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Power Steering has nothing to do with brakes... Posted by Larry West [Email] (#1140) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Larry West) on Fri, 2 Mar 2018 12:17:47 In Reply to: '91 9000 with odd brake issue of sudden onset, Brucebhp [Profile/Gallery] , Thu, 1 Mar 2018 23:08:47 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
A US Market 1991 9000 has an ATE ABS (Anti Lock Brake) system. This self-contained system operates mostly electrically.
When the car is first started, the ABS system has to charge the pressure accumulator. You can normally hear this electric pump running, and two indicator lights will glow in the instrument cluster, "ABS" and "BRAKE", if I recall (or some international symbol for the same), until the accumulator is sufficiently charged.
This pressure provides the boost for the front brakes, and is the only source of pressure for the rear brakes (the pedal does NOT supply fluid under pressure to the rears directly).
The front brakes operate like normal brakes (mostly). The pedal pushes a piston, and fluid is moved, but the boost is hydraulic, and comes from the accumulator once it is pressurized. The rear brakes get fluid via a valve that the pedal opens, but without the accumulator pressure, the fluid can't flow and operate the rear calipers.
If the car has sat for a sufficient time, it can take some time to charge the pressure accumulator before you will have a "normal" pedal feel. Also, if there is no electric power to charge the accumulator, you will have a very high, very (VERY) stiff pedal, because you are operating the front brakes with no pedal boost.
Starting it in gear shouldn't have affected the brakes, with the possible exception of yanking the clutch fluid supply line off of the reservoir, which would drain the fluid.
Have you opened the brake reservoir cap and looked inside to check the level? The clutch and brakes share a common reservoir, and if the clutch leaked all the fluid, the ABS pump may not be able to pressurize the accumulator. Sometimes, what level you see without opening the cap is accumulated grime inside (or outside) the reservoir.
In order, check:
1) Make sure there is sufficient fluid
2) all ABS fuses are good
3) you can hear the pump running right after starting the car
4) you see the "ABS" and "BRAKE" lights on after starting
It is definitely an ABS issue. Hopefully it can be remedied without replacing parts. Unfortunately, most of the parts are no longer available new, and they were extremely expensive when they were. The one major part for that year I still see available (at eSaabparts) is a pump replacement(?) kit, and it is $959.78, and available from Sweden...
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