Finally replaced the brake booster assembly on my daughter's lx470. When I gave her the car at 212k I warned her that it would die a sudden death one day, and that day finally came at 2697xx miles. It's a 1999, and honestly, I think that's pretty good run for an OEM part. I had the booster motor die on my 2004 gx470 at about 240k and opted to just replace the motor and pump and re-use the rest of the assembly, but on my kid's car, I told her if she bought the whole assembly, I would replace it for her.
She ponied up the 1200 or so and got a new OEM assembly so I installed it for her yesterday.
I don't post much, but this forum has great info and great people, and the job was actually quite easy with help from this forum and other resources.
I did not take apart anything in or under the dash as some suggest, I just used extensions and u-joints to get the 4 firewall bolts with a little body contortion to get under the dash and around the steering column. It was a good excuse to change all the brake fluid as well and inspect everything.
I hate how these things go from "working fine" to "no brakes at all" in just a few moments.
On the GX, I had a trailer hooked up (empty thankfully) and was a mile from home when the pump motor died and I limped it home pretty easily. Both times the ABS light came on, but at that point, you only have a handful of pedal actuations to realize that your brakes will be totally gone in a moment.
My daughter was leaving for work on a side street when she lost brakes and being as she has a mechanic dad, she immediately e-braked it and called me. I had her tap on the brake motor a few times, as I figured it stopped on a dead spot on the commutator and sure enough, and it spun up pressure in the accumulator and she was able to get home and then drive it carefully without incident to our home shop.
Yes, I had my daughter driving a 23 year old car with a worn brake booster, so maybe that's not super responsible of me as a father, but overall, her truck is incredibly reliable and she has driven it across the country multiple times without a hitch. It's gotten her out of muddy fields at flooded music festivals in the middle of nowhere she camped in it for a summer, and if she gets in a wreck, God forbid, I think that the truck will protect her better than most more-modern automobiles. And, she loves it (despite the fuel economy).
I dont know if there is anyone on this board who rebuilds these units who might want the old one? I'm sure it needs a booster motor but otherwise it was functioning fine and didn't leak or have other issues.
If anybody has interest, or knows of anyone who might, please lemme know. I'm sure it's a good rebuild core and I hate to relegate it to the trash.
I'm in NE Kansas for local pickup, or if someone wants it shipped, and will put it to good use and pay for shipping (it's heavy) please reply.
She ponied up the 1200 or so and got a new OEM assembly so I installed it for her yesterday.
I don't post much, but this forum has great info and great people, and the job was actually quite easy with help from this forum and other resources.
I did not take apart anything in or under the dash as some suggest, I just used extensions and u-joints to get the 4 firewall bolts with a little body contortion to get under the dash and around the steering column. It was a good excuse to change all the brake fluid as well and inspect everything.
I hate how these things go from "working fine" to "no brakes at all" in just a few moments.
On the GX, I had a trailer hooked up (empty thankfully) and was a mile from home when the pump motor died and I limped it home pretty easily. Both times the ABS light came on, but at that point, you only have a handful of pedal actuations to realize that your brakes will be totally gone in a moment.
My daughter was leaving for work on a side street when she lost brakes and being as she has a mechanic dad, she immediately e-braked it and called me. I had her tap on the brake motor a few times, as I figured it stopped on a dead spot on the commutator and sure enough, and it spun up pressure in the accumulator and she was able to get home and then drive it carefully without incident to our home shop.
Yes, I had my daughter driving a 23 year old car with a worn brake booster, so maybe that's not super responsible of me as a father, but overall, her truck is incredibly reliable and she has driven it across the country multiple times without a hitch. It's gotten her out of muddy fields at flooded music festivals in the middle of nowhere she camped in it for a summer, and if she gets in a wreck, God forbid, I think that the truck will protect her better than most more-modern automobiles. And, she loves it (despite the fuel economy).
I dont know if there is anyone on this board who rebuilds these units who might want the old one? I'm sure it needs a booster motor but otherwise it was functioning fine and didn't leak or have other issues.
If anybody has interest, or knows of anyone who might, please lemme know. I'm sure it's a good rebuild core and I hate to relegate it to the trash.
I'm in NE Kansas for local pickup, or if someone wants it shipped, and will put it to good use and pay for shipping (it's heavy) please reply.