How to Check Leaks for Power Brake Boosters

How to Check Leaks for Power Brake Boosters

The automobile's brake booster's main function is to give the vehicle maximum braking power with minimal pressure applied to the brake pedal. The brake booster primarily functions on the vacuum system of the vehicle. If the vacuum system is working properly, the booster pushes into the master cylinder when pressure is applied to the brake pedal, allowing the car to come to a stop. If there is an issue with the vacuum system, the car will still have brakes, but it will take a much greater effort on the pedal to stop the vehicle.

Instructions
Get into the car and start the engine. Without applying any pressure to the brake pedal, allow the car to idle for 60 seconds.

Turn the engine off after the one-minute idling time has passed, and allow the car to rest with the engine off for an additional minute.

Push on the brake pedal and release several times. If the vehicle's vacuum system is working properly, each push of the brake pedal should get harder to press to the floor. If there is a leak in the vacuum system, the pedal will continue to travel to the floor with no resistance.

How to Replace the Break Booster on a Chevrolet Silverado

How to Replace the Break Booster on a Chevrolet Silverado

The Chevy Silverado´s braking system operates with disc brakes, which require the use of power brake boosters. Prior to disc brakes, stopping a truck required much more effort compared to the modern systems that take advantage of a vacuum created by the truck´s engine. Just like any truck part, the brake booster undergoes normal wear and tear and can lose its capacity to assist in braking. When this occurs, it is time to replace the brake booster and regain your truck´s braking ability.

Things You'll Need
Socket wrench
Flashlight
Screwdriver

Instructions

1. Lift the hood of the truck and locate the master brake cylinder -- it is located on the firewall, opposite of where the brake pedal is in the cabin of the truck. You can identify the master brake cylinder by the brake lines that are attached to it; these brake lines run from the brake linkage through the truck´s firewall and connect the brake booster to the master brake cylinder. Use a socket wrench to disconnect the master brake cylinder from the firewall, after which you will be able to disconnect the vacuum line that runs into the brake booster -- this will isolate the booster so that it can be removed later.
2. Position yourself under the truck´s dashboard so that you can access the brake pedal. Using a flashlight, look directly above the brake pedal. You will see a small metal plate on the bottom of the dashboard, where the brake linkage connects the brake pedal to the piston of the master brake cylinder. This plate is held to the bottom of the dish with screws -- remove the screws with a screwdriver and pull off the plate.
3. Remove the bolts that are located behind the brake pedal. These bolts hold the brake booster to firewall. Go back under the hood and remove the brake booster and gasket from the firewall. After this, you can install the new gasket and brake booster -- push the gasket and then the brake booster into the firewall where the old booster was located and then go back under the dashboard to secure the booster in place with the bolts that were previously removed.
4. Re-attach the vacuum line to the new brake booster and then bolt the master brake cylinder back onto the firewall. After you have done this, re-attach the metal plate under the dashboard to re-establish the connection between the brake pedal and the master brake cylinder.