Comp
onent Tests
Bra
k
e Booster
1.
1. Chec k all
hoses and connections. All unused vacuum connectors should be capped. Hoses and their connections
should be correctly secured and in good condition with no holes and no collapsed areas. Inspect the valve on the
brake booster for damage.
2. 2. Check the hydraulic brake system for leaks or low fluid.
3. 3. With the transmission in PARK, stop the engine and apply the parking brake. Pump the brake pedal several times
to exhaust all vacuum in the system.
4. 4. With the engine switched off and all vacuum in the system exhausted, appl y the brake pedal and hold it down.
Start the engine. If the vacuum system is operating, the brake pedal will tend to move downward under constant
foot pressure. If no motion is felt, the vacuum booster system is not functioning.
5. 5. Remove the vacuum hose from the brake booster. Manifold vacuum should be available at the brake booster end
of the hose with the engine at idle speed and the transm ission in PARK or NEUTRAL. Make sure that all unused
vacuum outlets are correctly capped, hose connectors are correctly secured and vacuum hoses are in good
condition. When it is established that manifold vacuum is available to the brake booster, connect the vacuum hose
to the brake booster and repeat Step 3. If no downward movement of the brake pedal is felt, install a new brake
booster.
6. 6. Operate the engine for a minimum of 10 seconds at a fast idle. Stop the engine and allow the vehicle to stand for
10 minutes. Then, apply th e brake pedal with approximately 89 N ( 20lb) of force. The pedal feel (brake
application) should be the same as that noted with the engine running. If the brake pedal feels hard (no power
assist), install a new valve and then re peat the test. If the brake pedal still feels hard, in stall a new brake booster.
If the brake pedal movement feels spongy, bleed the brak e system. For additional information, refer to General
Procedures in this section.
Bra k
e Master Cylinder
Usual
l
y, the first and strongest
indicator of anything wrong in the brake syst em is a feeling through the brake pedal. In
diagnosing the condition of the brake master cylinder, check pedal feel as evidence of a brake concern. Check for brake
warning lamp illumination and the brake fluid le vel in the brake master cylinder reservoir.
Normal Conditio
ns
The fo
llowing conditions are considered norm
al and are not indications that the brake master cylinder is in need of repair.
New bra
ke systems are designed to produc
e a pedal effort that is not as hard as in the past. Complaints of light
pedal efforts should be compared to the pedal effort s of another vehicle of the same model and year.
The fl
uid level will fall with brake pad wear.
Abnormal Conditions
•
NOTE: Prior to carrying out any diag
nosis, make sure the brake system warning indicator is functional.
Changes in the brake pedal feel or brake pedal travel are in dicators that something could be wrong in the brake system. The
diagnostic procedure and techniques use brake pedal feel, warning indicator illu mination and low brake fluid level as
indicators to diagnosing brake system co ncerns. The following conditions are cons idered abnormal and indicate that the
brake master cylinder is in need of repair:
Brake ped a
l goes down fast. Th
is could be caused by an ex ternal or internal leak.
Brake pedal goes down slowly
. This could be
caused by an internal or external leak.
Brak
e pedal is low or feels spongy. This condition may be ca
used by no fluid in the brake master cylinder, reservoir