Cracked Power Brake Booster
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Cracked Power Brake Booster
My daughter is home between college semesters so I decided to take her to lunch. Jumped in the car, put my foot on the brake pedal and started the engine. All routine stuff.
The pedal was as hard as a rock. Stopping the car was as I expected with a failed power brake booster; had to about stand on the pedal.
I did all the usual checks to try to find the problem, but found nothing. I decided it must be the power brake booster, so I bought a remanufactured one from O'Reilly's Auto Parts.
When I pulled the old one off, I saw the cause. There was a crack, about 6" long, extending from the outside edge of the booster toward the center. That's why it wouldn't hold any vacuum.
Can't figure what caused this. I'd just driven the car the day before and all was well.
New booster solved the problem.
Has anyone had a similar experience or any idea of what caused this?
Thanks,
Jake
The pedal was as hard as a rock. Stopping the car was as I expected with a failed power brake booster; had to about stand on the pedal.
I did all the usual checks to try to find the problem, but found nothing. I decided it must be the power brake booster, so I bought a remanufactured one from O'Reilly's Auto Parts.
When I pulled the old one off, I saw the cause. There was a crack, about 6" long, extending from the outside edge of the booster toward the center. That's why it wouldn't hold any vacuum.
Can't figure what caused this. I'd just driven the car the day before and all was well.
New booster solved the problem.
Has anyone had a similar experience or any idea of what caused this?
Thanks,
Jake
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,097
Likes: 0
From: High Plains Drifter Fayetteville, AR
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (JAKE)
Has anyone had a similar experience or any idea of what caused this?
Thanks,
Jake
Thanks,
Jake
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (JAKE)
Hi Jake,
This seems to be a very common problem with the our Vettes.Im still running the original booster and its not a question of IF it will crack and break but WHEN.
Ive seen these kind of posts come up many times over the past.I dread the day I have to replace mine.So far,so good,and knocking on wood!
:)
This seems to be a very common problem with the our Vettes.Im still running the original booster and its not a question of IF it will crack and break but WHEN.
Ive seen these kind of posts come up many times over the past.I dread the day I have to replace mine.So far,so good,and knocking on wood!
:)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (JCAIRE2)
It's a common failure. Look at how close the booster is to the exhaust.
Header wrap or most anything like that.
Dick
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (xs650)
So, then you guys think it's heat related, right?
I didn't see any sign of heat distress on the old one, but that doesn;t mean heat wasn't the culprit. Heat could very well have been the cause.
Just to be on the safe side, I'll figure some way to add a heat shield of some type to the new one.
Thanks for the feed back.
Jake
I didn't see any sign of heat distress on the old one, but that doesn;t mean heat wasn't the culprit. Heat could very well have been the cause.
Just to be on the safe side, I'll figure some way to add a heat shield of some type to the new one.
Thanks for the feed back.
Jake
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (JAKE)
Jake,
I also think its AGE and HEAT from years of use.Just like plastic parts and vacuum lines that crack with age/heat.No getting around it too much.
:)
I also think its AGE and HEAT from years of use.Just like plastic parts and vacuum lines that crack with age/heat.No getting around it too much.
:)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (Bill's86Coupe)
There is an old rule of thumb that a chemical reactions doubles in speed for every 10C (18F) increase in temperature.
Plastic could be even worse than that if the operating temperature is on the high end of the plastics rated operating temperature.
Plastic could be even worse than that if the operating temperature is on the high end of the plastics rated operating temperature.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (xs650)
I remember seeing some aluminum faced insulation material at the Ace Hardware store. Think I'll buy a small sheet and wrap the plastic booster. Maybe duct tape will hold it in place.
I'll post the results.
Thanks again.
Jake
I'll post the results.
Thanks again.
Jake
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 12,182
Likes: 1
From: Partying with the Cowboys cheerleaders in Mt. Olive, New Jersey
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (Bill's86Coupe)
Jake,
I also think its AGE and HEAT from years of use.Just like plastic parts and vacuum lines that crack with age/heat.No getting around it too much.
:)
I also think its AGE and HEAT from years of use.Just like plastic parts and vacuum lines that crack with age/heat.No getting around it too much.
:)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,150
Likes: 1
From: Carlsbad, CA CA
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (JCAIRE2)
Has anyone had a similar experience or any idea of what caused this?
Thanks,
Jake
It's a common failure. Look at how close the booster is to the exhaust.
Thanks,
Jake
It's a common failure. Look at how close the booster is to the exhaust.
Replaced it and it was fine.
Paul
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
Re: Cracked Power Brake Booster (zelement)
I just spent that last couple of hours covering my new booster with foil faced insulation that I bought at ACE.
I concentrated the material on the engine side of the booster since that's where most of the heat is located.
Now it's a 'wait and see' game.
Thanks for the help.
Jake
I concentrated the material on the engine side of the booster since that's where most of the heat is located.
Now it's a 'wait and see' game.
Thanks for the help.
Jake
