Itinerant Air-Cooled

I've read on TS that it is a good idea to get your brake booster rebuilt. Has anyone on here done that for their bus?

There's a guy who is supposed to be pretty good at it, charges somewhere around $75.00. Try a Samba search. Apply that number against whatever decent used one you could find at a junk yard.
TheNextTownshend and I rebuilt his on the stoop in Rhode Island. A bit ugly. . . but it worked.
Colin

Russell,
Look in the Parts Known to be Good section, there'll you'll find the particulars for H&R, the firm in Texas that rebuilds them. I sent mine there, and have no complaints. First rate service, good value for the money.

I was going to start a new thread; glad I found this. Here is my tale...
With Bentley in hand, I called the Brake Booster guy:
H & R Automotive Parts
10328 Oakwood Dr
Dallas, TX 75217
972-286-5516
Spoke to Ron.
I wanted to ask about the service they performed, specifically regarding the Sealing and Damping ring and the Booster filter. Ron said that these parts are replaced and the booster is reassembled. Ron mentioned that he has been rebuilding boosters for some time. I told him that he has been recommended to the VW community for this service; he was not aware of this but was was appreciative. Also, I asked Ron if I should primer/paint the booster prior to the rebuild - he said '"no,just just send the booster, he would take care of it'"( not direct quote). I cleaned my booster before I shipped it to H&R. Ron called within a couple days - I shipped USPS (cheap) and the booster was ready for return a few days later. Cost, $100 + 15 shipping; over all, I had this part ready-to-go in 7 days.
I'll hope to install soon and I'll post the results, thanks Ron.

I'm running one rebuilt by them right now! Only 45 minutes from my house =D>

Just spoke with Ron on the Phone. Real quick turn around. He received my booster last night and was calling for payment this morning to send it back.

Here's the bad news. Ron wanted me to post that this month is his last in business. He is shutting his doors Oct. 1 of 2010. He didn't give a reason other than he's been doing this for 31 years.

I asked him if he could recommend anyone else to send these units to.

He gave the name of Prior Re-manufacturing in Dallas Ph. 972-388-1090 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              972-388-1090      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

or Brake and Clutch Supply out of Waco, TX ph. 254-752-4307

I hope this helps and a moderator should probably change the sticky in the brake section.

That's a bummer. Thanks for the info on the other places, at least one is local.

That Sucks! They rebuilt the booster in my '72 and did a wonderful job.

They rebuilt my booster in 2006 and it's started leaking again........I wonder if they offer a discount on a second rebuild.

RSorak 71Westy wrote:They rebuilt my booster in 2006 and it's started leaking again........I wonder if they offer a discount on a second rebuild.

You have 15 days to find out

Is there a new favorite brake booster rebuilder?
I am in need...

Check with Aeromech on the Samba Bay Windows forums. He uses someone local to him in San Diego to rebuild ones for his clients.
Also, didn't I read that Wolfsburg West (or some other SoCal vendor) is selling new units?

MonoCone wrote: Also, didn't I read that Wolfsburg West (or some other SoCal vendor) is selling new units?

Yes. One Samba user posting a scathing review of the early model. I have not read anything else, but I would be extremely clear what their return policy is before going in.

Robbie

Amskeptic wrote:There's a guy who is supposed to be pretty good at it, charges somewhere around $75.00. Try a Samba search. Apply that number against whatever decent used one you could find at a junk yard.
TheNextTownshend and I rebuilt his on the stoop in Rhode Island. A bit ugly. . . but it worked.
Colin

Are the parts available?
Has a rebuilder of high esteem surfaced?
It seems I am having a window of time opportunity with other seasonal bus to dos. Might as well refresh that original booster.
Does anyone have performance/function feedback from their rebuild experience?

While my 9550 cam might be a source of inherently low vacuum#s...booster exhibits a sink soflty to its bottom on pedal's last cms of movement..all the while braking, but requiring faith as progressive resistance of line pressure goes away..almost as if bleeding a cyl..I forget if it got better when I selected N and opened throttle a bit..it did not worsen.
So booster is working still. If rebuilder of high esteem has surfaced (its been 5 years) Packing it off to refresh sounds like good an any case.
Thanks.// Eric

A couple years ago Rebuilders Enterprises did mine for a '73, they are near Chicago. Did a really nice job.
Also:
http://www.busdepot.com/j18100