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Brake Pedal Hiss when not Braking, engine idling rougher 200 1986

Hi,

Noticed a hiss from the brake pedal, when I step on it it stops, also the motor dies easier when rpms drop. Am ready to buy replacement proparts power brake booster but then I read on here that the power brake booster rarely fails so I'm second guessing myself. The Bentley test for brake booster has me pump pedal 10 times then start the car with the pedal depressed--the pedal does move down a little which they say is a pass. Tested line from intake manifold to vacuum check valve and it doesn't hold vacuum but the valve holds vacuum from booster side. No leaks from master cylinder that I can see. So...I probably need a brake booster replacement? Thanks for the help!

Mike








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    Brake Pedal Hiss when not Braking, engine idling rougher 200 1986

    Hi,

    The instructions you are using for testing the booster are correct, up to point.

    You need to two more things or one depending on the order you like.
    Shortly after stopping the engine with everything hooked up you should be able to pull on the check valve and it’s grommet to try to get it out. It should hold a vacuum in there for quite a bit. It will hiss air in if it’s holding like it should.
    I cannot say that there is a specification for it but, if the chamber is not holding some vacuum, then this much vacuum has to be made up before the engine will run smoother or start up faster.

    The next one is to isolate the brake booster from the car intake manifold entirely to see if the roughness of engine idle does goes away.
    This would help confirm that either there is a leak in the booster diaphragm or in the hose and if the check valve is holding vacuum.
    If that makes the engine run better then you are on to something on that side for sure.

    I wanted to tell you this because getting the booster exchanged out is quite a bit of under the dash work. You don’t want to do this unless you are sure that’s leaking.
    It can be rather difficult to get to all four nuts without extensions and swivel joints.

    My back is not inside a contortionist body by any means!

    Phil









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      Brake Pedal Hiss when not Braking, engine idling rougher 200 1986

      Awesome, thanks. I Idled the motor with the vacuum hose disconnected from the booster and manually plugged it--runs much better. Hopefully it's less hard than installing a manual pedal cluster in there? Done that--not that fun :) Will look at getting extensions and swivel joints...Thanks a lot for the help!








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        Brake Pedal Hiss when not Braking, engine idling rougher 200 1986

        It was the booster, replaced it and its good now!








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          Brake Pedal Hiss when not Braking, engine idling rougher 200 1986

          Hi Mike,

          Glad to hear that replacing it fixed it.
          That's a lot of digging around under there but I'm glad it paid off.

          Did you get a rebuild and what store brand did you find that you liked?

          I never had to buy one as I get the whole unit from a good junker car that looks fresh.

          Phil







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