What are my options for a power brake booster?

The brake booster in my 1969 Dodge Charger (318 automatic) is leaking (though, strangely, it stops leaking when you press hard on the brake pedal; I have no idea why). When I converted to front disc brakes last year, I used a '76 Volare master cylinder. Can I also use a brake booster from a '76 Volare, or any other 4-bolt Mopar booster from that era?

Leaking as in losing vacuum or fluid? if its fluid the master cylinder needs to be replaced.

It makes a hissing sound (vacuum leak). Here is a video I made last summer:



It always hisses when not touching the brake pedal, but it hisses louder as you press in the brake pedal, and then stops hissing when the brake pedal is pushed down as far as it will go.

Have you checked the vacuum hose and the boostergasket it plugs into for leaks???

Yes. Plus, if it were leaking in the engine compartment, I wouldn't hear it so prominently (or at all) in the drivers seat over the sound of the engine.

This brake booster is very old, and sat in the car in the woods for 17 years. When I first started working on it in 2011, I couldn't even move the brake pedal, not even after removing the master cylinder. I kept pushing on it until it started to move, and eventually, through working it back and forth, I got it so I could push the brake pedal in and out easily. I wasn't even expecting it to work, but after replacing all of the brake components and trying it out, it did work, but it has always hissed like in the video.

I'm not even sure it is originally for a '69 Charger; it doesn't look like the A-1 CARDONE Part # 5473501 that all of the parts stores sell:





I want to replace it with a newly rebuilt one regardless; I just want to know which ones are compatible, because some are cheaper than others, especially in terms of the core charge (which I might not even be able to collect, and it is a hassle collecting the core charge via mail order anyway, and you lose some of it when you pay for shipping to return the core).

Your booster is a power drum booster, buy a rebuilt Bendix dual for disc's from Booster Dewey.

What difference does it make in terms of function? And is the A-1 CARDONE Part # 5473501 a disc or drum booster?

Power disc's brakes require more pressure, a dual diaphragm booster gives the increased pressure. What you have on your car and the CARDONE #5473501 is a single diaphragm Midland booster.

Okay. The brakes work fine as-is (the feel and stopping power is practically identical to my 100% stock 2001 Dodge Dakota 4WD), but more pressure certainly wouldn't hurt.

Like I said before, the disc brake master cylinder I used when converting to front disc brakes is for a '76 Volare, and since all Volares had front disc brakes, its power booster must be dual diaphragm as well (plus it's cheap). Would one of those (A-1 CARDONE Part # 5473800) fit on my car?



I don't care at all about original appearance in this case.

If the brakes work fine as is except leak, a Cardone replacement from parts store of your choice for make/model/year (of the booster you are actually using) should work fine.

I run a MBM dual 8" (Mancini) with aftermarket discs with small piston area to get enough pressure... sounds like that is not needed in your application. A non leaking rebuilt should be fine.

No

The booster is definitely suspect, but also check the stems of the plastic check valve. My check valve was a single stem. That stem was cracked at the base thus a loud hissing. Changed out the check valve and all was good.

according to my wagner master catalog, the 76-78 aspens use #PBL503800 booster[comes with a 4 bolt master cylinder]. the volare uses the same booster in 76-77, but changes to a #PBL503870 for 78-80, which the aspen also uses in some 78's and all 79-80. this is because those boosters come with a 2-bolt master cylinder. the 2 bolt booster alone is #5473870. the 4 bolt booster is not listed as available. hope this helps.

Good point, check valves can be purchased through the Ram Man. He has a good video on boosters as well.

http://www.theramman.com/component/virtuemart/b-body-components.html

Check valves are also available in the "help" section of the AP store. My local AZ usually keeps a couple on hand.