Brake power assist gone! Help!

[Rickity]

The power assist to my TC brakes just died. Would like any suggestions on how to locate the exact problem or replacement item with part source. The locals are scratching their heads and suggesting I take it to a Chrysler dealer (always a safe suggestion, ey?) I try to avoid the dealerships for obvious reasons. I'm in the Sacramento area.

[neilinflorida]

I just went through 2 weeks of aggravation trying to get my brakes to work. I have a mechanic I have used for many years, and in the beginning, he seemed to think no big problem. He was in error.

First repair was to bleed the lines and make sure there was no air in the system. Picked the car up, went about 1/4 mile before there was no stopping ability. Pedal felt very "hard", but braking was as if not power assisted. Charge for initial service, along with flushing transmission and replacing all belts . . . $1,300.

They next replaced the master cylinder/ABS system, said the car was ready, I picked it up and went no more than 1/2 mile before I had no brakes whatsoever. Second repair cost . . . $1,500. Took it back. Next, they told me that the computer was fried, and that I needed to replace the accumulator thingy. There were no computers available from conventional sources in the continental United States, but we did find an accumulator thingy somewhere in California. I said go for it. The next day, the mechanic called me and said that he had fixed the problem and that apparently there was a faulty ground in the computer. He said he fixed the problem and that I wouldn't need the accumulator thingy. Good news, I guess because I didn't need the accumulator thingy. When I paid the bill for 4 hours labor, I noted there was a $60 restocking charge from the supplier of the accumulator thingy. Being that they had had my car for over two weeks, I was disappointed, but paid the bill, and was off with brakes. However, each time I'd touch the brakes, the brake light on the dashboard would light up. Additionally, the ABS light on the dash stays on all the time. When I inquired why, I was told that in fact, they had actually "by-passed" the faulty computer module. I did not get a warm fuzzy feeling. Today, I had occasion to be on a deserted stretch of road and thought I'd attempt emergency braking. At about 45 mph, I stomped on the brakes and felt the pedal go to a second level downward, seeming quite firm, but the actual braking was less than I have ever had in similar "emergency" stops with other cars. Less than impressive to say the least. Later, I would "test" the brakes to see if they felt "normal". On one occasion while pulling out of a parking space, I applied the brakes and it seemed as if there were no power assist. The car stopped, but it felt as if I were driving a 1934 Plymouth instead of the "fine" automobile I know the TC to be.

Sorry I don't have any suggestions to your particular problem, but at this point I'm in a misery loves company mode.
Neil

[TCParts]

I have writtten a number of articles on the TC ABS system - the TC America newsletters have the articles from myself and Hemi Anderson, as well the shop manual has a complete diagnostic section on the system. I would recommend reading the articles and also reading through your shop manual to understand how the system works, so you can understand what the mechanic was trying to do. It does not take very long.

[blmay]

Check out "Disable ABS System" on page #3 of this forum. I replaced my ABS Brakeing System by ATE (a system that is hard to work on and very expensive to replace) with just standard old power brakes. Read the all the replys and get some good brakes for under $500.
Bill