TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1971 brake booster, who's rebuilding them now?

Sun May 08, 2011 12:09 pm

Hi guys,
I'm working on a 1971 camper that had the old original vacuum hose still. I replaced the hose with good quality Gates booster hose and then found out that the booster must be leaking. I've used the guy in Dallas before but I believe he's not in business anymore. Who's the current "go to" guy for getting our boosters rebuilt now? TIA.

Sun May 08, 2011 12:32 pm

beats me but that bus is suh weet!

Sun May 08, 2011 12:45 pm

http://busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=211612103X

Sun May 08, 2011 12:51 pm

babysnakes wrote: I sent mine here. Turn around was fast.

http://www.rebuildersenterprises.com/

Sun May 08, 2011 12:53 pm

Oh really? I was looking up this problem and I was going to try to get that guy in Texas. Thanks for the update of information though.

Sun May 08, 2011 12:56 pm

Karps Brake service
66n. Central ave.
Upland,Ca. 91786
909-985-0800

www.resleeve.com/booster.htm

Sun May 08, 2011 1:27 pm

Karps is looking good right now since I'm here in California. Does anyone has feedback on price and turn around time?

Sun May 08, 2011 1:42 pm

I just had mine rebuilt by Karps a couple weeks ago and was very happy with their service and timely turn around. I had to cut one of the studs off to get mine out and they were able to repair it no problem. It looked great when I got it back too.

Sun May 08, 2011 1:52 pm

Glad to hear that you were happy with their service but what was the turn around time and the cost?

Sun May 08, 2011 4:24 pm

aeromech wrote: Glad to hear that you were happy with their service but what was the turn around time and the cost?

Which Dallas closed?

A) Prior Re-manufacturing
Dallas, TX
972-388-1090

or

B) H&R Automotive
10328 Oakwood Dr
Dallas, TX 75217

Colin

Sun May 08, 2011 4:26 pm

Amskeptic wrote: aeromech wrote: Glad to hear that you were happy with their service but what was the turn around time and the cost?

Which Dallas closed?

A) Prior Re-manufacturing
Dallas, TX
972-388-1090

or

B) H&R Automotive
10328 Oakwood Dr
Dallas, TX 75217

Colin
h&r closed

Sun May 08, 2011 9:45 pm

aeromech wrote: Glad to hear that you were happy with their service but what was the turn around time and the cost?

Base price for the rebuild was $185. I had a broken stud so it took a couple days longer but it left my house and was back to my house in 2 weeks. Shipping, fixing the stud and rebuilt, $220

Sun May 08, 2011 9:53 pm

I used to live in Upland and used Karps. Quality rebuilder then. Gary, wasn't there some place in Calexico you were looking for at one time?

Sun May 08, 2011 10:27 pm

Lets face it. When Ron in Texas retired we lost a valuable resource. Of the various other sources since then, none even start to compare with the price even though quality might be OK. Evidently about everyone else charges close to double of what Ron did.

Mon May 09, 2011 3:53 am

71whitewesty wrote: aeromech wrote: Glad to hear that you were happy with their service but what was the turn around time and the cost?

Base price for the rebuild was $185. I had a broken stud so it took a couple days longer but it left my house and was back to my house in 2 weeks. Shipping, fixing the stud and rebuilt, $220

I think I paid around $135

Mon May 09, 2011 6:08 am

SGKent wrote: I used to live in Upland and used Karps. Quality rebuilder then. Gary, wasn't there some place in Calexico you were looking for at one time?

Someone here was speaking about the Calexico place but I never got any specifics. I'm going to do some calling around San Diego this morning to some of the larger brake service shops and see what they say. Specifically, there's a shop in National City I'm curious about. Their website gives me the impression that they do some work on vintage cars. I'll get back here with info as I get it.

Mon May 09, 2011 6:16 am

$220!? Damn! Prior reman recently charged me $135 to do one with a bad stud compared to $85 (no stud work) when H&R was still in the game. Turn around time for Prior was about 2 wks.

Mon May 09, 2011 6:19 am

Time is very important here. I can't have this bus sitting around waiting for parts for two weeks. I do have other work going on with it but I'd like to be completely done by next weekend.

Mon May 09, 2011 8:29 am

Update, Mon 8:30 am

Wow, I just got off the phone with a brake shop here in town. He quoted me $150 to rebuild the booster. I asked what the turn around time was and he said "about 3 hours".

I am heading down there this afternoon to drop off the booster and will report back with the results.

Bush Power Brake Service
25 East 17th Street
National City, Ca 91950
619-474-8906

Mon May 09, 2011 9:53 am

BusterBrown wrote: babysnakes wrote: I sent mine here. Turn around was fast.

http://www.rebuildersenterprises.com/

They quoted me $115.
You pay shipping one way.
They said they have 1 day building and maybe 2 days if they have to search for parts. So Its probably around a week or 2 weeks.
Going with these guys for the rebuild.