Bad oops on the Brake Booster

[69_luv]

So I think I made about the dumbest mistake possible last night. I was drilling a hole in the firewall to run my tubing and wiring for boost guage/water temp. I thought I was drilling next to the steering boot, when I was actually drilling right into the brake booster. I caught my mistake, but not before I apparently drilled into the booster itself. So now I have a whistle coming from the hole I drilled, and the car runs like absolute dog poop. again

So beyond the utter stupidness I have a new brake booster on order be here tomorrow morning. I have never replaced a brake booster before, how difficult are the brake lines and master slave to get off? How much brake fluid do I need to buy/and what type? Anybody know of a walkthrough?

 

[Calan]

You may be able to just unbolt the master cylinder from the booster and move it out of the way enough to replace the booster without having to undo any brake lines...if you're lucky.

There should be 2 studs/nuts holding the master to the booster. Remove those and carefully pull the master away from the booster (making sure not to kink any brake lines), and remove the vacuum line going from the booster to the IM. Then you'll need to disconnect the brake pedal from the booster under the dash, and remove the 4 nuts that hold the booster to the firewall.

Go here for the FSM, and look at page 35A-25 for more information.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Cal, I love how optimistic you make even the most dreary of situations sound. Any experience I've had with a brake booster has left me irritated and needing a drink afterwards.

Only advice I can offer here, as Cal has covered the needed ground, is to be careful from now on and mark where you're drilling. Never assume you won't hit anything. Make Sure.

 

[Calan]

Oh it's still a PITA... just slightly less of a PITA if you don't have to disconnect brake lines and deal with that mess.

I hate doing anything that requires getting under the dash. I'm too old and sore for that sh*t.

 

[3kgt2nv]

Take the front seat out, makes getting a good angle for the nust under the dash a lot easier

 

[69_luv]

Thanks for all the info guys! that link for the FSM freezes up my internet for some reason...

I will pull the seat, but I don't see how the brake booster is going to come out with all the crap that is in front/above it in the engine bay. And yes I am getting to old for laying upside down in akward positions (especially sense I have had 3 back surgeries and 2 fusions).

I don't know how on earth i didn't catch that I wasn't drilling in the right place, just one of those really stupid DOH moments. Stupid and costly.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

And yes I am getting to old for laying upside down in akward positions (especially sense I have had 3 back surgeries and 2 fusions).

Time to hire a midget or a neighborhood kid.

Good luck on getting that thing replaced. Be more careful next time!

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I hate doing anything that requires getting under the dash. I'm too old and sore for that sh*t.

And yes I am getting to old for laying upside down in akward positions (especially sense I have had 3 back surgeries and 2 fusions).

Yeah, it sure is a PITA to get down under there. I'm a pretty small guy and I have an awful time getting under there too, so I feel your pain fellas.

Time to hire a midget or a neighborhood kid.

Good one Kei

 

[69_luv]

First note, taking out the seat made getting under the dash 1000 times easier.

Can I undo either of these two lines circled in the picture (power steering)? What steps will I need to do if I undo them (like bleeding or anything)?

I can not find a way to get the slave off the booster with out disconnecting the hard lines going into the top. I have ABS and all the lines are small, fragile, and don't bend. How big of a mess is this going to make? I am going to have to bleed the brakes after this is done is there any special fluid or is it regular DOT 3/4?

 

[janamarie]

Cal, I love how optimistic you make even the most dreary of situations sound. Any experience I've had with a brake booster has left me irritated and needing a drink afterwards.

Only advice I can offer here, as Cal has covered the needed ground, is to be careful from now on and mark where you're drilling. Never assume you won't hit anything. Make Sure.

I agree with you on this mate. When i had the same problem and on the same situation i was so irritated and freak out. You have a good advice in here, marking where you are drilling is the most advisable thing to do.