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Posted

The brakes on my 1998 TJ 4.0L (non-ABS) get stiff within an hour of shutting the engine off. The vacuum check-valve and grommet on the booster appear to be sealing properly. It seems that my original 25+ year old brake booster may be reaching end-of-life. Regardless, replacement of this part after 25 years is not unexpected.

I cannot find an OEM Mopar replacement booster; it appears to have been discontinued. I would rather NOT replace with a re-man or other non-OEM part. My experiences with non-OEM parts have been almost universally negative.

My question: Are there any other vehicles for which genuine OEM (i.e. good quality) brake boosters are still sold, which could be adapted to my TJ with moderate effort? I have a small knee mill in my garage and am not afraid to make adapter plates, rod extensions, etc. Alternately, is there a manufacturer of good quality replacement brake boosters for my TJ? I have done a small amount of research on TJ "hydro-boost" conversions, not because I need the additional braking force (although it wouldn't hurt), but because they seem to be good quality.

Thanks to this community in advance!

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Posted

SomeBuckaroo...Good to see your post.  Before condemning the booster, put your vacuum pump (with gauge) in place of the check valve and test the booster chamber by itself.  To your point, the vacuum should hold and allow a few brake applications without the engine running.  Internal leaks are seldom repairable.

I look at Summit Racing for ideas.  For your brakes, there are some.  Beyond just the featured product in the link below, there are several other sources at Summit.  I like the iron master cylinder and other upgrades involved in most of these kits.  Parts are new, not remanufactured.  Look through the listings and see whether something works:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rto-rt31023

I understand your point and can see why you want "new", upgraded components.  Fortunately, braking is always an issue with lifted Jeep 4x4s and oversized tires.  This is a popular niche in the aftermarket.

Moses

Posted

Thank you for the quick reply! Your suggestion to test the brake booster with a vacuum pump & gauge is a great idea. I will do that before I start throwing parts at the problem. However, I expect that 25+ years is a lot to expect out of a brake booster. I should be proactively looking for replacement options.

 

  • Administrators
Posted

SomeBuckaroo...Keep us posted...I'm curious what troubleshooting turns up and how your resolve the brake issue!

Moses

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