September 16, 20186 yr comment_557604 It's a plan! Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-557604 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 24, 20186 yr Author comment_557997 So a little fiberglass to fill the rust divots A little high build primer Sand to 400 grit Then a little glazing putty Then some Eastwood semi-gloss I was going to try to plate the studs but my plating tank heater is dead. So maybe next weekend... Interesting that no one chimed in on whether the boosters were yellow zinc under the black?? Edited September 24, 20186 yr by Patcon Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-557997 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 24, 20186 yr comment_558003 22 minutes ago, Patcon said: Interesting that no one chimed in on whether the boosters were yellow zinc under the black?? Â I never saw yellow zinc on a jan 71. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558003 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 24, 20186 yr Author comment_558005 The studs had to have been plated some how. Plated first, then installed? Or maybe just plate the outside of the shell? How are they affixed? I need to see if I have a survivor and paint strip it to see what it looks like... Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558005 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 24, 20186 yr comment_558011 Booster looks great. I'm not positive how those studs are held in place, but I would assume they are resistance welded. It could just be a press fit, but I'd be surprised if they didn't do some welding there as well. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558011 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 30, 20186 yr Author comment_558549 So I really wanted to protect the studs on the booster before I reassembled it. I have both halves of the case finish painted. So I plated them in place. I wired them up and suspended them in the tank This is how the other half turned out Now I'm working on plating the MC push rod. I'm working on removing the pitting from the rod. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558549 Share on other sites More sharing options...
September 30, 20186 yr Author comment_558550 I may attempt reassembly next weekend. I think I am have most everything ready for that. The MC push rod can go in after the shell is assembled. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558550 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 1, 20186 yr comment_558599 My booster recently failed and had thought about rebuilding it. Found a much easier process that comes with a warranty and only costs One Ben Franklin plus shipping to Texas (A little over $100): - Believe it or not, Rockauto is signed up with a good rebuilder in Texas. - Took one week turn around - I removed my original sticker from the booster as I figured they would be media blasting it off anyway - Arrived nice condition, wiped it down with prep and painted it.  - Rebuilt for sometimes less than what I saw a rebuilding kit cost (about $120 was what was showing up if you could find it) Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 1, 20186 yr Author comment_558622 5 hours ago, racerock said: My booster recently failed and had thought about rebuilding it. Found a much easier process that comes with a warranty and only costs One Ben Franklin plus shipping to Texas (A little over $100): - Believe it or not, Rockauto is signed up with a good rebuilder in Texas. - Took one week turn around - I removed my original sticker from the booster as I figured they would be media blasting it off anyway - Arrived nice condition, wiped it down with prep and painted it.  - Rebuilt for sometimes less than what I saw a rebuilding kit cost (about $120 was what was showing up if you could find it) The rebuild kit I am using was $75 from Harmon Brakes in GA off Ebay. I thought about having him rebuild it and I may do that on the next one, but this way I can replate all the hardware inside and out first and treat the rust inside the shell and paint it. If I have him do one, I will break it down for him and plate all the pieces first. Then send it to him for reassembly. Whether that happens will greatly depend on if I have a working booster at the end of this process Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
October 2, 20186 yr comment_558652 14 hours ago, Patcon said: if I have a working booster at the end of this process You better. I'm going back into mine this off season. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-558652 Share on other sites More sharing options...
March 9, 20196 yr Author comment_570554 So I messed with the booster some more today. It's only been a bout 6 months. So I reassembled it. It went really well with the new lever. Almost no effort needed. I used a mixture of old seals and new seals. The old seal that goes around the disc shaft on the passenger end of the booster was reused. I was unsure the new seal would go in or work properly. I also reuse the old bellows for that end. I just put enough pressure on it to get the space out between the cases This is locked So pleased with myself until I saw this on the bench So opened it back up and did it again The real "chapper" is it still won't build vacuum, at least not by hand. I blanked out the MC end with some sheet rubber and it wouldn't. so I wrapped a zip lock around the plunger side and it still wouldn't build vacuum. Now the mighty vac will build and hold vacuum it I pinch the vacuum line. So I am kicking around ideas Maybe the seals need to bed in and higher vacuum might help? Leaks around the perimeter of the case? I sort of doubt this because the edges were good and it's pretty compressed to get it to lock close Leaks in my testing setup? Not able to build enough vacuum, quick enough by hand? Leaks at the MC plunger side? Leaks at the passenger plunger side? I wondered if I could tap it into my S-10's vacuum booster with a gauge to see if I could get it to build and hold vacuum? Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-570554 Share on other sites More sharing options...
March 10, 20196 yr Author comment_570559 So i went back to the shop and did a little more work. There was a small leak in the mighty vac tube and one in the black line. I also found a check valve and clean it up and put it in line with the booster. If I clamp the mighty vac in the vise and work it fast I could get it to 15" of Hg. It would slowly bleed off at a rate about 3 times the FSM spec (.9" in 15 seconds). It would be curious to know if rebuilt boosters from other sources will hold the FSM spec. I suspect the old seal I used and the slight corrosion on the MC plunger are contributing to the bleed off. For now I will consider that a success. This was not the cleanest 7" booster I have. I may take another stab at it later but for now I'm moving on. @Captain Obvious You're up next... Edited March 10, 20196 yr by Patcon Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/topic/60601-7-brake-booster-repair-and-restoration/?&page=9#findComment-570559 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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