When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I was browsing the different corvette supply places and came up with a very wide range of prices for rebuilt brake booster units. Also saw that the regular parts stores can get them but takes a day or two. What brand of rebuilt boosters have you got and how was the quality.
Last autocross i ran this year, I would sometimes have power brakes and sometimes wouldn't. If i lifted off of the gas sooner and let some vacuum build, I had power brakes. If i kept my foot in the gas until i needed to brake, most of the time i didn't have any power brakes. So i either have a very bad vacuum leak, or my booster is going bad. I am just looking for opinions on the different boosters out there and why there is such a huge price difference. I saw prices ranging from $66 up to $200.
Stay away from the $70-$75 AC Delco "rebuilds" because they're not rebuilt at all but rather new Chinese knock-offs that come unpainted, have metric studs, wrong push rod lengths, and the master cylinder mounting surface is recessed 1/2"; meaning you'll have to make a 1/2" spacer and spend a lot of time trying to adjust the master cylinder push rod.
Only buy quality REBUILDS from any of the Corvette vendors to get a genuine OEM brake booster. I learned the hard way and spent ten hours getting my AC Delco ready for installation.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
I bought a booster from Summit mfg'd by The Right Stuff. At the time, the company claimed it was new and made in the USA, iirc. Anyway, mine has a 1/2" recess as noted by 2B2R. I was initially concerned that it may not work. So, I took a few measurements for length, old and new booster, and noted two things: the push rod on the MC side had a 1/2" spacer added on the rod and the rod that connects to the brake pedal was threaded for its full length with two nuts for adjustment/locking. I installed the new booster and adjusted the threaded rod on the brake pedal. With the aid of my trusted assistant, aka the wife, we checked for proper operation of the unit and observed the MC reservoir. It passed my scrutiny and then I proceeded to put everything back together. Started up the car and took for a test drive. All worked fine. Now, after the car has sat for several days without being driven, if I remove the hose from the brake booster there is a distinct hissing of air entering the booster. My old booster never did that i.e. worn out. In summary, I wouldn't be too concerned about comments by 2B2R. He has difficulty understanding how things work as demonstrated in this post and most of his other posts.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Originally Posted by 454Luvr
Why do you find it necessary to insult someone in order to post an opinion? Your own credibility goes to Hell when you do that.
Credibility, eh? Where is 2B2R living this week? Enough said on credibility.
He presents misleading or false info in many of his posts. So, guys like me come in and speak of our own experience and knowledge to clarify the facts for other members who are less experienced and want to do their own repairs based on info presented in these forums. The choke fix is a fiasco the same as the tire pressures he advocates. I just hope guys did not follow his advice on those two topics.
He says it took him 10 hours to figure out how to setup his new brake booster. It's not rocket science and I had little difficulty figuring out how to setup mine with the same 1/2" recess after a few minutes of assessing the difference in the old and new booster and taking a couple of measurements. So, I'm letting other members know that it can be done with little effort if a booster has a 1/2" recess and a threaded rod with nuts. To the OP, don't be too concerned about the 1/2" recess if you purchase a booster. Be more concerned about the overall quality of the booster, if that can be determined which can be hard at times. Mine was made by the Right Stuff and again, I'm happy with it.
Blasting other people's post is NOT a sign of intellegence or knowledge. It's just a sign of diminished ego and the need to shout louder than someone else. If you have knowledge you wish to share, you merely have to state it....NOT argue your position with someone else who posted otherwise or belittle another member of the Forum.
If you have good info (like the first part of your post), people with know. What they know now, is that you are a jerk.
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Jerk, eh? Glad to see you lowered yourself to my level but I do have credibility and don't need to lie where I live or make posts full of misinformation because I can't understand how something works which is exactly what he has done here, again.
AND, having driven GM most all my life, I have noticed over the DECADES that GM vacuum 'boosters' have like 4" of pedal travel, and a large 'WOOOOOOOSCH' when the brakes are supposedly applied.....
hate that feeling, it sux.......
I went HB on the vette some years ago, and with less than 2" of pedal travel, SHARKEY stands on the NOSE and MY nose hits the wheel....
nuff said.....the OEM design sux........
seriously, proved it over all the examinations......
want BRAKES?? put in Hydro Boost, all else is BS.....
I was browsing the different corvette supply places and came up with a very wide range of prices for rebuilt brake booster units. Also saw that the regular parts stores can get them but takes a day or two. What brand of rebuilt boosters have you got and how was the quality.
Last autocross i ran this year, I would sometimes have power brakes and sometimes wouldn't. If i lifted off of the gas sooner and let some vacuum build, I had power brakes. If i kept my foot in the gas until i needed to brake, most of the time i didn't have any power brakes. So i either have a very bad vacuum leak, or my booster is going bad. I am just looking for opinions on the different boosters out there and why there is such a huge price difference. I saw prices ranging from $66 up to $200.
At Grissom
Rear lockup
the c4 guys have to deal with cracking plastic housings, that never lasts
I run the II C/D class in NCCC. I have to keep stock style parts on the car so no hydroboost for me. My brakes have always been very good. I can lock up the race tires at will (as seen in the picture above). I just have stainless steel lined stock calipers, Hawk HPS pads and standard replacement rotors. Once you get to the point of lockup, you don't need bigger brakes to stop. The only thing bigger brakes will help with is multiple high speed stops like on a road course lapping day. It will help with brake fade.
I haven't really checked into anything on the brake/vacuum system yet. I was just starting to look at some options if i have to replace the booster. I am going to hook up a vacuum gauge and see if there is a leak somewhere first.
If it works for you Chris, I might go with the cardone unit. It looks like i can get one from Rock Auto for 75.79 + 20 core or from Amazon.com for 97.30 without core charge. I was just wondering if the ones Ecklers, Muskegon, and corvette Central sell for 190 are "that" much better in terms of quality.
If it works for you Chris, I might go with the cardone unit. It looks like i can get one from Rock Auto for 75.79 + 20 core or from Amazon.com for 97.30 without core charge. I was just wondering if the ones Ecklers, Muskegon, and corvette Central sell for 190 are "that" much better in terms of quality.
I don't have any experience with the units from any of the Corvette vendors, so I can't comment. Hopefully someone who has experience with both will chime in.
I don't have any experience with the units from any of the Corvette vendors, so I can't comment. Hopefully someone who has experience with both will chime in.
My booster is still working but it's old and looks like crap, so I'd like to replace it. Can I assume that any booster being sold as "New, licensed by GM" for $180 is probably made in China?
My booster is still working but it's old and looks like crap, so I'd like to replace it. Can I assume that any booster being sold as "New, licensed by GM" for $180 is probably made in China?
I don't know the answer to your question, I'm sorry.
If You Google Booster Dewey in the Portland Oregon area He rebuilds them. He can probably rebuild yours, send you an exchange, do a NCRS restoration, or a Chrome plated one. Muscle Car era is all he does, and he is well known. Mine has lasted 10 years or more since he rebuilt it.
If You Google Booster Dewey in the Portland Oregon area He rebuilds them. He can probably rebuild yours, send you an exchange, do a NCRS restoration, or a Chrome plated one. Muscle Car era is all he does, and he is well known. Mine has lasted 10 years or more since he rebuilt it.
When I was replacing my Hydroboost (long story) I contacted these guys. They know what they're doing. Didn't have one in stock for me but helped me find an appropriate unit on eBay and then rebuilt it perfectly. Still works fine.
Last edited by CA-Legal-Vette; Jan 7, 2016 at 09:57 AM.
Brake Booster Options
