Topic: brake booster RandR
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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Any tips for getting that thing out? I took a peak up in there today and even the lower two nuts look like they'd be extremely difficult to get to, not to mention the upper two. And my instrument cluster is already off!
The only reason I want to remove it is to clean it up and paint it. It's probably one of the bigger eyesores in my engine bay. How often do they fail? It seemed to work fine last time I drove the car -- no plans to replace it. What about painting it in the car?
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Although probably not necessary...I removed the steering column and drivers seat from the car to give me a little more wiggle room to get my fat a$$ under the dash. If your going through the trouble of removing it to paint it, why not just replace it. My original booster didn't seem bad, but the new one proved otherwise. Much less pedal effort. Trust me you don't want to do that job over again if your booster does go bad. I bought a chrome booster/master cylinder from "Tuff Stuff" a couple years ago. Looks good and is easy to clean.
|UPDATED|10/11/2011 8:58:32 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
|UPDATED|10/11/2011 8:58:32 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
TKO500 5 spd.
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975

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Lifetime Member #26

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You'll need a 9/16" wobble socket, a loooooooong extension, a ratchet(or air/electric impact), and a lot of patience. And....just go ahead and throw aboot $20 in the "Swear Jar" to get ya started....
The nuts on the booster are "lock" nuts, so they won't just thread off easily once you get them broke lose...oh noooooo.....you'll have to wrench those bastiges allllll they way off. I've never pulled the column, or seat to do one, but that would definitely make it easier, just due to the extra room you would have. If your car still has carpeting in it, you can count on at least 3 of the 4 nuts falling down behind the carpet, and disappearing....
A new booster would certainly make a difference....these things are pretty old by now, and the rubber has lost most of it's resiliency over the years.

The nuts on the booster are "lock" nuts, so they won't just thread off easily once you get them broke lose...oh noooooo.....you'll have to wrench those bastiges allllll they way off. I've never pulled the column, or seat to do one, but that would definitely make it easier, just due to the extra room you would have. If your car still has carpeting in it, you can count on at least 3 of the 4 nuts falling down behind the carpet, and disappearing....
A new booster would certainly make a difference....these things are pretty old by now, and the rubber has lost most of it's resiliency over the years.
Joel Adams
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Dave, GM built the car around the booster. You will need to go to a chiropractor after you remove the booster. I would rather pull the engine/transmission or drop the gas tank. If you do remove it you' ll be sorry for not changing it. We love spending YOUR money...........

corvette440hp

Scotch Plains, NJ - USA
Joined: 1/11/2006
Posts: 243
Vette(s): 1981 Corvette Coupe, Stock, Black on Black,
4 Spd
Like Sarge says best to remove the instrument cluster, steering column, and seat.
I went a little further and R&R the brake/clutch box.
Two things to remember - before starting, note the routing of the speedo cable (thanks Sarge for the photos) and when reassembling, install the column so the directional cam cancels the signal.
I'm glad I did it !!!
Any questions, PM me
Well, based on all this testimony I'm definitely not going to R&R the thing just to paint it. That's what I was afraid of - really difficult and time consuming. Now I have to decide if I want to go through with the replacement or just keep it for awhile. Leaning towards keeping it just because I've got so many other things to do right now. So, when they fail do they cause an engine vacuum leak, or do they just stop "boosting"? I can live with a little more pedal effort, but if it's going to cause vacuum problems then that's a different story.
in Forum: C3 Handling Components
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