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Old 01-29-2017, 02:23 PM #1
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Brake pedal hard to push down

So this week this problem started and it's intermittent. It feels exactly like when you pump your brakes 4 or 5 times and it gets harder and harder to push the pedal down. Needless to say this a serious safety concern. Everyone I've talked to seems to think it's the master cylinder but from what I've read the mc just goes bad once and for all, not just kinda every once in while like mine. What do you guys think?
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Old 01-29-2017, 03:24 PM #2
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Brake booster for starters.
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Old 01-29-2017, 04:27 PM #3
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Brake booster for starters.
For starters? Is there any way to figure out what the problem is before I start just replacing things?
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Old 01-29-2017, 04:44 PM #4
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Quote:
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For starters? Is there any way to figure out what the problem is before I start just replacing things?
any codes being thrown? here's a list of items to check for Hard Pedal....

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-...r/trou/pst.pdf
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Old 01-29-2017, 04:47 PM #5
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There is a check valve in a grommet in the brake booster that the vacuum hose attaches to. It fails and causes a hard brake pedal and barely adequate brakes


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Old 01-29-2017, 05:03 PM #6
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bad master pedal to floor

bad booster high hard pedal.

17 yrs old my guess is booster leak.. when you shut off engine [no vacuum] if the booster is good the brakes should work normally 2-3 times then hard pedal.

the check valve holds vacuum in the booster so when engine dies you still have some braking. if the valve fails this will not cause you problem.

the booster has a rubber part that over time will leak. usually 200K miles and 10-15yrs ...

very easy to check with a vacuum gauge.
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Old 01-29-2017, 05:15 PM #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catrains View Post
the check valve holds vacuum in the booster so when engine dies you still have some braking. if the valve fails this will not cause you problem.
I don't know about Florida, but a bad check valve can cause a hard brake pedal in colder climates.
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Old 01-29-2017, 05:18 PM #8
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When the check valve sticks closed it prevents vacuum from going into the brake booster. And the exact explanation of hard pedal etc happened when my check valve failed. And it was intermittent. And really didn't like cold weather. But once it opened after pushing brakes a few times the brakes were fine till it sat overnight.


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Old 01-29-2017, 05:52 PM #9
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FYI:
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article...-brake-booster
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Old 01-29-2017, 08:32 PM #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 19963.4lsr5 View Post
When the check valve sticks closed it prevents vacuum from going into the brake booster. And the exact explanation of hard pedal etc happened when my check valve failed. And it was intermittent. And really didn't like cold weather. But once it opened after pushing brakes a few times the brakes were fine till it sat overnight.


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I never seen one plugged up usually they stay open /leak down .but a check valve plugged up would do it.

could also be booster guts plugged it up .. then need both or just blow out the check valve.
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Old 01-29-2017, 08:56 PM #11
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Brake pedal hard to push down

Quote:
Originally Posted by catrains View Post
I never seen one plugged up usually they stay open /leak down .but a check valve plugged up would do it.



could also be booster guts plugged it up .. then need both or just blow out the check valve.


Trust me. I tried everything before replacing it. I got lucky and my wrecked 96 parts truck had one that I robbed to get my wife back on the road. A new one was around 50 dollars.

Spraying it with brake cleaner and blowing it out and then shooting a little spray lube had me thinking I fixed it. Then a few days later it happened again in the morning. (She almost hit the tree at the garage) So I just took the one out of the 96. Sadly the bad one only had 125,000 miles on it and the 96 had 230k miles and sat for a year. But, problem never came back after changing it to this day. It's been 2 years now.

A few threads here pointed to the check valve and that info pointed me in the right direction.


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Old 01-29-2017, 11:09 PM #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 19963.4lsr5 View Post
Trust me. I tried everything before replacing it. I got lucky and my wrecked 96 parts truck had one that I robbed to get my wife back on the road. A new one was around 50 dollars.

Spraying it with brake cleaner and blowing it out and then shooting a little spray lube had me thinking I fixed it. Then a few days later it happened again in the morning. (She almost hit the tree at the garage) So I just took the one out of the 96. Sadly the bad one only had 125,000 miles on it and the 96 had 230k miles and sat for a year. But, problem never came back after changing it to this day. It's been 2 years now.

A few threads here pointed to the check valve and that info pointed me in the right direction.


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Thanks everybody.

So clearly living in Florida this isn't a check valve issue related to freezing cold temps, but how likely is it that it could still be the problem part? Either way for under $50 I guess it's worth a try.
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Old 01-29-2017, 11:17 PM #13
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Do you have a friend with a 4Runner? Borrow his.


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Old 01-29-2017, 11:23 PM #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catrains View Post
bad master pedal to floor

bad booster high hard pedal.

17 yrs old my guess is booster leak.. when you shut off engine [no vacuum] if the booster is good the brakes should work normally 2-3 times then hard pedal.

the check valve holds vacuum in the booster so when engine dies you still have some braking. if the valve fails this will not cause you problem.

the booster has a rubber part that over time will leak. usually 200K miles and 10-15yrs ...

very easy to check with a vacuum gauge.
Ok just tried this with my truck that's been off for about eight hours. First couple brake pumps were normal and the third was hard. So that means the brake booster is ok and the check valve is ok too?? Sorry, kinda confused by how you worded it. Thanks
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Old 01-29-2017, 11:24 PM #15
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Do you have a friend with a 4Runner? Borrow his.


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I do actually. The problem is that this is so infrequent (maybe once a day) that I'm not sure how long I could borrow it to make sure that it's the problem. But I will ask him, good idea.
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