power brake booster failing. questions re: effects

[fxct]

Depressing the brake pedal while the engine is running results in a "hiss" of air and inspection of this (hand in front of PBB coupling at firewall inside cabin) confirms air is being puffed out. So I take it the PBB is failing. Or has failed. But I've still got front disc brakes... just not very good ones. Pedal drops 3+ inches when depressed with engine off and then engine is started. That's a bit much?

The other day they (the front disc brakes) seemed to overheat. Smelled real bad. No smoke. Anyway, I've got a reman on order from LMC for the booster, along with a whole set of replacement parts for the front discs since they're due, and they seem to be at least sticking or binding a bit.

What was odd about this though is I had to crawl home in 1st gear, and it felt like the engine just had no pressure beyond 15mph in 1st over a pretty steep grade. Couldn't climb in 2nd, even. How badly the discs/pads were heated/expanded at that time I don't know, 'cos I did not jack it and pull the hubs when I got home. I just poured a drink and enjoyed the fact that we made it w/o a call to AAA. Inspected front breaks today and yeah, they're sticky and old and thus the replacement part order.

I'm still a noob when it comes to auto mechanics and at the mercy of you fine folks and the Haynes manuals.

 

[Earl43P]

If you have dragging calipers, replace the flex hoses to the calipers too. They can act like a check valve.

The PBB could be leaking your vacuum, making it run poorly.

 

[fxct]

new calipers, pads, hoses, booster all installed. painted the calipers, mostly on account of the rust around here.

those old caliper pistons were toast, and the hoses were pretty old, possibly original.

them brake hose clips are a tad over engineered, i think.