Originally Posted by
Jim Holian
180 - Thanks for keeping this topic alive. I hope you have found the answer to our problem with long brake pedal travel. Like you, my car, with the engine off, has a very short stroke and a very firm feel to the brake pedal. As soon as I start the engine the pedal goes fairly far down, too far for my comfort, but is firm when it reaches the limit of it's travel. Some time back, noted above in the structure of the post, I wondered if the vacume chamber had anything to do with the problem. Still don't know for certain. I put on one of "Needswings" oil catch cans some time ago and wondered if it had anything to do with messing up the vacume on the canister. I must have taken that catch can system off and on three or four times, always asking myself if I overlooked something on the installation. It's just as instructed. Funny thing though, I never, and I mean NEVER, get any oil or gunk in the oil catch can. Seems funny that I have a lot of brake pedal travel, which depends on vacume, and no residue in the catch can that also depends on vacume. I'm wondering if there is a corralation (spelling) there? Please let me know your thoughts on this.
Jim
The vacuum assisted brake system is separate rom the ABS system. If the vacuum was totally lost the brake system would still work but a lot more pressure would have to be applied to the brake pedal.
I think that with the ignition OFF the ABS module is bypassed and the pedal travels the same amount as if their was no ABS system.
With the ignition ON the ABS module allows brake fluid to flow through it, somehow this causes the low pedal problem. I read a sticky valve can cause this problem. Or is it caused by air in the module, if it was air I think the pedal would be spongy.