Has anybody disconnected the vacuum line from the power brake booster and driven the car? I know there would be increased pedal effort, but will that work? I suspect the booster in my Comet has failed and a replacement is either not available or has a 6 to 8 week lead time for an order, depending on where you shop. I'm thinking I can pull the vacuum line, plug it at the manifold and just drive the car. Am I crazy? Do I have a death wish? Or will everything be just fine?
braking effort will be greatly increased...to the point of being dangerous. especially if you have to panic stop, but the brakes will still work.
You could say that..... Although the brakes will work, pedal effort through the booster will be far greater than a manual setup. Ratio is quicker(why pedal height is reduced), that also contributes to pedal effort. What's it's problem? Someone here may have a booster they'll sell.
"What's it's problem? Someone here may have a booster they'll sell." Well, I've done some preliminary tests but I think the booster doesn't hold a vacuum anymore. I've searched for a replacement and they are "out of stock" at Rock Auto. Summit lists one on their web site but it's an 8 week delivery, and the Cardone rebuilder also has an 8 week turn around. I have also searched for a rebuild kit that I could use to rebuild it myself but no luck with that. It doesn't really look like it's easy to get the case open to rebuild it anyway. So yea, if somebody on here has a known good one, hook me up.
I just checked and a Napa store can get it . They have access to 4 of them and can hav eit by Monday . The part number is NBB 5473519 You will probably have a UPS charge
That's pretty good news. I have a great NAPA store near me, I'll check with those guys. That 5473519 part number is the same as the Cardone part. I'm thinking those guys are the only ones rebuilding these things. Thanks for that. I'll get on it right away.
I just called my local NAPA store (These guys are usually very good) and they say they can't get it, their warehouse doesn't have it, and it would probably take 6 - 8 weeks. Rats!
My NAPA guy suggested I check O'Reilly Auto Parts. It is on their web site but not available in my local store. I ordered it to be shipped and they say it will be here by Wednesday. Oh, and it was $91.00 + tax, free shipping. I'm not a big fan of O'Reilly so we'll see how this goes.
After I ordered from O'Reilly my wife and I went out to dinner. When we got home there was an email from O'Reilly saying that it has already been shipped! I'll keep y'all posted.
To answer your question....brake effect would be GREATLY increased with the booster not hooked up. I think it would not even be driveable. Well.....driveable, but not STOPABLE.
Second (third? fourth?) that position. If you've ever tried to stop a power brake car with a dead engine you're lucky if you get ONE press on the pedal while there's still some vacuum. After that it's almost a two footed proposition...and the pedal is hard as a rock.
And here is my new brake booster. For some reason, when it seems that no other parts source in country either can't get one of these at all, if they can get one, it will take eight weeks to get to me, yet O'Reilly Auto Parts got this one to me in three working days! I have no idea why the photo replicated itself three times and won't let me delete any of them. But, at least you can get a good look at it!
