Hey all.. yet another question ..

Are the brakes on the Bonne'* supposed to feel really hard? Or are they supposed to feel like any other type of brake? I'm pretty sure that my car has a Teeves (sp?) electromagnetic braking system instead of the usual hydrolic system...

The problem is that my brakes feel really hard, and if I have to mash them, the pedal almost doesn't move... its quite weird.. I know the ABS light is allways on, and I know the ABS doesn't work on my car at the moment.. but it feels like the pedal gets harder the faster I push it.. and it also feels like it takes a half-second for the brakes to kick in for where I push the pedal.. I hope I'm being clear on this...

Thanks guys!

Geez Cyric78, It doesn't sound like your brakes are not too effective. I hope you have air bags on this car becuase I think you might be needing them soon. All seriousness aside....to answer your question,
No, they should not. It sounds and feels like you have a brake booster issue here. In other woirds, No Power Brake Assist. It could be as simple as a vacuum hose that'* disconnected or crimped brake line, or maybe a bad caliper. IF this system is electro mechanical, it could be a fuse or relay. I've also heard that the Accumulator also go bad on these systems. The worse case scenario is having to replace the master cylinder/pump assembly(we're talking some really big bucks here).
Not to mention that ABS system is trying to tell you something. Personally, if it were me, I would take this to someone (an honest tech would be nice) that knows this system, to tell you EXACTLY what it will take to fix it right. Good Luck. It may not be as bad as this sounds. Then again......

The brakes do work on the car.. its not like I have to jam the pedal to get them to work... the pedal just doesn't move far... I'm not too concerned that they are going to fail.. I just worry about emergency stops... which I adapt my driving style for as best as I can... I can make good short stops and all... and it doesn't feel like there is no power behind them.. so I know the power assist is working..

Another note.. there is a pump on my master cylinder that I hear run every 15-20 mins for about 20-30 seconds... I'm not sure what that means, as I'm not familiar with this braking system... I can fix non-abs brakes, but the abs and all the electronics involved complicates things for me... and as for parts.. yesterday I spoted another 1990 bonnie sse in the wreckers with frontend damage, and only 160000km on it.. the car was in very good condition aside from the collision, so I do have a donor car for brakes..

Sounds like the Teves braking system.

Does it look like this? (brake system only...this is Frankenbonne with a 97 Supercharged motor)

I can definatly attest to the TEVES system brakes feeling different then all other cars - I even asked about it awhile back. Here is the link. I tried to explain what I was feeling the best I could...does it make sense to you? I also am not worried about the brakes failing...I just find that it is different.

Billboost, yes, that is what my master cylinder looks like... like I said, I'm sure its the Teves system.. I'll take some pics tommorow.. I don't have to work tommorow, so the car is going to get a good cleaning.

Camtainmiller, yeah, I remember reading your post a while back.. thats kind of the way that my system feels... really hard, but not too hard to use... does your pedal almost feel solid if you slam on your brakes really fast?

If I have to slam on my brakes, the pedal almost doesn't move, then, after almost a second, the pedal softens and the brake kicks in.. I hope I'm making sense to everyone..

Ironically, that'* the complete opposite of mine. nothing/light, nothing/light, stiffer, ahhh there we go *stop*

That sounds like the cube van I drive at work... push the pedal.. keep pushing, waiting for it to stop moving and feel brakes... here comes the floor... here comes the brakes... lol... I'm almost positive that its the master cylininder on the cube van, and if thats what yours is doing, then I'd suspect the same thing...

For the record, that system doesn't have a vacuum booster.

I'm going through "issues" with my 2nd unit. If you have a donor car available, consider yourself blessed. The system was only used for 2 model years (although it was used on more than Bonnevilles). 3 years ago a used unit cost me $300. Pretty discouraging when a single part replacement that only costs $40-$50 on "most" cars is a third of the value of your car.

this braking system was used on 88-90 model bonnevilles with ABS. RepinS, yours is different you have the new designed system that is used from 91+.