I was on my way home, and when I went to stop for a red, all of a sudden my brake pedal made a loud hiss, a small pop, then I lost all grab on the brakes. I managed to get home, but now my car won't stop at ALL. The pedal is very hard to push down, and hisses loudly. I *think* its the booster, but I have very little experience with brake problems, and I was hoping I could get some input as to what could be causing this. I'd really like to get the car back up and running soon, so any help and estimates on the time/money involved would be a huge help. Thanks guys.

 

It's an 88 Iroc, with 4 wheel disc brakes and the 9-bolt rearend, just in case that makes a difference.

 

probably a bad power break booster. ~$69 at your local parts store

 

Well, I played around with the car some tonight, and the brake pedal is very hard to push in, and hisses like mad when the car is on, still no brake pressure though. Trick of it is, you can only hear the hissing inside the car, not in the engine compartment ? I figured if it was a vacuum leak you'd hear it in the engine bay. Any thoughts?

 

It's the brake booster. That's what they do when they fail. The diaphragm inside it broke. You need another one.

Not much else to say.

 

yup....... do as rb said and replace the booster.

 

yea most likely the booster...but make sure to check all the associated vacume line first just to make sure.