I have a 1980 Alfa Spider with brake issues. I'll have to check that valve and see if cleaning it helps. I'm planning on replacing the brake booster because I believe I have a vacuum leak inside the booster. I have a brake booster on the way but if this solves the problem that would be great. The booster looks like it's going to be a lot of work to change. Thanks for the video!
1955Cal hey there. When this thing gets gunked up, the brake pedal is hard to press down. Then after the car has been running for a few seconds it goes down fine. When it was really bad though, it would get stiff while diving, so I check it whenever I find it starting to get difficult to press in the brake upon starting my car.
Thanks for the reply. I did clean that valve last week and it did stop the idle from increasing when applying the brakes. I was very glad to find that helped. Now I need to bleed the brakes better to see if my booster's okay. I think it is because when I removed the booster hose from that valve I heard air escaping, so it must be holding vacuum I'm hoping.
hm... I'm not an expert or anything, but I think that's normal. Is that the only issue, air escaping when your remove the vacuum hose? If I remember right, my brake booster was making a hissing sound every time I depressed the brake pedal when it failed, it was pretty noticeable and got worse before I had it fixed...(heads up, there is a diaphragm that can be pretty weak inside it... , I probably broke it trying to bleed the brakes by pressing the pedal in too far, ended up having to get rebuilt one from some place in east Los Angeles) I believe one of the symptoms is when you sit with your foot on the brake for a little bit, it goes in further on it's own.
The air escaping wasn't the issue, that's a good sign that it's holding vacuum so I think the diaphragm is okay. My issue is I have hardly any brakes, but hopefully bleeding them properly with resolve that. I replaced the master cylinder as that was bad(leaking brake fluid into the booster) and the calipers were replaced by the previous owner. So I'm hoping the booster is okay, but I'm not sure yet. I know Vick Auto Sports sells new ones for about $150.00. Alfa Parts Exchange or A.P.E. is a good source for used parts if you need any, he's in California too. He's a nice guy and his prices are reasonable, I bought a few parts from him. Take Care,Joe
I like APE as well as Centerline International, both are very good at helping and easy to contact. As far as the other one goes, let's just say if you don't have anything nice to say... I suppose it's possible that you have air bubbles, especially if you were leaking break fluid before, so a brake bleed may be in order, just be careful. It's not particularly hard, but like I said, I pushed that brake pedal in too far and regretted it. I'm limited on my brake skills, I had my mechanic do the last set of pads since I needed rotors and didn't feel like doing them. Speaking of, I see you have cal in your name. if you're in souther california, I would recommend taking the car to Benny at Johns Alfa Romance near Culver City, Los Angeles when you need a pro. He's great, extremely reasonable prices, and he has a fairly local source for refurbished brake boosters... heck, you might end up with my old one fixed up and good as new (if I could remember the name I'd tell you, but it was a while ago... I think it was under $100 for the part though). good luck.
Hi, does anything leak out when you do this. I am experiencing this problem. Thanks
I have a 1980 Alfa Spider with brake issues. I'll have to check that valve and see if cleaning it helps. I'm planning on replacing the brake booster because I believe I have a vacuum leak inside the booster. I have a brake booster on the way but if this solves the problem that would be great. The booster looks like it's going to be a lot of work to change. Thanks for the video!
1955Cal hey there. When this thing gets gunked up, the brake pedal is hard to press down. Then after the car has been running for a few seconds it goes down fine. When it was really bad though, it would get stiff while diving, so I check it whenever I find it starting to get difficult to press in the brake upon starting my car.
Thanks for the reply. I did clean that valve last week and it did stop the idle from increasing when applying the brakes. I was very glad to find that helped. Now I need to bleed the brakes better to see if my booster's okay. I think it is because when I removed the booster hose from that valve I heard air escaping, so it must be holding vacuum I'm hoping.
hm... I'm not an expert or anything, but I think that's normal. Is that the only issue, air escaping when your remove the vacuum hose?
If I remember right, my brake booster was making a hissing sound every time I depressed the brake pedal when it failed, it was pretty noticeable and got worse before I had it fixed...(heads up, there is a diaphragm that can be pretty weak inside it... , I probably broke it trying to bleed the brakes by pressing the pedal in too far, ended up having to get rebuilt one from some place in east Los Angeles)
I believe one of the symptoms is when you sit with your foot on the brake for a little bit, it goes in further on it's own.
The air escaping wasn't the issue, that's a good sign that it's holding vacuum so I think the diaphragm is okay. My issue is I have hardly any brakes, but hopefully bleeding them properly with resolve that. I replaced the master cylinder as that was bad(leaking brake fluid into the booster) and the calipers were replaced by the previous owner. So I'm hoping the booster is okay, but I'm not sure yet. I know Vick Auto Sports sells new ones for about $150.00. Alfa Parts Exchange or A.P.E. is a good source for used parts if you need any, he's in California too. He's a nice guy and his prices are reasonable, I bought a few parts from him. Take Care,Joe
I like APE as well as Centerline International, both are very good at helping and easy to contact. As far as the other one goes, let's just say if you don't have anything nice to say...
I suppose it's possible that you have air bubbles, especially if you were leaking break fluid before, so a brake bleed may be in order, just be careful. It's not particularly hard, but like I said, I pushed that brake pedal in too far and regretted it. I'm limited on my brake skills, I had my mechanic do the last set of pads since I needed rotors and didn't feel like doing them.
Speaking of, I see you have cal in your name. if you're in souther california, I would recommend taking the car to Benny at Johns Alfa Romance near Culver City, Los Angeles when you need a pro. He's great, extremely reasonable prices, and he has a fairly local source for refurbished brake boosters... heck, you might end up with my old one fixed up and good as new (if I could remember the name I'd tell you, but it was a while ago... I think it was under $100 for the part though).
good luck.