 10,000 miles in the last 2 years) so i had money on the side for any repairs that needed to be done, but im bone dry now so if anything else happens to the iroc, she's gonna have to sit till i can land myself a job somewhere

i have basic knowledge about cars and what's under the hood... you think i'd be able to change the booster myself? or would it just be better to pay someone to do it? how much would you pay to have someone change the booster (i already bought the new one, just need to take out the old and put in the new)? next thing on my list is going to be my tranny mount and then my cats are comming off

 

Do it in a weekend. That gives you plenty of time to f**k it up and have it ready for Monday. Trust me. I have spent a weekend on a 1 hour project mainly because this happened or that and I had to get a special thingamajig.

It is not a bad project. Follow the steps above and you should be fine.