FREE REPAIR MANUALS & LABOR GUIDES 1982-2013 Vehicles
Courtesy of Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

Brake System Test Procedure

Check
1. Where a low brake pedal or the feel of a bottomed-out condition exists, check for brake pedal reserve.
2. Operate the engine at idle with the transaxle in either PARK or NEUTRAL.
3. Apply the brake pedal lightly three or four times.
4. Allow 15 seconds for vacuum to replenish the brake booster.

5. NOTE: This increased resistance may feel like something has bottomed out.

Apply the brake pedal until it stops moving downward or an increased resistance to the pedal travel occurs.
6. Hold the brake pedal in the applied position and raise the engine speed to approximately 2000 rpm.

7. NOTE: The additional movement of the brake pedal is the result of the increased engine manifold vacuum which exerts more force on the brake booster during engine rundown. This means that additional stroke is available; and the brake master cylinder and the brake system is not bottoming out.

Release the accelerator pedal and observe that the brake pedal moves downward as engine returns to idle speed.