Brake Problem with 99 SLE

[karma]

Hi, i'm new to the forum, but i've been on other forums for awhile like ToyotaNation and 9thgenCorolla.

I just purchased a 99 Solara SLE v6 and its a great car. Low miles well taken care of and fully loaded.

My problem, however, is that when you step on the brake, parke or driving, it makes a hissing sound from the brake pedal area. It sounds like air from the booster is being sucked in from the cabin or something. It is weird because the engine doesn't fluctuate idle or anything, but it just does this weird constant hiss only when the brake pedal is pushed. Is this normal?

[Mole]

nope.

[karma]

Any idea what is causing it?

[QuickSEV6]

I would think it might be time to change your pads, but that would be more of a squeel than a hiss. Are you sure its a hissing sound?

[karma]

Positive, its a hissing sound coming from the brake pedal are in the cockpit and not the pads. Brake pads sound fine outside. You can only hear this hiss when you push the pedal...

[QuickSEV6]

My mistake. I thought you were saying the brakes were making the sound, not the pedal.
No, I have no idea what it could be.
You might want to keep the car running, put it in park, get down on all fours and press the brake pedal with your hand and see if you can locate the source.
Good luck

[scalibur]

I had the same problem. Cept on my case the check engine light came on. Tthe check engine light code threw me off cus it read off as maf sensor or 02 sensor problem.

Turns out that there was a vacumn leak off the the brake booster. The part costs 700 something bucks to replace. Toyota said they only sold one out of the whole year. So I bugged my insurance and had them pay for it.

[agent007]

did you hear the hissing die down when you turn your car off? i had a similar problem it sounds like and it was a gasket that tore by the brake booster.

[Strider327]

Either weak brakes, or air bubbles in the brake lines. Probably just need to bleed it out and dump some new brake fluid in. Nothing too excessive. Use Vavoline synthetic brake fluid. Probably 1 big bottle. Should be okay.
Good Luck

[noodlerooney]

All brake fluids are synthetic. Brake fluid advertised as "synthetic" is a marketing ploy in order to charge twice as much.

[Fratsgotasolara]

uh leave the car running , and in park have someone pinch the booster hose while its making the noise if it stops get a booster

[purestyl3z]

^ noodle, i think u are not completely right...

while what you say about "all brake fluids are synthetic" is sOmEwHaT true, I guess you'd first have to define the meaning of the term synthetic... i've always regarded "synthetic" (in the automotive expression) as a process in which the oil is made from either A) a POL (petro) base or B) an esters (organic/natural) base... in addition, i believe there are some semi-synthetic (mixtures of natural & chemical bases) brake oils breaking into the market, especially with the new pro-environmental vehicles and concepts... it's becoming a really "popular" issue, especially in the atv and dirt bike world... all in all however, i can't imagine anyone using anything other than a synthetic brake oil for our dear solaras... maybe a 2010 environmental friendly hybrid solara?

[karma]

did you hear the hissing die down when you turn your car off? i had a similar problem it sounds like and it was a gasket that tore by the brake booster.

That is the exact noise that it is making. the minute you turn the car off the hissing stops which only confirms my assumption that it is something connected to an engine vaccuum. How much did it cost you to fix that issue agent?

I'm almost certain that it isn't air in the line because braking isn't affected by it, it is just a little disconcerting knowing that your engine is sucking in air from your cabin which could mean a possible failure sooner or later.