Brake booster question

[Diesel Dan]

Hello 1st genners,

I sold my 89 ctd 4x4 to my next door neighbor 4 years ago and since have moved to the PNW. He has had recurring problems w/the brake booster. the rebuilt one lasted 3 years and the new($525) one from Dodge lasted 13 months. 12 month warentee didn't help. my questions are:



is their a good source for this item? or does anyone know of a good rebuilder in this country that can make one of these last for a lot of years. Keep in mind that the truck had 92K on it when i sold it to him and he has put 12k on in 4 years. It is very clean and he wants to keep it for a long time.



Thanks in anvance and let ne know your thoughts



FYI the truck can be seen in my old readers rig (my 3 ctd's)



best regards



DD

 

[WJones]

how much vacuum is the vacuum pump pulling?

 

[Diesel Dan]

Hello Wjones,

I replaced the vacuum pump about 5 years ago. Don't know what it is pulling. How much should it pull and what is the relationship?



Where about's in so cal are you?



The truck is in Laguna Niguel if you want to be it's new mechanic:-laf the man that ownes it will pay fair diesel machanic wages if interested.





Thanks and best regards



DD

 

[WJones]

between 8. 5 and 25in of vacuum, the brake booster is vacuum assisted on first gens.



im up the road a little ways from laguna.



im not much of a mechanic, just a tinkerer

 

[dpuckett]

My last 2 trucks have pulled 20+ inHg, but they were the latter, vane type pumps, not the piston vacuum pumps.



The boosters are vacuum activated, so it would make a difference.



What symptoms was he having that would indicate failure? The booster is nothing more than a box and diaphragm.



Id check the vacuum. Pull the hose at the check valve and see what you get. If it was below 20, I'd replace/rebuild the pump.



Daniel

 

[Diesel Dan]

Thanks Daniel,

I will have him check the vacuum pump. Symptoms are hard petal and minimal brakes.



Keep em coming



Thanks



DD

 

[dpuckett]

That makes sense for the vacuum pump. I had mine go out on the highway, and the brakes got REAL hard. I did get stopped, but my butt was out of the seat (not to mention puckered something fierce), as my stop was coming up, with a fish pond to drive into if I didnt make it.



DP