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trop-a-cal's avatar
trop-a-cal
Explorer
Apr 24, 2014

P-30-32 hydro assist from steering to brakes

I'm getting close to resolving my sticking brake peddle at low speeds, on my 1997 P-32. The relied on Chevy service proved the cause of sticking peddle was their lack of training. Not sure what level the mechanic was but I went to a larger Chevy service and talked to a level 2 mechanic that confirmed the sticking as most likely the power steering fluid contamination due to it not being flushed since new. Chevy service people did everything but flush the steering fluid, charging for new calipers, burnt rotors, and collapsed flexible front brake hosed. The sticking of the peddle down occurred over the last 6 years with dragging brakes at low speed which would release at higher speeds with road vibration, backing off the pads from the gradual movement of the brake fluid back to the master cylinder. Then 3 years ago the peddle stuck and only released after about two weeks sitting waiting for service. Then a year ago the Chevy service did a lubrication of the linage, assuming it was the bell crank, and other connections from peddle to hydro buster. But as the level two Chevy mechanic in the bigger, and obviously better trained Chevy dealer told me the hydro booster is a cylinder that uses the power steering fluid under 1200 PSI to boost the brakes by pushing against the master cylinder with a shaft and piston. That piston was not retracting after it pushed even with the spring it has to retract it internally. With the old fluid removed,(and it was black and full of particles), the new fluid immediately loosened the bind that was caused by the old fluid. So essentially a $1.75 12 once container of new steering fluid solved the problem that the untrained Chevy mechanic didn't have a clue was the first place to start to solve the sticking brake peddle problem, which is very common to the Chevy trucks with Hydro boost for brakes off the steering pump. There was little indication of a steering problem as this is a steering box and not a steering rack, which probably would have been sticking along with the brake peddle and perhaps causing a wining noise at steering hard. I'm flushing one more $1.75 12 OZ power steering fluid through just for a real good flush, using a fluid 60 ML hypodermic plunger from Pinch a Penny pool supply $5.95 with a clear hose attached to the tip to get into the power steering fluid chamber.

5 Replies

  • WOW, Chevy still doing short cuts with all the vehicles they make and even Workhorse has been "braking down". I'm thinking the Zerk in the bell crank is a good idea, as it has a major function in the directional change of the linkage. I did lube it with grease the outside but perhaps internally it has rust with its sleeve and bolt design that has open areas that should have been full of a plastic tube around the bolt and hugging the inside of the sleeve, with a grease fitting. A grease fitting in one end and a bleeder in the other end, so the grease does not blow the bushings full of rust. Maybe vinegar first to eat up the rust then some air in one hole to expel it out the other, as it would be best to get a clean chamber of grease.
  • Thanks for posting, I have the hydro boost setup in the Suburban.
  • The sticking brake pedal causing the brakes to heat up in my old 86 P30 with hydro assist was caused by the brake pedal linkage sticking. To fix this- I drilled a hole in the cross bar and put a Zerk in it and filled the cross bar with grease.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Sounds like this can affect many RV's. Ford E450 under many Class C's use it, and I'd guess Ford's F53 Class A chassis does too.

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