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1990 3.3L V6 Grand Caravan brake issue

Tiny
JMOSES
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 195,000 MILES
I have a 1990 grand caravan v6 3.3L engine. We replaced the master cylinder& brake booster. Booster was listed for both 3.0& 3.3L engines.

NOW we can't get the brakes to grab at all--bleeding them is doing nothing.

It came with another valve(?) And my friend did not put IT on, but hooked it up as it came out of the box.

This part was listed as "for a 3.0L, " a further search at the parts store for a 3.3L revealed the same part number.

I suggested to my friend that, since it was listed as being for the other engine that just maybe that little "extra" part is what it makes it fit a 3.3L but he said no, it shouldn't make any difference. I begged to differ but, what do I know, right?

Right now, brakes going to floor no matter how much we try and bleed them.

This whole repair came about because my brakes gave out and he decided that if we were going to replace the booster that we'd might as well replace the master cylinder, too. Parts were original on the van.
Thank you.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 8:22 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
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Was master cylinder bench before instalation?
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:42 PM
Tiny
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What do you mean by "bench?"
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:42 PM
Tiny
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Put master in vise fill with fluid then with the little hoses that came with master depress pistons expelling air. If you don't LOTS of air get forced into system and you will be bleeding till cows come home
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:42 PM
Tiny
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This is what he did: brake fluid was still at the top of both hoses. He attached the new MC and put in fluid, said it should be fine since the hoses were full.
(thank you, BTW)
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:42 PM
Tiny
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You need to continue bleeding air was induced and will be difficult to bleed out. Start with right rear a place tube over bleeder place in container of fluid bleed until no bubbles seen. Next time bench bleed
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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Thank you, but what about the booster?
The thing you hook up the hoses to on the booster--there was an extra one in the box that is a little bit different than the one ON the device. The same part is for both the 3.9L and the 3.3L.

Should that other little piece have been put on since the booster was listed as for the 3.0L?
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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I mean, same as for the 3.0. (Sorry)
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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You vacuum booster? Big round thing master attaches to? It has only a vacuum line. Did not this come with directions? What is "extra one"? Can post a pic? Any event would have little to do with air in lines.
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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Yes, the big round thing--it was in sad shape!
No, it didn't come with instructions, or they didn't give them to us.
So, bleed and bleed and bleed some more? IE, we're probably going to end up bleeding out ALL the fluid, up to what was put into the master cylinder when it was replaced? Should we hear the should of air escaping when the brake pedal is pushed? And about how long should this take? After about 15 min with no improvement on the pedal we abandoned the process.

Ps--the fellow who did this has left the area. I'm thinking perhaps he didn't take care on this job because he knew he'd be gone in less than 24 hours.
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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Fumble fingers! "Should we hear the sound of air escaping when the brake pedal is pushed to the floor?"
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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Sorry. I don't have a way to get a photo to you at this time. Thank you very much for your help. What is concerning me, also, is the sound of air when I press the brake. It might be nothing. It might be something. The little part that the vacuum hose attaches to--that's the one that there was an extra part of--the one that was on the part had a cap with a rounded top; the one loose in the box, the cap is flattened. I said that looks like the one we want. Chris said it shouldn't make a difference.
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
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O.K. Extra port on booster valve is used to provide vacuum to say cruise control ect. If not needed cap it off. So they provided both type valves. If engine is off then air sound normal if running not normal. Whith amount of air in system may need to vacuum bleed check with parts store they may rent you one make job a lot easier.
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Sunday, February 21st, 2021 AT 12:43 PM

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