My brakes just recently gave me problems by.

Gotta have a booster, otherwise it will take two men and a boy to stop the car. Your car was available with anti-lock brakes. Many models incorporated the power assist function into that system, and they didn't use the common vacuum booster. The power assist uses brake fluid under very high pressure just like some diesel trucks use high-pressure power steering fluid for brake power assist in the Hydro-boost systems.

If you have ABS and the pump is not running or building pressure, the yellow warning light should be on. If you never see a yellow light, including for a few seconds when you start the engine, there are two fuses that would have to be blown or removed.