PSA - Brake Booster from Autozone :-(

[HDJdreams]

I got the Duralast remanufactured brake booster from Autozone online. It seemed like a good idea at the time, low price plus 20% off, free shipping, and just $10 core. “Lifetime warranty”

It shows up, has the same stamp as the original, same shape. Based on a tip from other thread, I paint it before install.

I try removing the OEM one last Saturday, everything is unbolted, but it won’t move past the intake manifold. Have to unbolt the engine :-(

As I am trying to get ready to install it, I am missing the gasket between booster and firewall. Go to RockAuto, they don’t carry it either but the obvious finally smacks me in the face.

The Autozone Duralast remanufactured booster has THREE different plastic ports for vacuum, they didn’t even have the decency to include a couple of caps. The two remanufactured units on RockAuto both look like OEM with 1 metal port.

I just want to get the Cruiser together, but I thought I would give Mud a heads up!

 

[mct75]

Connect the extra two ports together?

 

[nukegoat]

I just see two spare check valves. A windfall

 

[Godwin]

I bought an A-1 Cardone booster from RockAuto for a 4Runner. Booster failed within a few months and I now consider it scrap.

 

[1973Guppie]

for any "hard" part like these, master cylinders, clutch master, water pump, alternator, etc I always use OEM if available, but I am guessing OEM is beyond expensive.....

 

[Malleus]

$739.51 list.

 

[1973Guppie]

$739.51 list.

a good reason to have my original taken and rebuilt by someone locally......

 

[inkpot]

a good reason to have my original taken and rebuilt by someone locally......

Let me know how that goes. The rebuild kits have been NLA for years.

 

[1973Guppie]

Let me know how that goes. The rebuild kits have been NLA for years.

Doh! How do they rebuild the units at rockauto etc then?

 

[inkpot]

Doh! How do they rebuild the units at rockauto etc then?

Rock Auto does not build, rebuild, or inventory anything. They are just a brokerage. Anyway, I would bet that Cardone and a few others that ACTUALLY do rebuilds have proprietary contracts with their suppliers which gives them sole access to those parts. If your or your Mechanic can actually acquire rebuild kits then you should remarked them here, or let Joey do it?

 

[NLXTACY]

I’ve been trying to hunt down rebuild kits for these. After watching one get rebuilt, it’s not terribly difficult.

 

[HDJdreams]

I’ve been trying to hunt down rebuild kits for these. After watching one get rebuilt, it’s not terribly difficult.

Another way to spend money with Wits End, as if the turbo kit wasn’t enough.

 

[1973Guppie]

Power Brake Exchange

just called this place, $145 to have my stock one rebuilt and sent back to me, this is what I was talking about, not rebuilding it myself with a kit.

 

[Tools R Us]

Doh! How do they rebuild the units at rockauto etc then?

Most likely generic parts, from other applications? All that we have installed, the boot/muffler/filter have been too small, poor fitting, so make more noise than original. Could try a Seiken W0133-1740427, new unit, some places list it at a pretty good price.

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

FWIW my OEM booster lasted 360k miles. Since then, I am now on my 4th or 5th booster from O'reilly's. The current one finally seems to be holding up and performing how it should. The other remans bit the dust fairly quickly. Proper rebuild kits would be cool. Sometimes I wonder how these are rebuilt by these places...

 

[Joshwho44]

I got the Duralast remanufactured brake booster from Autozone online. It seemed like a good idea at the time, low price plus 20% off, free shipping, and just $10 core. “Lifetime warranty”

It shows up, has the same stamp as the original, same shape. Based on a tip from other thread, I paint it before install.

I try removing the OEM one last Saturday, everything is unbolted, but it won’t move past the intake manifold. Have to unbolt the engine :-(

As I am trying to get ready to install it, I am missing the gasket between booster and firewall. Go to RockAuto, they don’t carry it either but the obvious finally smacks me in the face.

The Autozone Duralast remanufactured booster has THREE different plastic ports for vacuum, they didn’t even have the decency to include a couple of caps. The two remanufactured units on RockAuto both look like OEM with 1 metal port.

I just want to get the Cruiser together, but I thought I would give Mud a heads up!

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What an abomination, Autozone should be embarrassed for selling you that... I bought an A1 Cardone reman from Rockauto last summer and it recently failed. The only reasonable options look like Seiken or Toyota.

 

[Rifleman]

Most likely generic parts, from other applications? All that we have installed, the boot/muffler/filter have been too small, poor fitting, so make more noise than original. Could try a Seiken W0133-1740427, new unit, some places list it at a pretty good price.

If you have some spare time on your hands, you should try fitting some of the "generic" replacement body panels that are being made in China, talk about poor fitting. The funny thing is, that's what most insurance companys want your body shop to use when they repair your truck.

 

[HDJdreams]

Update:

In spite of having THREE check valves, NONE of them are in the same spot as the OEM Booster. The extra valves BLOCK mounting the throttle bracket.

 

[HDJdreams]

Again, I can’t believe I didn’t pay attention to this before I lifted the the engine!

To recap, the Autozone Duralast booster has the same Bendix JCK stamp and the body is the same diameter and shape. BUT is has three checkvalves (all of them in wrong place!).

When I went to install, it had a note: Land Cruiser mount one side towards hood, all other Toyotas mount the other way, rotated 180 degrees. When the AZ booster is mounted per instructions, the Bendix JCK stamp is upside down.

The OEM booster hadn’t failed, was changing it while changing the master cylinder out. I ended up bolting it back in.

 

[inkpot]

Update:

In spite of having THREE check valves, NONE of them are in the same spot as the OEM Booster. The extra valves BLOCK mounting the throttle bracket.

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I always leave that bracket off anyway. It just makes it harder to work on next time for another booster of upper intake removal. Have not suffered any problems due to missing bracket on several 80’s.