How To Replace A Brake Booster On A Vehicle
If your brakes take longer than usual to stop the vehicle, replace the brake booster. The brake booster is a vacuum system that regulates the pressure going to the brake that comes from the master cylinder. You should be able to replace the brake booster yourself. Here are some tips to replace the brake booster on a vehicle.
Prepare to Work
For this project, you need:
- work gloves
- colored tape or marker
- pliers
- socket wrench set
- tube nut wrench wrench
- replacement brake booster
Park the vehicle on a flat surface. To test the brake booster, pump the brake several times with the engine off to relieve vacuum pressure from the system. Push the brake pedal down, and turn on the engine.
Depress the brake slightly, and turn off the engine. If the brake stays depressed, it is working properly. If the brake rises, replace the brake booster.
In some cases, it may be a faulty vacuum hose. To test the vacuum hose, turn the engine off, and press the brake five or six times. Turn the engine on, and keep pressing.If the brake comes back against your foot instead of dropping down, the vacuum hose could have a leak.
Remove the Old Brake Booster
Look for the master cylinder concealed by a metal cover on the driver's side.The brake booster is round, black canister that sits next to the master cylinder attached with four mounting screws. The brake lines are located. behind the master cylinder.
To remove the brake lines, loosen the nuts by turning the tube nut wrench to the left. Make a mark on the brake lines with the marker or colored tape to help you recall the location. Pry the cover from the master cylinder with the socket wrench, remove the cylinder, and set it aside.
Cotter pins secure the brake booster diaphragm to the pedal. Disconnect the pins with the pliers, and use the socket wrench to remove the bolts that secure it to the cylinder. Detach the vacuum hose, and remove the brake booster.
Install the New Brake Booster
Set the new brake booster in place, and tighten the bolts that connect it to the diaphragm and brake pedal. Reconnect the brake lines using the labels as guides for placement, then reattach the vacuum hose and master cylinder. Check fluid levels in the master cylinder, and refill, if needed.
Test the brakes for proper operation. If the brakes still take a longer time to stop, or you don't trust your skill, take the vehicle to a repair service. Contact a business, such as the Budget Automotive Center, for more information.