Thread: Finally mobile enuff to check PB on '55

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I have finally gotten mobile enuff to start troubling shooting my PB problem on my '55. First some history - - - I had my power front disc brakes installed back in 2005 and after about 2 weeks the pedal got real hard and I took it back to my buddy who had installed it and he put a new booster on and the problem was solved - - - at least for 5 years hahahaha

I checked the vacum on both side of the check valve at the booster and it was good and strong but when I step on the "hard" brake pedal it seems to change the idle on the engine.

I know that I am being very wordy but I've never done anything like this and I'm working with a bad back, hip and leg trying to get ready to go to Lucky's Chicken Oil Cruise in Bryan on the 9th so bear with me.

I guess my MAIN QUESTION is this:
Can I replace the booster from the top side and not have to bleed the brakes afterwards? Unfortunately it's only me so I have to think this out before I open up a can of worms and I am not able to get under the car at the moment.

Thanks for any and all help and advise and Happy New Year!

Mello,
Sure, the booster is four bolts on the firewall and two bolts on the master. No need to break the hydraulics, just pull the master out a bit and it will probably sit there on the lines just fine. Then pull the booster, slip the new one in place, and reverse the process bolting it back together. You're going to be leaning over that fender for a while which is hard on the lower back. Be careful.

And just to add a bit, you will have to disconnect the rod under the dash that connects to the brake peddle.

Thanks, Gentlemen, that's good news except for disconnecting the link under the dash but I think I can swing it.

Originally Posted by Mike P

And just to add a bit, you will have to disconnect the rod under the dash that connects to the brake peddle.

Been too long since I did a booster, but I thought the rod stayed on the pedal and just slipped into the back of the booster. Not a big deal either way, but you will know when you get your new booster in hand - if it has a clevis rod sticking out the back to hook to the pedal it will be obvious.

Good luck Mello: Don't hurt yourself.
You don't need to be bedridden when you should be cruzzin.
Kurt

Ouch I might have let my mouth overload my spine. Was more of a strain on the back than I thought but I did manage to get the MC disconnected from the booster and the booster disconnected from the firewall. However, it appears that there is a permanent rod coming out of the booster and thru the firewall that has a U-bracket with a pin and cotter key which keeps it from just slipping out as Mike and Roger mentioned. That may be something that I will have to recruit some help to remove but nevertheless, at least I have begun the process.

Gonna take an Ibuprophen and quit for the day.

Thanks again for the help.

P.S. You hit the nail on the head, Kurt. As I mentioned, I am dieing to go to the first Cruise here on Jan. 9th - - - Gonna be touch and go tho.

Yipee, Whoopie, Yahoo and Praise the Lord!
The booster is out and I can still walk straight!



The only markings on this booster are the letters
MBM on the rubber boot.
There is nothing else anywhere on the unit.
Hmmmm, I guess the parts house can match it up if they see it, huh??

Thanks again for Y'all help!
meller

Mello if I lived close by I would give you a hand. I assume Bryan is close to Buffalo.

Suggestion from an old geezer, substitute the ibuprofren with Vicadin it seems to work better for me.

Got a link on the Bryan Cruise??


quote=MelloYello;411581]Ouch I might have let my mouth overload my spine. Was more of a strain on the back than I thought but I did manage to get the MC disconnected from the booster and the booster disconnected from the firewall. However, it appears that there is a permanent rod coming out of the booster and thru the firewall that has a U-bracket with a pin and cotter key which keeps it from just slipping out as Mike and Roger mentioned. That may be something that I will have to recruit some help to remove but nevertheless, at least I have begun the process.

Gonna take an Ibuprophen and quit for the day.

Thanks again for the help.

P.S. You hit the nail on the head, Kurt. As I mentioned, I am dieing to go to the first Cruise here on Jan. 9th - - - Gonna be touch and go tho.[/quote]

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Yipee, Whoopie, Yahoo and Praise the Lord!
The booster is out and I can still walk straight! The only markings on this booster are the letters MBM on the rubber boot. There is nothing else anywhere on the unit. Hmmmm, I guess the parts house can match it up if they see it, huh??

Thanks again for Y'all help!
meller

Mello,
Glad you got it out without too much pain. Don't know if it will help or not, but you might do a little on-line shopping to see if you can find a few that look close. NAPA has a ton of boosters listed and if you select one it brings up several views so you might find yours. NAPA's boosters all seem to carry a limited lifetime warranty, so you might have a warranty on yours if you can track back to where it came from... Just a thought.
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Res...01&Ntk=Keyword

Thanks, Roger, we have a pretty decent NAPA here in BFB and I have also found a retailer online that deals in MBM products. If I order online, I may not be able to Cruise over to Bryan on the 9th but I've missed them before. A real good friend of mine started this Cruise about 10+ years ago with 12 or 15 friends with cars and it has grown to as much as 500 sometimes. No awards or fees just tire kicking and lie swapping.

BTW, I have both vicodin and liquid gel advil (ibuprophen) I am trying not to take vicodin too often but I'll darned sure pop one before I start screaming.

Update:

Went to the local-yokel auto parts in BFB Texas and they just shook their head and one even laughed at me when I showed them the after market booster so I called an online dealer and ordered a new 7" double diaphram booster just like the one I have.

They promised to have it here by Friday but that remains to be seen. More info on the Friday evening news.

Their site sure had a good booster trouble shootin' page that I may post here later.

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Update:

Went to the local-yokel auto parts in BFB Texas and they just shook their head and one even laughed at me when I showed them the after market booster so I called an online dealer and ordered a new 7" double diaphram booster just like the one I have.

They promised to have it here by Friday but that remains to be seen. More info on the Friday evening news.

Their site sure had a good booster trouble shootin' page that I may post here later.

There are a couple of folks here that work with me on 'hot rod' kinda parts. For the most part, the chains are useless - the person behind the counter is often a HS drop out, possibly a druggie and not a car person. If it's not in their data system. they have no clue how to "adjust". I even buy most of the two DD parts on line so I don't get PO'ed and walk out after a nasty comment about their gene pool origins.

The booster came in yesterday and so this morning, since my back and hip have been doing much better, I decided to see ?if? I could reinstall it by myself but I found out that I needed just a little help.

I got'er in and the brakes work fine now. However, I did have to have some help so right before I stuck the clevise end thru the firewall I said this "Lord, if you would hold that clevise bracket so that it slips into the proper place on the brake pedal then I can do the rest by myself !" So then I proceeded to fish and feel the unit in place from the engine bay side and when I thought it might be right I pushed the bolts on the booster into the proper holes. Then I went around to the other side and looked underneath the dash and lo-and-behold, the Lord is a awesome Hot Rodder ! - - - - - it couldn't have gone any sweeter!

To God be the Glory.

Now if he'll just hold that rain back until Sunday evening - - - hahahahaha

Mello,
Glad you gotter done without hurting your back! I've come to realize that there's not much we really do "alone", as much as we may think so. Hope you enjoy the run Sunday!