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Is my booster buggered and if it is, how do I fix it?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:29 pm
by enthuzed
When I first start my car, the pedal doesn't sink, the pedal is hard and has no assistance. After a kilometre or two and deliberate extra braking the pedal goes back to normal. This happens every time I drive the car.
Initially was only a pump or two on the pedal would bring it back to normal.
But it's way past that and now pisses me off.

I reckon it's stuffed. So what's inside the unit and what needs to be done to fix it - it is just seals or is machining required? I haven't looked inside one of these units, but I have one floating around that I'll look at in about a week and a half from now. :roll:

So any help between now and then on this would be appreciated guys....

hi

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:33 pm
by starspeed
have you got any air leaks in the vacume hose to it ???? :? :beer

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 8:49 pm
by enthuzed
Dunno. Good point. I'll check that out one of these days...

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 12:09 am
by JPC
If you're at idle and you push hard on the brake pedal, does the idle change? If so, the diaphragm in your brake booster is is stuffed, and you need to rebuild the booster. If that doesn't happen, you probably have an air leak outside the booster which partially seals itself when things heat up and expand (note - this could still be the booster diaphragm on its way out).

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 6:11 pm
by sigmaproject
The standard procedure to check a brake booster is apply pressure to the brake pedal, and then start the motor. The pedal should sink further towards the floor. If it doesnt, the booster is buggered.

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:04 pm
by Starion VR4
Unfortunally it sounds like the Diafram is swollen due to fuel vapor & Age... mine did the exact same thing... had it rebuilt a BHSS for $150ish? & what a differance. money well spent.

:beer

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:48 pm
by enthuzed
sigmaproject wrote:The standard procedure to check a brake booster is apply pressure to the brake pedal, and then start the motor. The pedal should sink further towards the floor. If it doesnt, the booster is buggered.
Yep, knew about that test and it fails magnificently. The strange thing about it is that it comes good after some driving. The first time I break I get reminded that I've got to stomp on them so they'll work...which has been a bit disconcerting at times... :shock:

Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:50 pm
by enthuzed
Oh, and thanks guys. Could it just possibly be the vacuum hose?

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:11 am
by JPC
Is the check valve in the vac line working ok?

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 6:52 am
by enthuzed
Umm, not that I've had a look but where's that located?

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 7:58 am
by OLD FART
enthuzed wrote:Umm, not that I've had a look but where's that located?
usually on the firewall above the rocker cover and it's a one way valve that's in a line/hose between the plenum/manifold & the booster

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 8:05 am
by enthuzed
Thanks Oldie. Mate, I'm addicted to watching that boxing avatar BTW, over and over... :)

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:06 am
by OLD FART
enthuzed wrote:Thanks Oldie. Mate, I'm addicted to watching that boxing avatar BTW, over and over... :)
Mate thats not boxing that's mixed martial arts in ULTIMATE FIGHTING in THE OCTAGON
My son has heaps of discs and has been to Japanto see PRIDE &to Thailand for some MUAY THAI training as well He put it up I can't do it :(

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:32 am
by enthuzed
OLD FART wrote:
enthuzed wrote:Thanks Oldie. Mate, I'm addicted to watching that boxing avatar BTW, over and over... :)
Mate thats not boxing that's mixed martial arts in ULTIMATE FIGHTING in THE OCTAGON
My son has heaps of discs and has been to Japanto see PRIDE &to Thailand for some MUAY THAI training as well He put it up I can't do it :(
Any tips from him on how he put that up. And yeah it's not boxing, that's for sure! Damn good though!

Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 2:50 pm
by panda
Sorry to get back to the topic, but I once had a Gemini motor running on three & a half cylinders, turned out to be a stuffed brake booster robbing vacuum from No.4 cylinder. Enthuzed, is your motor idling smoothly on all 4 pots ? :?