The brake booster sits between the brake pedal and the brake master cylinder and multiplies the braking force you apply to the brake pedal. Back in the old days, that’s what was meant when a vehicle was advertised as having “power brakes”, and the brake booster is still often called a “power brake booster”.
The booster is bolted to the firewall in the engine compartment, and the master cylinder is bolted to it. A pushrod extends from the booster into the master cylinder, where it pushes against the piston to apply the brakes. The other end of the pushrod goes through the firewall and clips onto the end of the brake pedal lever. Most brake boosters operate with engine vacuum, and their construction is something like a flattened sphere divided into two inner halves by a heavy rubber vacuum diaphragm.
Replacement wouldn’t be too difficult except for the location. In the engine compartment, the booster is often tucked under he cowl and hard to get to, and on the other end of the vehicle, the clips and bolts that attach it are mostly way up under the dash, and obstructed by the steering column and various wiring harnesses and pedal frameworks.
Cost of Brake Booster Replacement
On average, it costs about £290 to replace a brake booster.
For some more specific estimates for booster replacement costs on common vehicles, using £70 an hour as a labour rate:
For a 2006 Honda Accord with a 2.4-liter engine, the labour time to replace the booster is 1.8 hours. A factory booster costs about £145, and a non-OE booster costs about £110. This makes the job about £270 using OE parts, or about £240 using aftermarket parts.
For a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 3.6-liter engine, the labour time to replace a brake booster is 1.8 hours. A factory booster costs about £185, and an aftermarket part costs about £150. This makes the job about £310 using OE parts, or about £275 using aftermarket parts.
For a 2008 Kia Optima, the labour time to replace the brake booster is 1.3 hours. A factory booster costs about £455, or a non-OE part costs about £205. This makes the job about £545 using OE parts, or about £295 using aftermarket parts.
What Causes a Brake Booster to Fail
The two main things to rule out before replacing a non-functioning booster are the engine vacuum and the vacuum check valve. If an engine has valve problems, or a bad vacuum leak, or general wear, it may not generate enough vacuum to operate the booster. This is pretty simple to check. Also, there is a check valve on the vacuum hose to the booster, usually plugged right into the body of the booster. If this is stuck open, the vacuum in the booster will vary with the exact engine conditions and can cause unpredictable problems. The check valve is also pretty easy to inspect and rule out.
The main thing that goes wrong with a brake booster is the internal diaphragm leaks, which causes a vacuum leak. The diaphragm is made of rubber, which hardens up and loses flexibility with age, and any rubber part that must flex constantly is likely to eventually develop cracks and leak. There are usually a few signs of this. There is an air intake on the nose of the booster where it comes through the firewall under the dash; this often has a filter, and if there is a vacuum leak, air is sucked in there. It is sometimes possible to listen there and hear a hissing from the leak; in some cases it will be constant, in other cases it will be audible only when the brake pedal is pushed. If the leak is bad enough, it can cause problems with engine performance, in the same way that a vacuum leak anywhere in the air intake can cause problems.
Another sign is if the brake pedal feels “high and hard” and it takes a great deal of effort to stop the vehicle. This is basically what it would feel like if there were no power boost when you applied the brakes; without the vacuum assist, it takes a great deal of leg strength to apply the brakes. The booster has enough vacuum reserve to apply the brakes two or three times, so one way to get an idea of how it works without vacuum is to apply the brakes two or three times with the engine off; at that point, the vacuum should be exhausted and there will be no power assist to the brakes until the engine is started.
Brake boosters often fail in conjunction with a brake master cylinder failure if the master fails in a way that leaks brake fluid into the booster. If a brake master cylinder is being replaced for leaks at the rear seal, the booster should be checked closely, and if a booster is being replaced for internal problems, the master cylinder should be checked closely. Some manufacturers sell the booster and master cylinder together as a package.
FAQ
Generally not. A minor internal vacuum leak won’t affect brake performance much, but if the booster isn’t working, it can be very difficult to manually stop the vehicle. And a minor leak can become a major leak unpredictably.
Engine vacuum must be good and the hose to the booster must be sound, as the booster runs on engine vacuum. The booster check valve also needs to be good. These two things are usually checked and ruled out first.
If there is a hissing noise under the dash on the driver’s side when the brakes are applied, that’s the sound of a vacuum escaping through a torn booster diaphragm. It’s usually audible for awhile before there are any brake performance issues.