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brake questions (1988 chevy G10)
#722910 April 24th 2017 11:14 pm
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 13
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stranger
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I have an 1988 chevy g10 van. was having problems with my brake booster, So I bought this. (50-1015 Reman)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/112329953268?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

What i should have bought (50-1050 Reman)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Brake-Booster-Vacuum-w-Master-Cylinder-Cardone-50-1050-Reman-/281926597787?fits=Year%3A1988%7CMake%3AChevrolet%7CModel%3AG10&hash=item41a4227c9b:g:tkUAAOSwTglYmKBn&vxp=mtr

My mechanic told me that it is the wrong kind and i should have bought the one with the master cyl w/ plastic reservoirs but said that the rear and front brakes were just reversed on the new master cyl, and that it should work just fine. so he gently bent the brake lines to fit the older style reservoir.

We later did the bleeding process. the van stops but the brake doesn't actuate until about an inch or two pressed down. The original brake would start to stop almost immediately as you press it. Is this a bleeding/caliper problem or a problem that has to do with the wrong type of master CYL. says that it is for a 1978 chevy van does it have disc fronts drum backs like my 88?

sorry for such a longwinded post! thank you!!

Charlie.

Re: brake questions (1988 chevy G10)
VirtualBalboa #722912 April 25th 2017 1:13 am
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Uncle Rust N Dents
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Uncle Rust N Dents
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Ok... Be patient with me, because I might sound harsh here, but that's not my intention.

Here's what this sounds like...
You bought the wrong part for your van, your mechanic installed it anyway, and you don't know why the van doesn't work properly?
See what I mean?

I'm not an expert, but I doubt that General Motors swapped the front and rear circuits on their master cylinders and made no other changes to the system.
Your "mechanic" should have had you return the incorrect part and get him the correct part before doing anything else.
I mean, it's your brakes... why chance it?

Your issue could be a bleeding problem I suppose, but honestly, the only thing I'm sure of is the incorrect master cylinder.
If it was mine, I'd get the right part, install it, and go from there.
Even if you still have the pedal travel issue afterwards, at least you'll know it's not because of part incompatibility.

The other thing is: Even if you get it working how you'd like it with the wrong part, it's kind of oddball now and is no longer built like it was from the factory.
So it no longer conforms to the service manuals, or the memory and knowledge of mechanics who may work on it in the future.
It's something you'll have to remember, and it's something a future owner will have to figure out.

I hope that all came out ok, and I didn't sound like too much of an ass. smile
However you go with it, good luck, and get it fixed so you can drive it.

Last edited by Rusty_Pancelode; April 25th 2017 1:19 am.

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Re: brake questions (1988 chevy G10)
Rusty Pancelode #722916 April 25th 2017 2:32 am
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I found out that earlier gm vans from 86? and older have drums all around. so the master cyl was for drums. so it would need more pressure to run my front discs. thank you for your reply, I appreciate any help I can get!

Re: brake questions (1988 chevy G10)
VirtualBalboa #722934 April 25th 2017 12:01 pm
Joined: Jul 2014
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Likes: 123
Uncle Rust N Dents
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Uncle Rust N Dents
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Yeah, I wish I could have been more specific as to why that early master cylinder wouldn't work properly, but I didn't know. I just knew it was wrong. LOL


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Re: brake questions (1988 chevy G10)
VirtualBalboa #723117 April 29th 2017 7:12 am
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Originally Posted by VirtualBalboa
I found out that earlier gm vans from 86? and older have drums all around. so the master cyl was for drums. so it would need more pressure to run my front discs. thank you for your reply, I appreciate any help I can get!

All GM full size vans have been disc front/drum rear since about 1971. I'm not sure what the difference is between the two with one exception, and it is this question, does your van have ABS brakes? I suspect it does being an 88 even if it is just the earlier passive system without the pulse solenoids. Your mechanic was right to swap the brake lines but I think the problem is in that you have an early master cylinder for non-ABS hooked to your ABS style system. There are internal changes in the piston design of the master cylinder with all kinds of pressure differentiation calculations and such that required the port change from front to back on the new style MC's. I would suggest changing the master cylinder/booster back to the correct one. I know that probably isn't what you wanted to hear. Just changing the master cylinder may work but you'd need to verify the newer MC will bolt to the older booster and the pushrod is the correct length to engage the MC and give you the right amount of movement. The other alternative is to remove the ABS and plumb it out so you will basically have the same system as the earlier vans without ABS. Most likely, your ABS system doesn't work very well if at all anymore, the early General Motors ABS systems were not known for longevity. As far as that goes, it wasn't until the 2000's that they ever got it right IMO.


'85 GMC Shorty
'98 Suburban K2500
'98 Pontiac G8 GT
'77 Pontiac Astre
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"I thought you weren't allowed to talk to guys with vans??"

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