1996 Oldsmobile Bravada Brake Service (ONLINE REPAIR MANUALS)

Brake Lines & Linings

Remove one of the front wheels and inspect the brake disc, caliper and linings.

Do not allow any oil or grease on the linings. It is recommended that all linings be replaced in sets when worn or damaged.

If the caliper is cracked or fluid leakage through the casting is evident, it must be replaced as a unit.

Brake Roughness

The most common cause of brake chatter on disc brakes is a variation in thickness of the disc. If roughness or vibration is encountered during highway operation or if pedal pumping is experienced at low speeds, the disc may have excessive thickne...

Certain general service procedures apply, regardless of whether the brakes are vacuum or hydraulically assisted. Only top quality, clean brake fluid should be used. More seals and valves are used with power brake systems than with ordinary brakes, so an inferior brake fluid will do much more damage. For the same reason, be sure all dirt is kept out of the system. Additionally, care must be taken not to mix the fluids of the booster hydraulic system and brake hydraulic system as the fluids are not compatible.

If the power unit fails, the brakes will still operate, as the conventio...

Hard Pedal

• Internal vacuum leak.
• Faulty control valve.
• Broken or damaged hydraulic brake lines.
• Collapsed or damaged vacuum hose.
• Plugged or loose vacuum fitting.
• Bad stud welds on front or rear housing on power head.
• Faulty booster diaphragm.
• Restricted air filter element.
• Worn or distorted reaction plate or levers.
• Cracked or broken pow...

Height Sensing Proportioning Valve

The height sensing proportioning valve must be adjusted whenever the valve and/or linkage is disassembled or removed for service. In addition, adjustment should be checked if excessive front wheel lock-up is experienced with a lower than desired brake application rate when vehicle is at or near maximum GVWR.

• Raise and support vehicle leaving wheels on, and allow axle to hang freely.
• Remove lever retaining nut and disconnect lever from valve shaft, Fig. .
• Rotate valve shaft to permit installation of correct adjustment gauge, Fig. , ensuring that D shape...

Single Diaphragm Type

Disassemble

• Remove boot, silencer, vacuum check valve, grommet and front housing seal, Fig. .
• Scribe a line across front and rear housing, then mount brake booster to brake mounting fixture tool No. J 23456 or equivalent, Fig. .
• Turn fixture handle counterclockwise to unlock housings.
• Remove return spring, power piston assembly and power piston bearing from rear housing, Fig. .
• Remove reaction body retainer, piston rod, reaction retainer and filter.
• Remove power piston and pushrod assembly as follows:
• While holding the pushrod down against a hard surface, ...

Manual Bleed

• If vehicle is equipped with power brakes, remove vacuum reserve by applying brakes several times with engine off.
• Fill master cylinder reservoirs with suitable brake fluid. Be sure to always keep master cylinder reservoirs at least half full during entire bleeding procedure.
• If master cylinder is suspected to have air in the bore, it must be bled first, as follows:
• Disconnect forward brake pipe connection at master cylinder.
• Allow brake fluid to fill master cylinder bore until it begins to flow from forward pipe connector port.
• Connect and tighten forward brake pipe at...