Generation IV Internal Engine 2005-2014 LS2 | LS3 | LS7 | L92 | LS9

Help: Vacuum Issues....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 17, 2018 | 08:29 AM
  #1  
Hou_tx_ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
10 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Tx
Default Help: Vacuum Issues....

I've been chasing a very bad brake issue which I believe to be directly related to lack of vacuum. My boost/vacuum gauge is reading 0-2" of vacuum and I have to press my brakes to the floor to get the car to even stop coming out of the driveway.

Things I have done so far:

- New Brake Booster and reservoir installed
- Brakes Bled and bled and bled again just to be sure
- Check valve on booster checked good
- Checked over and over for any leaks in vacuum lines (smoke test done as well)
- Compression test done on all cylinders (160 on all cylinders accept 1 of them measured 190psi)
- Leak down test done and all cylinders measure 20-27% (gauges verified on my Tahoe that measured >5%
- Dyno'd the car and still made 1k even with these issues.

When I did the leak down test, I found that the air was getting past the rings and all of the air was coming from the oil fill hole. This is a 416 with an procharger F1x. Looks like I need to have the motor looked at, but wanted some opinions on what's going on here. I even went and got HP Tuners Pro to monitor everything, but new to the software so no real help. Any help is appreciated.

-Justin
Reply
Old Apr 17, 2018 | 08:20 PM
  #2  
B52bombardier1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 265
From: Bossier City, Louisiana
Default

How radical of a cam shaft are you running? A stock GM cam shaft makes plenty of vacuum to power a brake booster. A high performance cam shaft . . . a lot less vacuum.

Rick
Reply
Old Apr 18, 2018 | 07:22 AM
  #3  
farmington's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 13
From: Little River SC
Default

I would double check that check valve.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 11:14 AM
  #4  
Hou_tx_ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
10 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by B52bombardier1
How radical of a cam shaft are you running? A stock GM cam shaft makes plenty of vacuum to power a brake booster. A high performance cam shaft . . . a lot less vacuum.

Rick
Cam specs are 242/258 115 and idle set to 800rpm.

Would I gave a hard pedal with no vacuum? Ive been told this is the case but not sure.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 11:15 AM
  #5  
Hou_tx_ss's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
10 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Tx
Default

Originally Posted by farmington
I would double check that check valve.
Easiest way to do this? I just blew into it from both directions to verify.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 11:28 AM
  #6  
LLLosingit's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 3,845
Likes: 487
From: Iowa
Default

Originally Posted by Hou_tx_ss
Would I gave a hard pedal with no vacuum? Ive been told this is the case but not sure.
Yes a hard pedal and but pedal travel will stay about the same if you push hard enough.
If the pedal is going to the floor then you have other issues.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 09:48 PM
  #7  
01CamaroSSTx's Avatar
11 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,989
Likes: 2,283
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Hou_tx_ss
Cam specs are 242/258 115 and idle set to 800rpm.

Would I gave a hard pedal with no vacuum? Ive been told this is the case but not sure.
243/251 115 here. Was having the same problem with the hard brake pedal after bleeding the system and it ended up being a bad brake booster. You need 10-12 on the vacuum for the brake booster and your not getting enough vacuum to properly work the brake booster.
Reply
Old Apr 19, 2018 | 09:55 PM
  #8  
01CamaroSSTx's Avatar
11 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,989
Likes: 2,283
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

Your only getting 2 inches of vacuum from the intake manifold?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-3

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-7

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

 Brett Foote
story-9

10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 20, 2018 | 11:36 AM
  #9  
farmington's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 13
From: Little River SC
Default

that is a really big camshaft, coupled with not perfect leakdown numbers. You might have to go to a separate vacuum canister to get enough vacuum to operate the brakes. what kind of vacuum are you getting at say, 1500rpm. any better. could be from retarded initial timing too. Using a hole in the throttle plate to get it to idle?
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:18 AM.

story-0
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-3
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-4
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-5
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE
story-8
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0

The world was a better place when it was still around.

By Brett Foote | 2026-01-23 09:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever

Slideshow: The 7.0-liter LS7 was designed for absolute cutting-edge performance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-07 18:36:00


VIEW MORE