Date:         Fri, 4 Feb 2000 08:03:06 -0500
Reply-To:     eric.henning@US.ABB.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Henning <eric.henning@US.ABB.COM>
Subject:      Re: DEm's da brakes!
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

From:    Jeff <btlbug@BRIGHT.NET>

> If the break booster is working
>properly, pedal will fall slightly and then hold.(This is how the Bentley
>says to check the break booster pg 47.10).  Could my booster be operating
>properly if fluid is leaking into it as with your situation?  Thanks Jeff


Jeff,

After receiving my new m/c and used booster (thanks Ken), I decide do take
this oppurtunity to really look at the booster.  I haven't taken mine apart yet
but here is what I think I will find:

the brake master cylinder (BMC) seal leaks, the vacuum on the booster ends up
pulling brake fluid
thru this seal into booster where it pools on the bottom.  If you have a to keep
 refilling your BMC
eventually you will fill the booster up until the fluid level reaches the vacuum
 line and brake fluid
starts getting sucked into the vacuum line back to the engine.  The booster will
 continue to
work as normal as the diaphram is metal.  I don't know what seals the diaphram
(it may be welded,
it may be rubber.  If rubber it might deteriate and not work anymore.  Now you
would have
manual brakes.  Brakes will work, but you will work harder.  Its easy to pull
the vacuum hose of the
booster and fish a tube in there to see if it gets wet with brake fluid.

eric h.
80 westy