From the best I can tell, I need to replace or rebuild my brake booster. I push my brake pedal down and it doesn't come back up. I have a 73 Regal with the factory 455. I'm not sure which other cars use this same booster. I'm not sure there is a rebuild kit out there so I'll try replacemenet first. Thanks. MARK
Rebuild kit is $10. Taking apart the booster is a lil tricky. Sounds like your return spring is broken inside. May be easier to get another one from a member. When you depress your brake, if idle does not change due to vacuum leak from a ruptured diaphragm, then you know the spring broke.
Something the parts store told me to do is turn the car off, keep pressing the pedal until it gets real hard then start the car and see if the pedal goes soft with my foot on it. He said the diaphram is good if the pedal is hard then goes soft after the car starts and mine does so it most likel is just the spring. Just in case I feel frisky, where do I get the rebuild kit?
Mark, Check the Master Cylinder first. There is a heavy spring in the Master Cylinder bore, it returns the piston after you step on the brake. There is also a spring in the booster, but I would check the master first. Pull the master off the booster, and operate the master cylinder with a finger or screwdriver. Then have someone step on the brake pedal to check the booster return spring. That will also check for binding in the brake pedal mounting and linkage. Doing these things will cost you nothing but a little time, and will help you isolate the problem.
I removed the master cyl and the brake booster spring returns fine. Also, the master was very difficult to push with the brake lines still connected but it did return so it feels like the spring is good there. Next I pulled the hose off the manifold and did a little suck and blow and heard air leaking around the valve at the booster. I'm guessing the grommet must be worn out. In the mean time, I put some silicone around the valve and grommet to see if that seals it up then I'll go from there.
I still think I need a booster I guess. I sprayed some lube around the brake pedal linkage and the rod that goes from the pedal to the booster. It freed up the pedal for a couple weeks but now the problem is back. The pedal seems to work without the master attached but I hear a creak when I push the pedal in. It almost sound like an old rocking chair. I sprayed WD-40 on it but it didn't free it up this time.
I've got a booster out of my 69 skylark, I'm not sure if it would be the same but I'm sure somebody does. Let me know if this will work for you. Sean HammermanR2@aol.com
Booster problem If I was you I would call "Booster Dewey" in Portland,Oregon. He is the know-it-all booster man of the planet earth! Unless you know what your doing , (which you very well may) I would not mess with it and just do an exchange with Dewey and he will send you a rebuilt one all tested out and in perfect working condition but you will need to send him your old one as a core exchange. I have watched him rebuild many boosters and believe me he knows what he is doing and he is the nicest partially bald guy I know! His phone number is 1-503-238-8882 GSX Eric :3gears:
