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Mark Lewalski Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2010 Posts: 402 Location: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa Bay)
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:30 pm Post subject: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Anyone have any insight on where to get a new hose? This is the hose that goes from the intake plenum to the check valve for the power brakes. As I understand it, it's a specialty hose.
I want to replace them on both my 87 and my 89... interestingly, the 87 hose is about 12" and the 89 is only about 2".
Thanks,
Mark _________________ '89 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg "Bluestar" (given to and owned by my son now)
'87 Vanagon Weekender
'74 Thing |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17007 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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It's not that special. It just needs to not collapse with vacuum in it. So, a hose with thick walls would work best. At one time, there was a braided hose that had wire wrapped into it to strengthen it. Good hydraulic or AC hose with the correct inside diameter should work. _________________ ☮️ |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Also if I recall the factory hose and coupler used a clever little slightly tapered soft rubber tube like piece that helped the joint seal well. There's one up on the brake booster end IIRC, and one at the back end as well. So don't toss that little thing if it's going to help you join whatever you find. It seemed kinda squishy and when clamped provided a nice vacuum seal between the long run of hardish plastic tube the length of the van, and the shorter run you're working on replacing.
Doug _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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GreggK Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008 Posts: 890 Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I found luck using 1/2 inch "PEX" tubing. Its used in the plumbing world. I just cant remember how I coupled it to the original tube. |
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GreggK Samba Member
Joined: May 17, 2008 Posts: 890 Location: Colorado/Philidelphia
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2018 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I found luck using 1/2 inch "PEX" tubing. Its used in the plumbing world. I just cant remember how I coupled it to the original tube. |
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kalispell365 Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2010 Posts: 889 Location: PNW
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Timely, I was just looking for this same piece. _________________ 1983 Diesel Vanagon Westfalia chassis with Subaru 2.2l |
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Mark Lewalski Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2010 Posts: 402 Location: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa Bay)
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I ended up using 1/2" ID heater hose from my local FLAPS.
It works perfectly and was only $1.50 per foot.
Mark _________________ '89 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg "Bluestar" (given to and owned by my son now)
'87 Vanagon Weekender
'74 Thing |
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Marshj Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2017 Posts: 268 Location: New Jersey
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:01 am Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I need the entire apparatus for my 1990, does anyone have suggestions, cup I need that check valve?
What I have ends at the hardline running through the van and the plenum.
I need everything from here down, will a 1/2” Hose work to run this length without an adapter? Looking for guidance on what all is needed |
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Nitcomb Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2018 Posts: 2 Location: Brooklyn
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Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2018 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Was thinking of replacing that line myself. Does that check valve ever go bad? Should I put a new one in while I'm at it? |
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Chestercopperpot Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2017 Posts: 114 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I had mine go bad in the mountains! Seems to be that when they fail you lose all power assist and its hard to make any engine power with a vacuum leak. |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2019 10:11 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Yeah, that would be rough. Did you just plug it and deal with lack of brake boost, or leave it and have boost but poor engine power? _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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Chestercopperpot Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2017 Posts: 114 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 9:26 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Pump stopped it to a land line phone. hope to have it figured out this weekend. |
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Stevekirk Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2018 Posts: 17 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I’m testing my brake booster vac line and check valve. The CV is good, should I be able to pull a vacuum on the line from the CV location back toward the booster? I cannot get any vacuum to build up. Does that mean the vac line is bad?
Thanks |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17007 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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It would be ambitious to pull a vacuum with the hose connected to the booster using a hand pump. You could disconnect the vacuum line at the booster and cap it and then test vacuum at the other end. It should hold vacuum. You don't mention if its a syncro with locker. _________________ ☮️ |
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Stevekirk Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2018 Posts: 17 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Not a syncro. 2wd Subaru 2.5
My brake pedal isn’t returning all the way so I’m beginning to investigate why.
I’ve done a complete brake rebuild. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17007 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:17 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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You can unbolt the master cylinder and carefully pull it away from the booster and make sure the pedal is free to move with out the master. No need to run the engine. Your symptom does not sound like a vacuum related problem. _________________ ☮️ |
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Stevekirk Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2018 Posts: 17 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Trying to rule out some things before I look at the servo.
Any thoughts? |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17007 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Reread my above post. I don't think the problem is vacuum related. The booster uses vacuum to apply the brakes not release the brakes. The brake pedal could be jamming at the pivot, the master could be sticking, or the booster may be rusted internally or all 3.
The nuts that hold the master come off in a couple minutes. It takes longer to remove the cluster. The metal hardlines have enough give that you can move the master away enough that you can work the pedal and look in the booster with a flashlight. _________________ ☮️ |
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Stevekirk Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2018 Posts: 17 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 1:45 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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Thanks for the advise I will check the things yiu mentioned |
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Stevekirk Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2018 Posts: 17 Location: Arkansas
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Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Brake Booster Vacuum Line Replacement |
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I removed the brake master cylinder and depressed the brake pedal. It pressed in easy and returned all except about an inch (which was my problem that I’m looking to fix). Inside the servo was slight rust color but didn’t look to bad for what I could see. Put it all back together then did the servo test from Haynes manual. It passed the test I believe. My thought is that the pedal pin is sticking. Going to get a long spray tube and lube with PB blaster to see if I can free up. |
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