There are no stupid questions...

[Rattfink]

... except perhaps this one.

Completely pulling down the front end of an original `72. Replacing or rebuilding all brake and suspension components on all four corners. The stupid question is this:

Is the vaccum err... vacume... vackumn... vacuum-servo rebuildable or should I replace it? Furthermore, does it most likely even need it?

Any takers?

thanks,

'Fink

[Rob]

Probably doesn't need attention unless your brakes are feeling really hard. As it's such a simple device it doesn't usually give trouble unless brake fluid from a leaky master cylinder has gotten inside it. So I reckon you'd be better off leaving it alone.

If it is broken I think you can open it up yourself and service it, but I have never had to work on one so I can't really help you here.

Hope this helps

Rob.

[2ManyZs]

Sorry Rattfink, I meant to reply to this post but it got lost in the shuffle.

Rob is right, it takes something out of the ordinary to make the brake booster not operate correctly. If you aren't sure about yours I believe you can buy remanufactured ones to save a little money over a new one. I have never taken one apart so I have no idea what rebuilding would be like.

If you are having brake problems, one thing to check before anything is the vaccum hoses to the manifold and the check valve. I mistakenly put the check valve in mine backwards once and took it for a drive. Talk about a scary feeling the first time I came to a red light. So be sure if you replace it to have the arrow pointed in the right direction or you won't have any power brake boost at all.

[Daniel]

Rob and 2manyZ's are correct.You will know when and if you need the servo rebuilt.There is a place here in Charlotte that does them for $125.00.They do trucks as a main business.I would like to add that I was once told if it failed you would either get hard brakes(no power assist) and/or poor running engine due to vacuum leak.I restored a 71 that I had put all new wheel/master cyl.You could bleed the brakes all day and get no pedal.It had a bad servo but ,none of the standard symptoms.That was the only one I have ever seen be bad. Have fun Daniel!!

[Rattfink]

Thanks kids!

Here's the symptoms:

The car has been sitting in my garage half disassembled for more years than I'd like to admit. Now that I'm working on it again, it is nearly a bare chassis and I plan on replacing/rebuilding everything possible (within reason). Naturally the brakes will get an overhaul... possibly a conversion to 4 piston front. OK, so that's not really a symptom.

Rebuilding the master cylinder and such while it's all apart and just thought I'd give it attention if people thought I should. Thanks for the input.

L8-R

'Fink