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Vacuum pump problem?

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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 04:48 PM
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Vacuum pump problem?

Hey fellahs so got home from work today and went to move my 1997 and the brake pedal was stiff as hell and hardly could stop while backing up. I just replaced the brake pads on the passenger side 3 days ago and didn't get time to drive the truck much since then, so is this problem definently the vacuum pump or could it be a caliper? Slide pins? Master cilinder? Thanks for the help in advance
 
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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 07:53 PM
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That is one of the things that points to a bad pump. The heater/AC will default to defrost no matter where the control is pointed to is another. Test the pump by pulling the hose off the brake booster, and seeing how much vacuum is there. You should get at least 19 inches there with engine running.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 08:02 PM
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Just went outside and started the truck put the heat on the vent foward position and it blows? Does that mean the vaccum pump is fine? After doing the front passenger side brake pads the other day I drove about 2 miles everything seemed fine other than the peddle was a bit soft even after pumping it, but idk if that's normal was my first brake job? No leaks noticed anywhere and fluids full
 
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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 08:06 PM
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Hart to say. You need to pull a vacuum test, that is about the only sure way to tell.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 08:14 PM
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How do you do a vaccum test? I just find it weird how my brakes were fine then replaced the pads drove a mile then truck sat for 3 days and now the brakes are rock solid
 
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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 09:12 PM
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Pretty simple.
1-get a vacuum gauge.
2-pull the hose off of the booster
3-insert end of gauge in the hose removed from the booster
4-with engine running, you should have at least 19 inches of vacuum.
 
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Old Apr 21, 2016 | 09:30 PM
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So if I don't get 19inches of vaccum doing this test the vaccum pump is toast? And then I should test the brake booster or master cilinder? And how do I check those?
 
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Old Apr 22, 2016 | 11:45 AM
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Old Apr 22, 2016 | 12:13 PM
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So this is where I'm at? What's next? Really hurting for money right now and can't continue to throw parts at it?
 
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Old Apr 22, 2016 | 09:05 PM
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Originally Posted by kyle j
Hey fellahs so got home from work today and went to move my 1997 and the brake pedal was stiff as hell and hardly could stop while backing up. I just replaced the brake pads on the passenger side 3 days ago and didn't get time to drive the truck much since then, so is this problem definently the vacuum pump or could it be a caliper? Slide pins? Master cilinder? Thanks for the help in advance
Originally Posted by kyle j
Just went outside and started the truck put the heat on the vent foward position and it blows? Does that mean the vaccum pump is fine? After doing the front passenger side brake pads the other day I drove about 2 miles everything seemed fine other than the peddle was a bit soft even after pumping it, but idk if that's normal was my first brake job? No leaks noticed anywhere and fluids full
I am not in anyway trying to be a smart a$$ so don't take this that way, but you should never just do brakes on just one side. Always do both sides when you do them. Same with bearings and ball joints, etc.
In the first post I quoted, you said the pedal was stiff, and then in the other post you said it was soft. That is two different symptoms with different probable causes. Did you have the brakes lines loose when you did the brakes? If so, did you bleed the brakes?
 
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Old Apr 23, 2016 | 05:44 AM
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Originally Posted by ReBilld
I am not in anyway trying to be a smart a$$ so don't take this that way, but you should never just do brakes on just one side. Always do both sides when you do them. Same with bearings and ball joints, etc.
In the first post I quoted, you said the pedal was stiff, and then in the other post you said it was soft. That is two different symptoms with different probable causes. Did you have the brakes lines loose when you did the brakes? If so, did you bleed the brakes?
Was in a pinch for money and time couldn't do both sides the same day, fixed the problem replaced the vacuum pump yesterday
 
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