Power Brake Booster Removal

I'm trying to replace the vacumn power brake booster on a 1994 Dodge
Caravan (auto transmission, V6 3.0, non-ABS).

I have removed the master cylinder, the vacumn hose and the four
mounting nuts inside the vehicle.

The Chilton's manual then says:

"...unfasten the brackets mounting the steel water line at the firewall
and left frame rail."

I can't seem to locate what they are talking about. It seems that I
should be able to pull the unit out, but something is holding me back.
I don't want to force things.

Anyone know what they are talking about?

Thanks.

Doug

 

You're reading it wrong. What it really says is "This Chilton's manual is
a complete waste of your time and money. Stop using it now, before you
hurt yourself and/or damage your vehicle, and go buy the FACTORY service
manual before you lift a wrench within 5 feet of your vehicle again."

 

You're reading it wrong. What it really says is "This Chilton's manual is
a complete waste of your time and money. Stop using it now, before you
hurt yourself and/or damage your vehicle, and go buy the FACTORY service
manual before you lift a wrench within 5 feet of your vehicle again."

This is what you get from an idiot as Daniel Sterm is...what a way to help
some one out DS

Did you make sure that you disconnected the brake pedal from the booster?,
and once you get that unhooked it is going to be a tight fit removing it

 

Now this is stubtance! Some real information that can be considered. In
looking at various manuals some say this same bit of information AND some
don't. What we need is MORE information besides the boiler plate addage to
"learn to read" and "get a FSM". This is why we would like to get substance
when we ask for information/help. In this world where people have been in
school for a time it is naturally understood that a factory service manual is
the one to have. However, some cannot afford the FSM and have to buy the
Haynes - and rely on outside help - like from this ng. Lets look at costs of a
FSM.

Yesterday I picked up a 2002 Dakota FSM from Eastern Sales (Winnipeg) and got
it through my school's auto shop. It was special order and took just over a
week to get it. With taxes it was $102 Canadian. Ouch!! But it has pretty
well everything! Some folks cannot afford that price in any way shape or
form, and get the Haynes instead - with it's faults. Such is life - and
family budgets/priorities.

 

I did disconnect the brake pedal from the booster. It seems that there
is something holding it back.

Thanks for the response.

Doug

 

When somebody is using a Chilton's or Haynes, answering all questions
with a boilerplate "get the FSM" is the single most substantive and
useful response possible. If, given a good source of information,
something is unclear then it's time to try to give more detail.

No. No. No. Never. No. Is that clear? Just in case: no.

Since a Haynes or Chilton's will cost you more in broken or
unnecessary parts than buying an FSM in the first place, there is no
such thing as not being able to afford the FSM. This is one place
where buying anything else is what the economists call a "false
economy."

No, such is penny wise, pound foolish.

 

When you ask Daniel Stern a question if he cant find it on the net thats
the answer you get, Im sure he is searching for an answer now. You have to
unfasten the brackets on the steel heater valve water line at the dash
panel and the left frame rail..If this is a manual transmission you have
to unfasten the clutch cable bracket at the shock tower.
slide the PBB unit up and to the left. THE MOUNTING HOLES ARE SLOTTED ON
THE DASH PANEL,,, then tilt inboard and up to remove it, I think you are
having a problem where the holes are slotted. It is a very tight fit.
good luck

 

Yep. There's more detail here:

http://u225.torque.net/haynes_instructions.html

Agree. And failing to save money by buying a used FSM is what the
economists call "stupid". Subsequently bitching about the pricetag is
commonly called "childish".

DS

 

If you can afford to buy the parts and attempt to make the repairs yourself,
YOU CAN AFFORD THE FSM!

 

The unfortunate aspect of this comment is that while it is something that i believe
in there are a LOT of folks who CANNOT afford to get a FSM. They scrimp and save
every nickel because they have to. I see LOTS of folks who go to auto wreckers to
get all sorts of parts - overhead cams, timing belts and electrical parts because
they cannot afford to buy new. Their sweat equity keeps their cars running. They
come with their kids sometimes to help them. Sometimes I see a torn Haynes along
with their junky tools - no better quality stuff with "guarantees" like Craftsman
and Canadian Tire's Mastercraft. Just some no-name stuff. And yes, they will use a
blade screw driver as a chisel or as a pry bar along with an old claw hammer.....

See my above comment. This world runs on money and everyone has a priority - even
me, and you, and DS. But for some, getting a FSM is out of the question......

See my above comments about watching folks carry pout automatic transmissions in
wheelbarrows, or shock absorbers, or exhaust systems, or... And they get their kids
to help them sometimes too. You think they would listen to anyone telling them to
get a FSM??? Hell, they even buy gasoline from these same auto wreckers because it
is less expensive than at the gas pumps. imagine doing that on a daily or weekly
basis! I personally cannot see myself doing it on any regular basis.

I agree, Joe, but in this world there are some folks who cannot afford to do
otherwise. Period. Not everyone eats at the Waldorf Astoria or even Perkins. Lots
dine as families at Burger King, McD or... And let us not forget those folks living
on "food stamps" and social assistance. They have trouble getting decent food, never
mind thinking of a FSM. Ever been to a library and see the thumb worn. grease
stained Haynes and Chiltons manuals?

There are some folks who put very little into savings for retirement, even though
they keep hearing that it is important to do. Like i said; family circumstances,
etc. Some folks cannot afford (they think) to put high quality oil, etc into their
vehicle's maintenance schedule - just like some folks feel they cannot afford to eat
properly to maintain good health. readers on this group understand that, just like
readers of this ng understand that some folks cannot afford to buy a computer and
get high speed connections. Such is life.....

As for penny wise and pound foolish - you are preaching to the converted. I believe
in FSMs! I like FSMs! Fortunately, I can afford to buy them for the Chrysler
vehicles that our family owns/runs/rebuilds. Just because I have these manuals that
does not mean that I don't read the Allpar web site or this ng. There is plenty of
substance here - I know the FSM has good info, but there are plenty of bits of
USEFUL info on the FAQs and this ng besides "get thee to a FSM".

In closing, I am sorry that I have strayed from the original concern of the OP's
vehicle, but... In addition, I am also not into any hoilier-than-thou pissing
contest.

Ken Pisichko, Ph.D.

 

The problem is that these people are spending more money by using the
wrong parts. Yes, many years ago I had a Chilton's manual. I've
bought entire sets of crappy sockets. The thing is, the choice isn't
(to look at tools, since that mistake bites you more quickly) to buy
an expensive tool vs. a cheap one, it's to buy an expensive one
vs. buying a cheap one and then an expensive one. Buy a cam at a
junkyard? Why not, if it's in good shape? Buy a timing belt?
Ummmm... you meant to say "buy a timing belt and then come back for
virtually an entire engine", didn't you?

You say this like you think I don't have cylinder heads in my garage
that came from a wrecking yard, or you think my car's taillights
didn't come from the late great 1-800-426-hemi yard, or you think my
kids haven't been out in the wrecking yards with me. There are things
you can get cheap, and things you can't. When the goal is to spend
the least amount of money (and of course it is), you have to know
which is which.

I don't think you really understand the expression "penny wise, pound
foolish." It means trying to scrimp on pennies with the result that
you spend more money as a result. It's like saving money by eating at
McD's when cooking a hamburger at home would cost less.

And if (they think) they can't afford to make the investment that will
save them money in the short (let alone long) run, the right thing to
do is to point out that they're thinking wrong.

 

Joe, without going into details, I think we are both talking the same talk. Yes,
certainly understand expressions in the English language. I live in an English speaking
world. Thank you again for this discussion.

Ken Pisichko, Ph.D.

 

Ken Pisichko wrote:

And so you suggest that they potentially damage or destroy these
"scrimped and saved for" parts because of outright WRONG information
that fills the pages of Haynes?

I respectfully submit that buying an FSM *ALWAYS* saves money in the
long run.

 

Whazzamatter? The words are right there. It seems they HAVE TO buy used parts. Read again
......

 

Yes, the words are right there: if the parts are so hard to come by, how
can they possibly risk doing more damage than good because of the
misinformation in Haynes-type manuals?

 

The parts are readily available - it is just that some folks cannot afford to buy new - so
they buy used. Folks do that... I really wonder if those folks even pay any attention to the
differences in details and information between a FSM and a Haynes/Chiltons.

Are you interested in doing some empirical research, publishing the results in a peer-reviewed
journal and ending this sub-thread???