1997 Chevy Astro hard pedal

1997 CHEVROLET ASTRO
57,000 MILES • V8 • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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PJW001
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My daugher used our car to drop her husband at work. She almost could not get the car stopped, really required a lot of pedal pressure. She parked it and when I tested it found same problem. No real noise from the brakes. Brake fluid reservoir had plenty of fluid. Any ideas?
Aug 14, 2008 at 8:28 PM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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does power steering work? does it have vacuum assisted power brakes?
Aug 14, 2008 at 8:40 PM
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PJW001
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I believe it has vacuum-assisted power brakes but I can't swear to it. I just tried to drive the van, intending to get it to a repair shop a mile away. I gave up on that real quick. Not only do I have the hard pedal problem, but the power steering does not work -- at all. After struggling for a minute it was all I could do to muscle the wheels back to their original direction.
Aug 16, 2008 at 12:13 AM
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KHOOPER
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Did you adjust the rear brakes? I'd start there. Also, check the front brakes for leaks. If the fluid reservoir went empty during the work you now have air in the system, and need to bleed all the brakes, starting with passenger side rear.

Drive Safely and Move Freely
Aug 16, 2008 at 12:28 AM
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PJW001
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No one has worked on the car in a couple of years and we have never had problems with steering or the ABS brake system. Does the power steering pump actuate the vacuum-assisted power brakes?
Aug 16, 2008 at 12:51 AM
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MASTERTECHTIM
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your problem is a bad power steering pump. this van uses power steering pressure to assist the power brakes. thats why i asked is steering works and if it had vacuum assist. your vehicle does not have vacuum assist brakes it uses the power steering pump. let me know
Aug 16, 2008 at 6:02 AM
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PJW001
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Tim,

U R right, the brakes are assisted by the power steering pump. I had to have the car towed and the mechanic opened it up and found a broken impeller shaft in the PS pump. Thx

PJW
Aug 16, 2008 at 1:40 PM