The brake booster on my 70 145 went out and the junkyard replacement works only occasionally. Can they be rebuilt? What are my options? I would appreciate any help you could give me.

The boosters with the single line of crimps on the band can be rebuilt by Booster Dewey using American booster parts. 503-238-8882.
He says he can't rebuild the boosters with the double line of crimps on the band.
Best,
Shayne.

Seems odd that the booster would work intermittantly... seems it should be an all or nothing deal.

Didja check the one way check valve?

-Matt
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-Matt '70 145s, '65 1800s, '66 122s wagon, others inc. '53 XK120 FHC

The valve works OK. Even when the booster works, it's weak. It has a double line of crimps so it looks like it can't be rebuilt. I'll have to keep searching the junkyards for another one.

My '70 145S booster has broken diaphram. Before I disconnected the vacuum line it hissed slightly. Also, it won't hold vacuum when pumped up with Mightyvac tester (lots of pumps to evacuate the large volume of the booster). Agree that it is odd that it works intermittantly -- usually they fail by bursting the diaphram.

Ain't no big deal to disconnect booster vacuum and plug vacuum port - you just have to push harder on the brake pedal. I'm driving both my 260Z and 145S like that. But my sport enthusiast buddies tell me that booster in service is much prefered for improved braking control sensitivity.

I got a replacement booster for the '70 145S from RPR Volvo http://www.rprusa.com/
but it's still sitting in my garage. (One of 20,000,000 to-do projects, and not to close to the top of the list.) Don't know if it is rebuilt or new or what.

Supposedly you can change the booster without disconnecting the hydraulic lines from the master cylinder, but I have not tried that yet.

Later,
Al

I've changed the brake booster on my 145 several times over the years. You don't have to disconnect any brake lines. When you install the new brake booster just bend the master cylinder assembly out of the way enough so that the new one will fit behind it. It's not a difficult job at all.