Car Does Not Like to Stop

[jikelly]

Howdy Ya'll, I've got a problem with my brakes that seems to be getting progressivly worse. My 73 mustang is getting really hard to stop and the pedal feels weird. Generally I like to have a hard, solid feeling brake pedal, but the pedal seems to be getting progressivly harder and it take a lot more force to stop my old stang. Could it be that I need a new brake booster or is it something else?

 

[rbohm]

either a booster, or the check valve. the check valve is a plastic piece that pops into a groment and has a hose from the engine attached. try replacing that first. also make sure you have sufficient vacuum at that point as well.

 

[bnickel]

boy this is just goes to show what a small world we live in. we're both in Lubbock, we both post on the same board and we both have problems with the brake boosters on our rides, except mine is on my Jeep. it went out last week, wierd huh?

 

[jikelly]

How much vacuum is sufficient?

 

[rbohm]

How much vacuum is sufficient?

that depends on how much the booster needs, how often you use the brakes, and how efficient the booster is at using vacuum. that said, 12-14" vacuum is usually on the low side.

 

[Redfire 05]

boy this is just goes to show what a small world we live in. we're both in Lubbock, we both post on the same board and we both have problems with the brake boosters on our rides, except mine is on my Jeep. it went out last week, wierd huh?

We should meet up sometime. I'd even let you figure out and fix my brake problem if you wanted.

 

[bnickel]

We should meet up sometime. I'd even let you figure out and fix my brake problem if you wanted.

shoot me a pm sometime. i'm kinda old now so i'm not near as much fun as i used to be.

 

[2nd Mustang]

When I had a booster problem, I thought it was the check valve also, but couldn't find just the check valve itself that would fit. I ended up buying a new rebuilt booster. Maybe it was for the best, as I didn't know how old the booster was.

 

[65fastback2+2]

sounds like a booster to me

 

[2nd Mustang]

Make sure to check for any vacuum leaks first.

 

[Hack]

Make sure to check for any vacuum leaks first.

I would think that a leak big enough to affect the brakes would also make the engine run crappy - at least at idle. So with no poor engine idle I would go straight to the booster. If you have vacuum hand pump that would be a good way to test the booster prior to replacement, though.

 

[jikelly]

Hey bnickel, I still think that we could get together sometime. Maybe we could propose a local stangnet group meeting sometime this summer.

 

[bnickel]

that would be cool. hopefully i'll be able to get my car back together and road worthy before long and i can drive it there. i don't think there are that many classic SN'ers in lubbock though, maybe 3 or 4 including us.

 

[MIM0002]

I have a '94 3.8 engine. How/where do I check the vacuum?

 

[SoCalCruising]

Ha, ha. A '94 3.8 isn't a classic, son.
That said, if it's for the booster, pull the vac hose going into the booster and put a vac gauge on the hose. That's the general answer, anyway. I've never seen a 3.8L motor ....