Brake job nearly killed me. Price that was

[my85grandnation]

I just got my 85 GN back from the brake place and it was insane how much it cost. The previous owner or at least someone before me had put an oil additive of some type in the master cylinder. As we all know oil in your brake lines is not good, it deteriorates the rubber lines as well as the seals in the pistons and everything else. Basically I had to get an all new system from the master cylinder, all the way to the front calipers, and rear pistons since all the old stuff got gummed up by the oil product. The only thing that wasnt replaced was the rear lines and the hydroboost unit. I also had to have my rotors and drums replaced because when the old calipers and pistons failed they did so in the out position causing them to ride on the drums and calipers grinding them down. The wierd thing is when this happened the brakes didnt squeel or make any noise and the car didnt seem like it was dragging anything so I didnt relize it was happening. The grand total for all this was $1200. My main point is, is it worth it to keep my hydroboost system or do you think I should switch over to vacum brakes?

 

[marred4life]

as long as you service your hydroboost (replaced accuator, switch )there shouldnt be any trouble, now if you dont want to worry about your brakes ever failing i would try the vaccume setup, personaly i like the vaccume setup cuz you dont have to relay on a fuse controling your brake system

 

[my85grandnation]

They did not touch the hydroboost at all and the thing is after I left the place when I was sitting at the first red light and I went to go my brake peddle wouldnt come back up, it stayed where it was. I had to pull it up by hand. I took it back to the place and they are looking at my brake system again. What does that sound like it would be though?

 

[83ttypecooled]

hydroboost

Hi,
Sounds like continued brake hydraulic problems to me. Did it stop with a high, firm pedal, or was it mushy? The pedal hanger isn't rusty or such, is it? They did install a correct master cylinder, looks the same anyway, right?
My personal opinion is that, when they are working right, the hydroboost systems provide superior assist, compared to a vacuum booster. There are some problems with accumulators, which shows itself, if bad, by providing no power assist if the engine stalls, but the rebuilt units are pretty cheap. I don't think a failing unit can keep the pedal down, but I guess it's possible the control circuitry in the unit went bad. Finally, oil contamination in the brake hydraulic system shouldn't affect the hydroboost unit's seals or anything, because they run on p/s hydraulic fluid, somewhat akin to engine oil and trans fluid. Hope this helps, good luck with your expensive problem!

 

[my85grandnation]

The pedal didnt seem soft it felt kind of firm in fact but not that bad. It only did it when I held the brake in the down position for a bit. If I stopped lets say for a stop sign it came right back up. It did appear to be the correct master cylinder unit, and they knew about hydroboost sytems cause when I dropped it off they said it looked like the hydroboost was the only part working right.

 

[83ttypecooled]

hydroboost

Hi again,
My car's hydroboost takes a second or so to come back to the point where it shuts off the stop lamp switch. I notice it at night.I apply the brake, then release it, and my stop lights stay on for half a second,not much more, then go out. But the brakes never drag,car is always ready to go immediately. I would call it an idiosyncrasy of this system. That's all I have to give on the topic at this time. Good luck!

 

[my85grandnation]

Well this isnt just a second that it stays down. I sat there and let off and it wouldnt budge up at all. As soon as I pulled on it though it popped right up. Im hoping its something that it just needs more fluid or something along those lines and nothing more. Another question I have is I am wondering if there is any way that the power steering fluid that runs up into the hydrobooster could in any way get into the master cylinder and then contaminate the brake fluid causing what ruined my brake system?

 

[my85grandnation]

Got the car back today and what happened was that they didnt get the rear brake lines on good enough and they started to leak so that is why the pedal stayed in the down position.