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1988 Saturn SL1 Brake Booster instructions please

Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 SATURN SL1
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 132,000 MILES
You will see my recent posts, have done adjustments to rear brakes as you advised, now my brake is going to the floor, theres a lot of air when pumping my brakes, this is since May 2015 of this year. ALso Master cylinder is new. Changed and tried the brake booster plastic check valve today and still no change at all. Please advise as I have a brake booster on hold at a store to pick up in the am. Also instructions on the simplest way to perform changing this out for someone who has never delt with this. Thank you all so much, appreciate all your help Margaret.
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 AT 8:15 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The booster isn't going to cause a low pedal If it went bad it would cause a hard pedal. Your sure the rear shoes are adjusted correctly?Also can you pump up the brake pedal?Also do you have abs?
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Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
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No, anti lock brakes, went ahead and purchased brand new brake shoes and yes the adjustment was done correctly, so going to put new ones on first.

I do have a question, the man at auto zone mentioned my master cylinder, I told him that was done back in back in May 2014. He tried to tell me that when it went bad, that the fluid could have gone into my brake booster. Do you agree with this? Would like your opinion.

Also purchased a new brake booster just incase. Thank you again.
Margaret Have a good day!
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 AT 9:48 AM
Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
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Sorry this is a 1998 Saturn just saw if was posted wrong, I apologize, sl1 1.9 ltr engine, 4 cyc
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 AT 9:51 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I knew it wasnt a 1988 saturn didn't start there model years till 1991 lol. Also if the fluid did get into the booster and damaged it. The pedal would be hard not soft. Let me know how it is with the new shoes and a good adjustment?Also can you pump the brake pedal up?Also lately I have gotten a lot of defective parts that didnt last long so anything is possible.
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 AT 12:35 PM
Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
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  • 50 POSTS
1998 Saturn Sl1 1.9lts So far the shoes haven't made much difference, very sligh, therest a little bit of brake, still sounds like air in pedal, still when pumping goes almost to floor board, going to bleed brakes as well.
Have tried to check all hoses for any cracks etc and can't find a thing.

Are the very small springs on the brake shoes important? This Fellow said they were preventing it adjusting, think he's crazy, there there for a reason, but the side that had one loose on the right rear he claims was working better that way, if he doesn't put them back, how dangerous is this.

Also trying to figure out if I should still install the brake booster, or what else can I possibably check, front pads are fine. Thank you
Margaret
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 8:56 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Broken or unhooked springs can cause a low pedal it doesn't allow all the brake fluid from the wheel cylinders to the master cylinder causing excessive brake travel. Also they're really important to release your rear shoes when you let off the brakes.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 9:30 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I ment the springs push the fluid back out of the wheel cylinder back to the master when releasing the brale. Also if he says the springs make it hard to adjust and that ypu dont need them all you need to find a different person to work on your car.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 12:14 PM
Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
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Thank you again, have 2 different people saying its very possible that the
Master cylinder has gone bad?
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 4:26 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Anything is possible but until you get the back brakes all like there supposed to be you cant condemn the master cylinder.
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2015 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
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Yes finally back brakes have been assembled, and adjusted. Then bled both sides, passenger side some nasty fluid came out and the driver side nothing came out? Wonder if something might be clogged? Brakes haven't changed much at all. Any other suggestions please
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Saturday, July 25th, 2015 AT 6:00 PM
Tiny
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So nothing comes out of the drivers side front or rear while while bleeding the brakes?So how are you bleeding the brakes please tell me step by step?
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Monday, July 27th, 2015 AT 6:53 AM
Tiny
MMSHIELDS2006
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I finally gave up, found a local brake shop and went there. They found the bleeder line was clogged on the drivers side and air in the line, so that's why it wouldnt bleed, they had to unglog the line. My rear springs were set backwards, and so of course the automatic adjuster wouldn't work. Also the fellow that tried to do my brakes originally adjusted them to much, and too tight. They flushed my brake system. I now have real brakes again, good ones. So didn't need master cylinder or break booster as some of my friends thought, am glad I have breaks again.
And Thank you very muchf for all your time and your help.

SIncerely,
Margaret Shields
Tallahassee, Florida
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Monday, July 27th, 2015 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
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Had a feeling when you said something about the guy was saying the spring was in the way of the adjusting wheel that he messed something up. Its a pretty easy spring set up. There are a lot more complex spring set ups then that on cars. Its kinda hard to see whats going on when iam not there or see pics of whats going on. Glad you have brakes again and your welcome iam here when you need me.
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Monday, July 27th, 2015 AT 11:12 PM

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