Loud Sucking Sound At Brake Pedal-90 Buick Century

[jasonalden]

Hello all,

I recently changed the calipers, pads & rotors on my wife's 1990 Buick Century 132,000mi and noticed the pedal was squooshy. I posted this message here about that:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul....php?p=3164302

I did not have a chance to rebleed the brakes as was suggested, and about 2 weeks after the initial brake job, there all of a sudden is a loud sucking sound at the brake pedal and complete loss of power brakes.

Not being a brake expert by any means, I think my power booster has failed. I do not understand how a power booster works so I cannot visualize what has happened to it much less ponder a cause. It seems awfully fishy that it has failed shortly after I touched the braking system. Could air in the lines be a cause or is this just a coincidence due to age & high mileage?

Assuming it is my power booster (can someone verify this please), I am being quoted $100 for a replacement power booster, or $130 for booster and master cylinder.

I would do the work myself.

Last time I did the master cylinder was on a 1980 Chevette (pronounced "shove-it") and the brakes never worked right again.

I am not sure if I want to attempt master cylinder.

Any advise or suggestions are welcome. I am wondering if I should just call it quits with this car. It is already bashed in on the left front which totalled the car last year.

The wife (homemaker) is trying to strong-arm me into putting the 86 Buick on the road without insurance or registration (because she says she will be bored). This is not pretty.

Thanks all.

[jasonalden]

I was just reading an article about how a power booster works:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/power-brake2.htm

Is it possible that I ruined the diaphram inside the booster from excessive brake pedal travel due to either air in the lines left over from the caliper replacement?

Aggggggggg

Thanks.
Jason

[Mailman1]

If you hear what sounds like air escaping then it probably is the power booster. Do yopu still have brakes if you step down hard on the pedal, or pump them? I have replaced several on citiations and celb. and they realy aren't that hard to do, it just takes a little time. If you can get the booster for $100 that doesn't sound too bad the last one I did cost $158 from NAPA some time back.

[jasonalden]

I plan on doing the job tonight. I don't know how I am going to get to the four mounting bolts, esp the 2 on top.

Still no work on why a booster would fail.

Can anyone offer some insight to this. I don't want to have to fix this again.

Thanks,
Jason



http://TheAldens.org

[Mailman1]

If you have a swivel for your 15mm. socket it will work the best for the bolts on top. You will have to take the panel out from under the steering wheel to get to the booster bolts. As for the reason I don't know why they go bad I would just say age and time. I have had several go bad but I would say it's more the miles and stops than anything. Good Luck!

[jasonalden]

Thanks a bunch Mailman. I appreciate both of your responses.

Jason



http://TheAldens.org

[jasonalden]

Job complete. I did it.

It was an SOB to get out but after standing on my head for a couple hours the job is done.

[Mailman1]

I would rebleed the brakes now that you have the booster done just in case. Good Job