Brake Booster Rebuild

[Timo04]

Does anybody know of a good brake booster rebuilding service? If possible it would be great if the shop/service facility was located somewhere in the SF Bay Area, California. Please post the contact info. Thanks in advance!

[the_superhero]

I have a gorgeous one from a Zag if they are the same (I forget) contact me off list. (I'm in Oakland)

Is it a rebuildable unit? Pics?

Trying to help

[Timo04]

Thanks for the reply and the kind thoughts on trying to help! Yes the booster is actually rebuildable Although I can't remember off hand how a Zagato brake booster looks I don't think the booster from a Zagato is anywhere near being the same as the Montecarlo/Scorpion. I do in fact have pics of the booster if you are interested let me know.

[Will]

Tim, which booster do you have, and is it the major diaphragm? At one point IAP sold the major diaphragm, minor diaphragm, and pent valves for, I think it was the Bonaldi one.

The major diaphragm is usually the one that goes bad from my experience (sample of only two though), I assume due to rubber fatigue and age. It's a super-easy fix, you just have to wear a face shield and watch the gigantic whipping spring when you take off the band and release the cover.

If the pent valve is gummed up you can give it a good hosing with carb cleaner followed by kerosene or parrafin followed by brake fluid to displace the water out of it.

-Will

[Timo04]

Hey Will,

Thanks for the tips! I will check with IAP as I have a Bonaldi made one that is off of the car at the moment. I just bought off of E-bay as a spare and want to rebuild it before installation.

I'm not even sure if the original booster currently fitted on my Scorpion is good or bad. I do hear it make some noise when I operate the brake pedal and it dosn't seem to boost very well. Most boosters I have dealt with on other cars are very quiet so I assume this one is not up to snuff.

I'm wondering if there is some kind of simple "bench" test for brake boosters while they are off of the car?

Best,

Tim

[Timo04]

BTW: I forgot to ask: Are there really two or more types of boosters for the Monte-Scorp? Bonaldi of course made one version and what are the companies that made the others and are they all interchangeable? OEM Bolt on replacements between the different manufacturers?

[Will]

Tim;
Sorry I don't remember, there's at least one other remote booster, Benditalia? Ronal? I forget. I think it x-refs to an Alfa Sp(y)der, there are doubtless others that would work. Personally, I don't like boosters, I think the booster surge makes it hard to drive the car 100 percent and having personally run under the ass end of a Volvo due to a failed booster, I would remove it. Then I would put decent brakes on the front of the car. My.02.

-Will