I've been reading a few posts lately about a TEVES braking system, which relies on an electric pump of some kind to assist, rather than vacuum. My car, I'm quite sure, relies on vacuum (rpm'* go up slightly when I tap the brakes in park at idle, no buzzing of a motor at startup, etc, etc.).

That leads me to ask what cars were equiped with each type of brake system? Does anyone know?

I also have to wonder why GM would do something complex like that, when vacuum seems to work just fine. Is it a safety thing (engine dies, you still get some assist)? Are there any problems or other advantages inherent in the TEVES system? I'm just curious.

Okay, first off. You have electronic brakes. Nowhere is there any mention about vacuum operated brakes in my FSM. You have a big black bubble sitting on your MC, right? And, when you first turn the ignition on, with the hood popped, you can hear a small electric motor? The only posiblity, is if someone put in an '87 or 92+ braking system in your car. Which, I believe would fit just fine.. but don't quote me on that.

Now, why they did this? Well, in low vacuum situations, like in diesels, there was nothing you could really do to up the vacuum, except with a vacuum pump. The 6000'* of these year'* had them, and I honestly don't know why they didn't just do that.. but, what I do know is that I have the tube for the booster, it just has a cap on it. Look at your vacuum distrobution block, see the one on the top left, that'* the biggest of them all? Follow it, and you'll see it goes about 10", and then it has a cap on it. Sounds like GM planned on having vacuum assisted brakes, but then decided not to. Either way, the TEVES brake system is complex, hard to understand, and isn't cheap to maintain. However, mine seems to be just fine after all this time. Makes me different from everyone else, and we all know how anti-establishment I am .


-justin

Have you got ABS, JMFC?




1991 will be the model that'll have the different (less of a headache) brake system.

You sure about that, bud? I think the '91 has the same system as the '88.


-justin

If the car is equipped with ABS then it has the Teves electro-mechanical assisted brake system. If it is not ABS equipped then it is a standard vacuum assist system. This applies to the 87-91 models as the 92+ use vacuum assisted in the ABS systems.

Randy: 88-91. 87 was vacuum assisted.


-justin

That is to say that 87 had no ABS, right?

My GM/Teves training manual (55205.02-1 dated November 1987) starts out "For 1988 the Teves...is offered on Cadillac Eldorado, Seville, Buick Riviera, and Oldsmobile Toronado...standard on Buick Reatta."

No mention is made of the Bonneville SSE however the Teves is clearly shown and mentioned on the 1988 Pontiac "Road Cars" broshure page 11. It is also shown on the 6000 STE (page 45).

However I have not seen any indication that it was available on 1987 models. I know that Buick switched to a more conventional (vaccuum) ABS in 1991 but do not know if Pontiac did also.

'87 had ABS.. err.. maybe not. Straitor had a good loaded '87... where you at, bud? Do you have an ECBM under the fuse panel? Or perhaps an ABS light?


-justin

I'll run out and look in the morn, I know it has brakes....