I'm having brake booster issues (hard pedal), and I read to check the check valve on the vacuum line for correct operation. However, I don't have a check valve. Looking at other engine bay photos it seems that some cars have this valve while others do not. Why is this?

My car is an 85 gsl. I know my brakes worked fine without the check valve and with the stock nikki, but this issue arose after switching to a weber sidedraft. The brake booster line is hooked up to a tap on the manifold.

 

The check valve is hidden inside of the rubber hose, just off of the booster. Blow one way in the hose, air passes, the other way it doesn't. Check your booster line for leaks, that can cause a hard pedal. Btw, you did connect the booster line up to the larger 3/8" barb and not the 1/8" barb on the new intake.

 

yep, valve is in the hose.

since you're in there make sure the booster holds vacuum too, mine did not. and the valve should get cycled a few times, they can be intermitant especially when its really cold or really hot

 

Is this another "FB/SA" thing, the valve being hidden in the hose? Mine's visible.

 

yeah i think so

 

Hey j9fd3s what are the symptoms if the brake booster doesn't hold vacuum? No pedal feel/hard pedal feel?

Sorry for deterring from the original question O.P. but I hope this is relevant to others doing future searches with booster failure symptoms.

Hope you get your booster to work with your new intake though.

 

Thanks for the responses. The check valve works fine, but the booster doesn't hold vacuum. I'm guessing that means a new one is needed?

 

Rebuilt one for $94.

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductD...pe=250&PTSet=A

 

i'm mechanically rebuilding the whole car, so i didnt check it looking for a brake problem, although the brakes did suck. they worked, but not very well, effort was weird sometimes. additionally the master cylinder was bad and one of the brake pads was installed backwards.