1999 K2500 Suburban - Hydroboost leaking, replace or upgrade?

[Old Truck]

I had to replace mine on a 95 c3500 cclb that was leaking for over a year. Picked one up at Pick A Part, put it on without messing with the brake master cylinder and hasn't leaked a drop. Picked up an ATEAM gasket kit for the leaker, but have not put it in yet.

 

[TexasAggie]

I just did the seal replacement myself. The seals on Amazon/ateam performance were too soft and kept ripping on me. The ones from pirate were slightly stronger and held up better.

Access issues aren’t too bad. I didn’t do anything in the area of the pedals. All under the hood.

So you pulled the hydroboost apart without taking it off the firewall? That's what I'm planning on doing as soon as I get the parts. Any tips or tricks I should know about?

 

[Supercharged111]

So you pulled the hydroboost apart without taking it off the firewall? That's what I'm planning on doing as soon as I get the parts. Any tips or tricks I should know about?

That's what I did too. Try to not tear the seal like I did! I put a paper plate and paper towels below the HB to catch what comes out.

 

[GoToGuy]

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Here is one of my ateam(on right) seals next to my prior seal(on left). The prior seal had a crack in the groove. The a team seal was so soft that it swelled up almost immediately on both the first and second kit I bought. They were the same size before installation.

Thats really wild. I've only had that when incompatible materials fluids used.

 

[castine917]

So you pulled the hydroboost apart without taking it off the firewall? That's what I'm planning on doing as soon as I get the parts. Any tips or tricks I should know about?

Yes. Without taking off firewall.

Followed instructions. Bleed pressure, remove lines, remove master cylinder bolts, slide/swing master to side, remove booster bolts, slide off carefully to not lose parts. Then it gets “fun” swapping seals. (My hands are x large).

 

[castine917]

Thats really wild. I've only had that when incompatible materials fluids used.

I’ve just been using power steering fluid.

The outer edges fit in groove of booster and inner lip has the cylinder sliding through it. My theory on the first one was a lack of lubricant or a burr that caught. Ordered a second one. It felt super soft to me. Made sure no burrs and good lubrication. Blew right away. Ordered a third from pirate. Felt little stiffer. Held up better.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I’ve just been using power steering fluid.

The outer edges fit in groove of booster and inner lip has the cylinder sliding through it. My theory on the first one was a lack of lubricant or a burr that caught. Ordered a second one. It felt super soft to me. Made sure no burrs and good lubrication. Blew right away. Ordered a third from pirate. Felt little stiffer. Held up better.

Id be putting a magnetic filter in a hydroboost system 100% just because it has a fluid loop from a pump which esp aftermarket ones often arent high quality and metal debris can quickly start circulating with pump failures or defects or high heat and wrong fluid choices etc etc.

what kind of pump you got? Regular saginaw with the hydrboost reservoir? is the flow control valve from your original pump or is it the one that came with it?

excess GPM and pressure do one thing when you account for time and miles.
wear the things they circulate through. especially if its got metal.

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[TexasAggie]

Yes. Without taking off firewall.

Followed instructions. Bleed pressure, remove lines, remove master cylinder bolts, slide/swing master to side, remove booster bolts, slide off carefully to not lose parts. Then it gets “fun” swapping seals. (My hands are x large).

The seals are in the half that stay on the firewall, right? Are they both in there? The instructions I've been looking at only mention one seal.

Maybe I need to find better instructions!

 

[Supercharged111]

Yes. Without taking off firewall.

Followed instructions. Bleed pressure, remove lines, remove master cylinder bolts, slide/swing master to side, remove booster bolts, slide off carefully to not lose parts. Then it gets “fun” swapping seals. (My hands are x large).

I left the lines attached.

Also, +1 on the filter, I should do that too. I'd done a full purge on the PS last year and I still found this in the HB.

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Red because I dumped 2 bottles of Lucas in an attempt to kick the can on fixing the leak until I got home.

 

[castine917]

The seals are in the half that stay on the firewall, right? Are they both in there? The instructions I've been looking at only mention one seal.

Maybe I need to find better instructions!

The figure eight seal will be on side still attached to firewall. The round seal is in the part I removed from the truck.