Vacuum brake booster on a '71 144S

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Vacuum brake booster on a '71 144S[ALL/1998] posted by Trevor G. on
Monday, 22 December 1997, at 1:00 p.m.

I have a '71 144S. It's a great car with minimal rust, but I have recently discovered that air is flowing down the pipe from the vacuum brake booster to the intake manifold. (The idle RPM changes when I clamp the pipe closed.) The check valve is not leaking so I assume I have a hole in the diaphragm. Volvo wants over $400Can for a new booster, so I am looking around for a good used one. (Not too common anymore it seems!) My questions are: 1) do these thing fail catastrophically or gradually? Can I still drive around looking for a replacement? 2) What years would fit my '71? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Trevor

Re: Vacuum brake booster on a '71 144S[ALL/1998] posted by irv klein on
Tuesday, 23 December 1997, at 12:08 a.m.

If you had a leak in your booster you should be hearing a hissing sound near your break pedal. Its very unusual for diaphragm to go. If you have the hissing sound check the seal at the end of the booster rod which activates the master cylinder. That is easily replaceable. Just pry it out and put a new one in.

Re: Vacuum brake booster on a '71 144S[ALL/1998] posted by Chris A. on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 4:13 p.m.

I replaced the booster in my '73 142 with a booster from a 69ish 144. I think you could use any 140-series unit. You can definately drive around without a functioning booster, but your right leg will get seriously muscular...oh yeah, I forgot about that heavy clutch pedal...you'll get a complete lower-body workout. Seriously, it's probably safer to replace the unit, check the yellow pages for a brake specialist, you might find someone who can rebuild it cheaply.

Re: Vacuum brake booster on a '71 144S[ALL/1998] posted by Remi Van Audekercke on
Saturday, 27 December 1997, at 3:59 p.m.

Hello Trevor,

Those brake boosters don't fail often, you can pick one up on wrecking yard
and almost be sure it still works. Any 140 booster will do the trick.

Regards.

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