CHEVROLET CAMARO 1982 Repair Guide

GM – CAMARO 1982-1992 – Repair Guide (Checked by WxMax) 51
shoes to rotate very slightly with the
drum, rocking an adjusting lever, thereby
causing rotation of the adjusting scr ew. Some drum brake systems are
designed to self-adjust duri ng application whenever the br akes are applied. This
on-board adjustment system reduces the need for maintenance adjustments
and keeps both the brake function and pedal feel satisfactory.
POWER BOOSTERS
Virtually all modern vehicles use a va cuum assisted power brake system to
multiply the braking force and reduce pedal effort. Since vacuum is always
available when the en gine is operating, the system is simple and efficient. A
vacuum diaphragm is located on the front of the master cylinder and assists the
driver in applying the brakes, reducing both the effort and travel he must put into
moving the brake pedal.
The vacuum diaphragm housing is normally connected to the intake manifold by
a vacuum hose. A check valve is placed at the point where the hose enters the
diaphragm housing, so that during periods of low manifold vacuum brakes
assist will not be lost.
Depressing the brake pedal closes o ff the vacuum source and allows
atmospheric pressure to enter on one side of the diaphragm. This causes the
master cylinder pistons to move and app ly the brakes. When the brake pedal is
released, vacuum is applied to both si des of the diaphragm and springs return
the diaphragm and master cylinder pist ons to the released position.
If the vacuum supply fails, the brake pedal rod will contact the end of the master
cylinder actuator rod and the system will apply the br akes without any power
assistance. The driver will notice that much higher pedal effort is needed to stop
the car and that the pedal f eels harder than usual.
VACUUM LEAK TEST
1. Operate the engine at idle without t ouching the brake pedal for at least one
minute.
2. Turn off the engine and wait one minute.
3. Test for the presence of assist va cuum by depressing the brake pedal and
releasing it several times. If vac uum is present in the system, light
application will produce less and less pedal travel. If there is no vacuum, air
is leaking into the system.
SYSTEM OPERATION TEST
1. With the engine OFF, pump the brake p edal until the supply vacuum is
entirely gone.
2. Put light, steady pressu re on the brake pedal.
3. Start the engine and let it idle. If the system is operating correctly, the brake
pedal should fall toward the floor if t he constant pressure is maintained.

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Power brake systems may be tested for hy
draulic leaks just as ordinary
systems are tested.
BRAKE SYSTEMS

ADJUSTMENT
DISC BRAKES
Disc brakes are self-adjusting. No adjus tment is possible or necessary. Check
fluid level of reservoir, for as brak e pads wear, the piston moves out and the
piston void must be replac ed with brake fluid.

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DRUM BRAKES

Fig. 1: Cutaway view of a rear drum brake adjuster

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Fig. 2: Adjusting the rear drum brakes
The drum brakes are designed to self -adjust when applied with the car moving
in reverse. However, they can al so be adjusted manually. This manual
adjustment should also be performed when ever the linings are replaced.
1. Use a punch to knock out the lanced ar ea in the brake backing plate. If this
is done with the drum installed on the car, the drum must then be removed
to clean out all metal pieces. After adj ustments are complete, obtain a hole
cover to prevent entry of dirt and water into the brakes.
On many vehicles the metal plat e may have already been removed and
replaced with a rubber plug
2. Use an adjusting tool especially m ade for the purpose to turn the brake
adjusting screw star wheel. Use a smal l screwdriver to push the adjusting
lever away from star wheel when adj usting brakes. Expand the shoes until
the drum can just be turned by hand. The drag should be equal at all the
wheel.
3. Back off the adjusting screw 12 notches. If the shoes still are dragging
lightly, back off the adjusting screw one or two additional notches. If the
brakes still drag, the par king brake adjustment is in correct or the parking
brake is applied. Fi x and start over.
4. Install the hole cover into the drum.
5. Check the parking brake adjustment.

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BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Fig. 1: Brake light switch
1. Disconnect the wiring harness fr om the brake light switch.
2. Remove the switch.
To install:
3. Depress the braked pedal, insert the switch into the tubular clip until the
switch body seats on the clip. Cli cks should be heard as the threaded
portion of the switch is pushed through the clip toward the brake pedal.\

4. Pull the brake pe dal fully rearward (towards the driver) against the pedal
stop, until the click sounds can no long er be heard. The switch will be moved
in the tubular clip providing adjustment.
5. Release the brak e pedal, and then repeat Step 4, to assure that no click
sound remains.
6. Connect the wiring harness to the brake light switch.

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MASTER CYLINDER
REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Fig. 1: Master cylinder

Fig. 2: Brake pipe removal

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Fig. 3: Master cylinder removal
1. Disconnect hydraulic lines at master cylinder.
2. Remove the retaining nuts and lockwasher s that hold cylinder to firewall or
the brake booster. Disconnect pushrod at brake pedal (non-power brakes
only).
3. Remove the master cylinder, gasket and rubber boot.
4. On non-power brakes, position master cylinder on firewall, making sure pushrod goes through the rubber boot in to the piston. Reconnect pushrod
clevis to brake pedal. With power brakes, install the cylinder on the bo\
oster.
5. Install nuts and lockwashers. Torque nut s to 22-30 ft. lbs. (30-45 Nm).
6. Install hydraulic lines t hen check brake pedal free play.
7. Bleed the brakes.

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OVERHAUL

Fig. 4: Exploded view of a master cylinder

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Fig. 5: Removing the reservoir

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Fig. 6: Prying out the snapring

Fig. 7: Removing the snapring