Ea82 88 gl 5 speed.... Things to note: I have blead the brakes in the correct order multiple times. My hill holder stopped working months ago and shortly afterwards I started noticing the brakes getting weaker and weaker. I have 0 familiarity with the hill holder and really can't drive without brakes, please helllpppp

The hill holder is not your problem unless it is leaking. It is strictly a open/close valve to maintain pressure in the system for hill starts. I suppose it's possible it's not releasing, but then you're clutch would not be working correctly. Your master cylinder is bypassing internally and is toast. Replace it. Make sure to bench bleed it first, the the whole system after install.

I to would put my money on a bad master cylinder I had a ranger that did the same deal I had to pump The brakes to stop then only a few days later I lost some of my brake fluid in the reservoir but none actually leaked out onto the ground. Took the booster off and it had a lot of fluid in it, so mine was leaking internally and thats why my brakes failed. At least its a pretty easy job to do will probably take longer to bleed the system than it will to actually swap out the master cylinder.

Should I get the brake booster as well (Or whatever it's called, the huge drum connected to the master cylinder)? I might just go get one from Pick-a-Part today

If you want a spare. those units I've found to be a BIG PITA to remove from ANY car.

 

If you still have power assist on the pedal, chances are the booster is still good.

i fund that depressing the clutch helps with bleeding the rear brakes, provided the hill holder is functioning.

If the car is 2wd you may just need to adjust the rear shoes.

 

If not adjusted, the first pump of the pedal is just pushing the shoes out, and then on the second or third pump they actually hit the drum and build pressure.

 

4wd cars have auto adjuster....but it can be stuck.....or the rear shoes are way thin.

 

I'd check into the condition of the rear brakes and adjust before replacing a master.

Check youre rear brakes. i was having a similar issue. no pressure when i first hit the brakes< but after a pump or two, the pedal was ok. Oh, and when i would hit them, the fronts were locking up real easy. made for a fun trip on wet roads. Anyway, pulled the drums and found that the pass. side shoes were just hanging out in the drum. the liners were in the drum, and the backing plates hit the ground as soon as i pulled the drum.

Thanks a LOT for the advice, but I'm probably gonna spend all day on it today... RWD is really fun to drift in, but it's REALLY sketchy without Brakes

hill holer if disconected Must be in the relaxed position if alowed to move can change the braking ability the netral position is where the spring is in the non tention position lock it there do not alow it to float

This is the most nooby question ever, but can anyone link me to something with a picture of the Hillholder, or at least describe it

strait down from master cly valve with 3 brake lines to it and a cable that gos to clutch fork when clutch is pushed and car is on incline the hill holder will hold car on hill for you