There a few posts a while ago about removing the brake booster. Anyone who's tried once will agree it's a true pain in the neck, back, legs, hands... I had tried replacing my booster but gave up after a few hours. Someone in one post said that breaking your arm in 4 places would help, but I couldn't even SEE one of the bolts. And, no, beer didn't help. Gin and tonic didn't either. I decided my brakes were good enough.

Then our motorhead son decided "we" were going to replace the vacuum booster with a Hydroboost. He had just replaced the vacuum booster on his friend's '87 Camaro. I agreed if HE would do the all the work under the dash. I would provide the beer, of course.

He flipped through the Assembly Instruction Manual and headed for my tool cabinet while I headed out to get more beer. By the time I got back a half hour later, he was done.

The main trick he did that wasn't suggested in previous posts was to disconnect the clutch rod. That allowed him to get more room by pushing the clutch pedal out of the way.

The other trick was his version of the long socket and u-joint idea. Here's a pick of what worked like a charm:



Notice he used 2 u-joints and a jointed ratchet. He said the trick part in the "tool" was the spring loaded u-joint at the deep socket:



I will be posting pics of the custom parts and install later. It's great to have a motorhead CNC machinist for a son.

 

Cool pics!!

Usually people forget that one of the studs has 2 nuts on it. They think they got all 4 loose, but it still doesnt move. WTF!!! There is a 5th nut.

I think it is the lower left stud. I've done mine twice now. Hope the Hydroboost unit lasts a good long time.

I use the cheap method of masking tape around the U-joint to keep some slight rigidity.

 

I did that. After using a saws-all to cut the studs, I saw the extra 5th nut. Good thing there was a new booster sitting there LOL