It looks like the brake booster went out on my 96 runner today. Yesterday when I shifted into reverse to back out of a parking spot, I got a really hard pedal, and it was almost impossible to stop without standing hard on the brakes. After a few seconds, things went back to normal. Driving the rest of the day, things were fine.
Today, the brakes acted up again, but it happened on three separate occasions. After the first time today, I started heading home. The brakes would seem fine, and then out of the blue, I would get a hard pedal at the top of the stroke, and I would have to really push down to slow things. Pulling into my driveway this evening, they did it again, but I haven't been able to get my pedal to feel 'normal' again. I also noticed a hissing or whooshing sound coming from the brake pedal area when I pushed on the pedal with the engine on and transmission in park. The rpms would also drop when I did this. I don't plan on driving it again until I get this sorted out.
After doing some reading on here, it looks like it is probably one of two things - either the booster itself or the check valve. I pulled the check valve, and sprayed it out with WD40 and checked the vacuum hose, and everything seems fine. Also, I live in the Phoenix area, and it's definitely not cold out now.
Any ideas? I'm guessing it's probably the booster. Where is the best place to get one, and does anyone have a decent write-up?
Thanks,
John
Today, the brakes acted up again, but it happened on three separate occasions. After the first time today, I started heading home. The brakes would seem fine, and then out of the blue, I would get a hard pedal at the top of the stroke, and I would have to really push down to slow things. Pulling into my driveway this evening, they did it again, but I haven't been able to get my pedal to feel 'normal' again. I also noticed a hissing or whooshing sound coming from the brake pedal area when I pushed on the pedal with the engine on and transmission in park. The rpms would also drop when I did this. I don't plan on driving it again until I get this sorted out.
After doing some reading on here, it looks like it is probably one of two things - either the booster itself or the check valve. I pulled the check valve, and sprayed it out with WD40 and checked the vacuum hose, and everything seems fine. Also, I live in the Phoenix area, and it's definitely not cold out now.
Any ideas? I'm guessing it's probably the booster. Where is the best place to get one, and does anyone have a decent write-up?
Thanks,
John
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