nyc_scorpio

iTrader: (1)

well my brakes right now feel harder than a 80 year old man on viagra. i changed the hose that goes from the booster to the fitting on the firewall. i know it has a small 1 way valve inside. got a new one, but still my brakes are all hard as ****, can the booster be dead? the brakes were going on/off for a bit, now they just simply ran out, they are super hard. the pedal requires alot of effort to stop the car. can anyone help out?

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Certainly sounds like a dead booster. And they are 'fun' to replace.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Here's something that might help:
To check the vacuum booster, pump the brake pedal with the engine off until you've bled off all the vacuum from the unit. Then hold the pedal down and start the engine. You should feel the pedal depress slightly as engine vacuum enters the booster and pulls on the diaphragm. No change? Then check the vacuum hose connection and engine vacuum. If okay, the problem is in the booster and the booster needs to be replaced.

I know you replaced the valve but:
Vacuum boosters also have an external one-way check valve at the hose inlet that closes when the engine is either shut off or stalls. This traps vacuum inside the booster so it can still provide one or two power assisted stops until the engine is restarted. The valve also helps maintain vacuum when intake vacuum is low (when the engine is under load or is running at wide open throttle). You can check the valve by removing it and trying to blow through it from both sides. It should pass air from the rear but not from the front.