How Difficult Is It To Remove Brake Booster?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 26,555
Likes: 257
From: Florida
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
How Difficult Is It To Remove Brake Booster?
Mine looks terrible and is nearly black. Thinking about using the Eastwood Golden Cad System, don't want to get in over my head.
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
IT's easy.
Just disconnect the battery.
Chock the wheels.
remove the passenger seat
drop the steering column
remove the dash, clean up the wire routing
remove the drivers side door, fix the sloppy hinge
remove the hood
remove the passengers side rear tire, check the emergency brake
remove the entire exhaust and paint it black
detail the engine compartment
repace all the ujoints in the half shafts
send the drive shaft out for polishing
get the diff rebuilt and converted to posi
build a new engine, maybe a 406?
Convert the car from automatic to a 4 speed
get new carpet for the interior
buy ( but don't install just yet ) the steeroids rack and pinion conversion
rebuild the brakes
Buy rebuilt brakes from autozone
buy rebuilt brakes from Ecklers
Remove body from frame for cleaning
rebuild front suspension ( since it's so easy now that the body is off
Rebuild the trailing arms
Put the body back on the frame
reassemble the interior
Sure looks nice now. too bad that Brake booster is so ugly, probably should paint it.
Just disconnect the battery.
Chock the wheels.
remove the passenger seat
drop the steering column
remove the dash, clean up the wire routing
remove the drivers side door, fix the sloppy hinge
remove the hood
remove the passengers side rear tire, check the emergency brake
remove the entire exhaust and paint it black
detail the engine compartment
repace all the ujoints in the half shafts
send the drive shaft out for polishing
get the diff rebuilt and converted to posi
build a new engine, maybe a 406?
Convert the car from automatic to a 4 speed
get new carpet for the interior
buy ( but don't install just yet ) the steeroids rack and pinion conversion
rebuild the brakes
Buy rebuilt brakes from autozone
buy rebuilt brakes from Ecklers
Remove body from frame for cleaning
rebuild front suspension ( since it's so easy now that the body is off
Rebuild the trailing arms
Put the body back on the frame
reassemble the interior
Sure looks nice now. too bad that Brake booster is so ugly, probably should paint it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,708
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by OHSIXX
Mine looks terrible and is nearly black. Thinking about using the Eastwood Golden Cad System, don't want to get in over my head.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,000
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis, Mn USA
I replaced mine and all you really need is a 1/4 or 3/8 drive socket with about 6 inches of extensions and a u-joint swivel to connect up to your 4 nuts under the dash.
The brake pedal clip can be trickey.
For the MC, Ive heard you can pull it out of the way far enough to not have to undo the brake lines, to facilitate removal of the booster. I was redoing my brakes so I have it fully removed.
Its not as difficult as I thought it would be.
Brent...
The brake pedal clip can be trickey.
For the MC, Ive heard you can pull it out of the way far enough to not have to undo the brake lines, to facilitate removal of the booster. I was redoing my brakes so I have it fully removed.
Its not as difficult as I thought it would be.
Brent...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
The top two nuts are a pain. I used two swivel joints and a really long extension so I could keep the socket wrench under the dash with enough room to turn it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 986
Likes: 23
From: Florence SC
Originally Posted by 427V8
IT's easy.
Just disconnect the battery.
Chock the wheels.
remove the passenger seat
drop the steering column
remove the dash, clean up the wire routing
remove the drivers side door, fix the sloppy hinge
remove the hood
remove the passengers side rear tire, check the emergency brake
remove the entire exhaust and paint it black
detail the engine compartment
repace all the ujoints in the half shafts
send the drive shaft out for polishing
get the diff rebuilt and converted to posi
build a new engine, maybe a 406?
Convert the car from automatic to a 4 speed
get new carpet for the interior
buy ( but don't install just yet ) the steeroids rack and pinion conversion
rebuild the brakes
Buy rebuilt brakes from autozone
buy rebuilt brakes from Ecklers
Remove body from frame for cleaning
rebuild front suspension ( since it's so easy now that the body is off
Rebuild the trailing arms
Put the body back on the frame
reassemble the interior
Sure looks nice now. too bad that Brake booster is so ugly, probably should paint it.
Just disconnect the battery.
Chock the wheels.
remove the passenger seat
drop the steering column
remove the dash, clean up the wire routing
remove the drivers side door, fix the sloppy hinge
remove the hood
remove the passengers side rear tire, check the emergency brake
remove the entire exhaust and paint it black
detail the engine compartment
repace all the ujoints in the half shafts
send the drive shaft out for polishing
get the diff rebuilt and converted to posi
build a new engine, maybe a 406?
Convert the car from automatic to a 4 speed
get new carpet for the interior
buy ( but don't install just yet ) the steeroids rack and pinion conversion
rebuild the brakes
Buy rebuilt brakes from autozone
buy rebuilt brakes from Ecklers
Remove body from frame for cleaning
rebuild front suspension ( since it's so easy now that the body is off
Rebuild the trailing arms
Put the body back on the frame
reassemble the interior
Sure looks nice now. too bad that Brake booster is so ugly, probably should paint it.
pain in the butt
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 26,555
Likes: 257
From: Florida
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Sounds like getting a root canal would be less painful. 
Has anyone painted one in place and how did it turn out? Pics?
Has anyone painted one in place and how did it turn out? Pics?
Last edited by OHSIXX; Jan 19, 2005 at 02:56 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
I just posted the same question last week, but I asked about the Eastwood kit and doing it on the car. I don't want to remove booster either. The responses were that painting while in the car is a no-no. Some guys said to use Rub-n-Buff. I found it on the web and then bought it last weekend at a local art & crafts sore for $3. I was very impressed. It's Not a factory look but it's much better then rust! I used the Grecian Gold. I put it on an old master cylinder cover and it's ez with No Mess! It's to cold to put it on the booster now. Search for 'rub' http://www.amaco.com/jsps/amacohome.jsp
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
[QUOTE=OHSIXX]Sounds like getting a root canal would be less painful.
I painted and touched mine up for about 10 years now, and I can say, I am going to put in hydraulic system soon e-nuff....so I really don't give much care about that olde tyme brake booster....
but that's after the headlights, which have been put off in favor of the kitchen, and maybe the hall bath after that, well maybe.....
why do today when you can put off till tmrw???
GENE
I painted and touched mine up for about 10 years now, and I can say, I am going to put in hydraulic system soon e-nuff....so I really don't give much care about that olde tyme brake booster....
but that's after the headlights, which have been put off in favor of the kitchen, and maybe the hall bath after that, well maybe.....
why do today when you can put off till tmrw???
GENE
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 3
From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
Originally Posted by 427V8
IT's easy.
Just disconnect the battery.
Chock the wheels.
remove the passenger seat
drop the steering column
remove the dash, clean up the wire routing
remove the drivers side door, fix the sloppy hinge
remove the hood
remove the passengers side rear tire, check the emergency brake
remove the entire exhaust and paint it black
detail the engine compartment
repace all the ujoints in the half shafts
send the drive shaft out for polishing
get the diff rebuilt and converted to posi
build a new engine, maybe a 406?
Convert the car from automatic to a 4 speed
get new carpet for the interior
buy ( but don't install just yet ) the steeroids rack and pinion conversion
rebuild the brakes
Buy rebuilt brakes from autozone
buy rebuilt brakes from Ecklers
Remove body from frame for cleaning
rebuild front suspension ( since it's so easy now that the body is off
Rebuild the trailing arms
Put the body back on the frame
reassemble the interior
Sure looks nice now. too bad that Brake booster is so ugly, probably should paint it.
Just disconnect the battery.
Chock the wheels.
remove the passenger seat
drop the steering column
remove the dash, clean up the wire routing
remove the drivers side door, fix the sloppy hinge
remove the hood
remove the passengers side rear tire, check the emergency brake
remove the entire exhaust and paint it black
detail the engine compartment
repace all the ujoints in the half shafts
send the drive shaft out for polishing
get the diff rebuilt and converted to posi
build a new engine, maybe a 406?
Convert the car from automatic to a 4 speed
get new carpet for the interior
buy ( but don't install just yet ) the steeroids rack and pinion conversion
rebuild the brakes
Buy rebuilt brakes from autozone
buy rebuilt brakes from Ecklers
Remove body from frame for cleaning
rebuild front suspension ( since it's so easy now that the body is off
Rebuild the trailing arms
Put the body back on the frame
reassemble the interior
Sure looks nice now. too bad that Brake booster is so ugly, probably should paint it.
WIAI disease!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
I've done it both ways. Painted my old 77 in place...pulled the 72 out. I only pulled the 72's out to install an original headlight vacuum tank so I had no choice. PITA PITNeck PITBack just plain PAIN!!! Leave it in.
Eddie
Eddie
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
I've changed mine out once... and will never do it again unless absolutely needed and no other options are available.
Hell.... right now, my entire interior is gutted and I still wouldn't want to try it.
Hell.... right now, my entire interior is gutted and I still wouldn't want to try it.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 32
Likes: 3
From: Rock Spring GA
Hi. New to the forum. Been lurking for a few weeks.
I'm in the process of replacing the booster in my 76. I finally saw the bolts after I removed the A/C duct. Used a wobble extension to get them out. The worst part was removing the clevis from the rod. I got the new booster installed last night and tonight I get to try to put the clip back on. I've only invested 4 hours in this project so far. Kept referencing the AIM, Chiltons, and this forum to see just how this was put together.
I must have missed the class on "evil design" in engineering school.
I'm in the process of replacing the booster in my 76. I finally saw the bolts after I removed the A/C duct. Used a wobble extension to get them out. The worst part was removing the clevis from the rod. I got the new booster installed last night and tonight I get to try to put the clip back on. I've only invested 4 hours in this project so far. Kept referencing the AIM, Chiltons, and this forum to see just how this was put together.
I must have missed the class on "evil design" in engineering school.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I had to convert from manual to a power booster. I think it is the ONLY thing worse then removing and re-installing an original power booster.
Paint it in place. Go to home depot and get some plastic drop cloths and tape up the car. Then spray the darn thing.
BTW the wheels look good. I got mine all on the car last week also.
Paint it in place. Go to home depot and get some plastic drop cloths and tape up the car. Then spray the darn thing.
BTW the wheels look good. I got mine all on the car last week also.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
From: Atascadero Ca
That top left nut on the booster is a real pita. Especially if you've got a 4 speed, with a neutral saftey switch and the thrid pedal over there things are really really tight. I used every extension in the drawer and a really compact air ratchet to get the bolts out. You can undo the master cylinder bolts and gently pull it back enough to get the booster out. I tied it to the hood support with a shoestring. The only thing that could have made that job any worse was having to finish the day by bleeding the brakes. I did it without removing the dash, column, or seat. Just be prepared to have an aching back and neck for a few days.
with the other guys, paint it in place.
with the other guys, paint it in place.