2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission hydraboost leaking PS fluid!

[Forrest Nearing]

noticed a few drops of fluid under the truck this morning... looked like it might be power steering fluid...



I wiped everything down with a rag and added some UV dye to the PS fluid and drove the truck around tonight... got under it w/ the UV light and found that it's leaking from between the hydraboost unit and the master cylinder.



I'm assuming the fix is a new hydraboost unit...



before I buy one, does anyone know if there's a seal up there that can be replaced and save me some $$$?



TIA,



Forrest

 

[CumminsPower98]

Page Brake sells rebuilt units at a pretty good price I think. I bought one for a Chevy once. I forgot what I paid. Try this place for a rebuild kit: http://www.mbmbrakeboosters.com/

 

[CumminsPuller]

I had the same problem with mine... ... ... I was about to buy a new unit when I found out there is actually a seal kit you can buy from TDR member and Brake Guru Sam Pederson in Washington state I believe. His number is 360-357-4958. I received the kit and went to a buddies house armed with a 12 pack. Bare with me on some of the details, its been awhile since I did it but here goes. We got the hydro boost unit out. Once out, we had to cut the brake pedal shaft to be able to seperate it further to get to some more seals. Now the kit comes with a bunch of seals, but we were only able to get to about 5 of them if I remember correctly. The kit is actually for a chevy and if memory serves me correctly, the dodge and chevy boosters are the same. Sam can correct me on this. Anyway, once done, we threaded the brake pedal shaft on each end where we had cut it and bought a coupler to connect it back together. So far so good... ... . no more leakage. I had taken some pictures of it, but I can not find them. Hope this helps.



Jason

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Jason,



you're a godsend! Sam wasn't there, but Patrick is verifying that the kit he has will work, and hopefully I'll be able to order it today.

 

[Mr. C]

If you don't want to mess with the rebuild, NAPA has part #52-7354 for a little over $200 + $55 core if you can get them to give you a good discount ($310 list price) and it has a warranty.



My original H/B lost the hydrogen charge from the accumulator so I went with the remanufactured unit, I will get the parts kit from Sam later and overhaul my leaky booster for a spare if needed. I didn't want to get half way through an overhaul and find that I didn't have the components or tools to finish and not have something to drive. I have not checked yet does anyone know if Sam can supply a new accumulator with the parts kit?



Mike

 

[Forrest Nearing]

don't know... I've heard they still work alright with no accumulator, they just don't hold pressure for emergency stop if the engine dies.



I basicly wanna get the thing on the road as cheap as possible. I'll gamble $50 against a couple hundred... if push comes to shove, NAPA isn't far from here...



Forrest

 

[CumminsPuller]

My buddy and I were kind of worried after taking the thing apart and replacing only 5 or so seals and seeing all that were left in the bag. But we threw it back together and re-installed it. No leaks. Now Sam did tell me on the phone that chevy and dodge had the same hydro boost units but he had never actually replaced any of the seals himself. Now maybe with more tools and knowledge someone will be able to take it further apart than I did and find some more.



I did ask Sam about the rebuilt units some of these parts houses have, and there was a certain brand or company that are putting our bad quality reman's. But I did find out that Oreiley's can get the factory OEM hydraulic brake booster for $500. 00, whereas goiing to Dodge here in town, they wanted $650. 00.



So when Sam said he had a seal kit for 25. 00, my jaw dropped. As Forrest stated earlier, I was willing to part with the few dollars to try and fix before throwing down $500. 00+ for a new one.





Jason

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I can usually get Dodge stuff for 50-60% of list...



Patrick told me that ARI had some quality rebuilds, but I'm wanting to try my hand at it first... can't hurt, right?



Forrest

 

[CumminsPuller]

RIGHT... ... ... . !!!!





Jason

 

[Mr. C]

Hey I'm all for saving a buck too, I just needed to be able to get to work the next morning so I took the safe route.



I had heard there may be quality issues so before I ordered the re-man I was assured that NAPA would stand behind this part, for what it's worth.



Mike

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I hear that, when my truck needed clutch hydraulics, I bought the entire assembly at Dodge! luckily, I've got a buddy who works for Dodge, and I get parts cheap, but it was still a $150 hit... I could have ordered what I needed for less, but I was ready to get the thing on the road ASAP!



talked to my buddy at the parts store today, and he said they sell a lot of the boosters for the Chevy trucks, and he's never had an A1 Cardone reman come back... if this seal kit doesn't work, I'll buy a re-man for $150. has a lifetime nationwide warranty... they have one for $50 also, but he said there's a reason they're that cheap! they too have a lifetime warranty, but I'd rather not have to USE whatever warranty I get!!! LOL!



Forrest