Did the dreaded Brake Booster yesterday...

[mavmavv]

All in all, it wasnt that bad! Took me about 1 1/2 hours without even removing the drivers seat.

The thing that made it all so easy was the wrench setup I used to reach the top bolts. The wrench was set like this. 3/8 Deep Socket -> 12" Extension -> Twirly coupler thing -> 12" Extension -> Socket. I was able to worm that thing through the steering shaft and all and get those bolts out with minimal hassle.

Turns out my old Booster was completely bunked and I had a pretty large vaccum leak from it. So now my car runs even better and finally stops decent!

I have a bit more play in the pedal now though. Is there a way to adjust that?

 

[Chuckman]

this is something i need to do BAD. do you have to unhook all the brake lines from the mc when you do this, ir will it swing enough out of the way? the biggest reason ive been avoiding this is i dont want to bleed these friggin things again.

as for the play in the pedal, the actual pushrod that goes from the booster into the mc may need to be turned out. if youve got calipers, measure from the face of the mc to where it bottoms out, and back out the pushrod on the booster till its closer to the same measurement from the mount face.

 

[Ozz]

You can leave the entire MC assembly in place, just move it up and out of the way. You should be able to adjust the lever in the booster for pedal feel, though.

 

[SQUEEZE&STROKE]

How did you know the booster was bad?

My brother has a 90 GT that doesnt stop worth a chit, we have bled the brakes like 5 times, new pads, lines, etc. Still doesnt stop. Could a bad booster be to blame?

 

[mavmavv]

The booster would hiss really bad. I took it out and it was indeed busted. The seal was just gone.

As to adjust the pushrod, I just take the master cylinder off again and adjust the rod somehow? Im confused.

Also, like the others said, you dont have to re-bleed the brakes to change this!

 

[ryan218]

How did you know the booster was bad?

My brother has a 90 GT that doesnt stop worth a chit, we have bled the brakes like 5 times, new pads, lines, etc. Still doesnt stop. Could a bad booster be to blame?

our 86 gt is the same. peddle gose to the floor...and hisses.

 

[mavmavv]

our 86 gt is the same. peddle gose to the floor...and hisses.

Bad booster. Which prolly means you have a shoddy vacuum leak too, fix that. My car runs a LOT better now.

 

[Chuckman]

As to adjust the pushrod, I just take the master cylinder off again and adjust the rod somehow? Im confused.

yeah, pull the mc out and then the pushrod can screw in and out by hand. iirc its a really fine thread so it might take a couple turns to get it where you want.

my pedal is rock hard right now, still stops awesome with the cobra brakes, but takes waaaay too much pressure on the pedal (alot more than when i first swapped brakes and mc). it had been doing it on and off too for a while (a couple times at the track ) where it would be normal, almost too soft and then go real hard in the middle of a stop.

 

[mavmavv]

yeah, pull the mc out and then the pushrod can screw in and out by hand. iirc its a really fine thread so it might take a couple turns to get it where you want.

my pedal is rock hard right now, still stops awesome with the cobra brakes, but takes waaaay too much pressure on the pedal (alot more than when i first swapped brakes and mc). it had been doing it on and off too for a while (a couple times at the track ) where it would be normal, almost too soft and then go real hard in the middle of a stop.

Thanks, ill try that this weekend.