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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7809
   
Location: Williams California | Has anyone had problems with bellows type brake boosters that were overhauled by this company? When I got the booster back, it looked like a brand new bellows was used, but this morning heading to work, I got a heck of a vacuum leak and no power assist, and nearly hit a city cop that was in front of me at the stop sign.
I removed the unit, and could see quite a bit of cracking in the rubber, and on the underside, about a three inch split in the bellows. I haven't had a chance to call them to find out what their warranty is, but it was rebuilt just three months ago, for over $300. I will not pass judgement until I have spoken to someone there in charge. ---John |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
 
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | John....
I had one get a slit in it a few weeks ago at the 300 meet in Reno. Karps did it about 4 years ago but at that time they said I didn't need new rubber. I have since installed a backup unit and plan to have the other one rebuilt. Please let me know what you find out.
George
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7809
Location: Williams California | George, I just got off the phone with a fellow from Karp's. He sounded awfully surprised to hear that the bellows failed prematurely, and said to send it right in and it will be taken care of. So far, so good. Still kind of a pain to have to rob a used one in order to kheep my car going. ---John |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: seattle, Wa. | John, it is not clear to me that they DID use a new bellows, only that it APPEARED to you that they did.
If it is your original bellows, it sounds like they failed to discover the rubber was old and about to split.
Seems like they would/should perform some sort of pressure-test on each bellows as they come in.
I had them re-do my booster. It looks great and functions fine, but I have no idea if the bellows is new or "used". At that time they did mine, I was able to lower my cost by sending them some extra "used" bellows I had.
So, two things: I hope they do rigorous testing before sending out rebuilt units, and I hope my bellows isn't gonna split! |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7809
Location: Williams California | It's definitely not a good surprise to come to a stop THINKING that you have power brakes, and you don't! ---John |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | John LOL(not) you might want to check out my recent postings , including today, after a conversation w/karp's!) regarding
my search for a brake booster rebuild kit, and/or a comapny to do that work.
Altho my system is the solid cannister, & not the bellows-boy, I think that I'll SKIP having Karp's do that work (if no
rebuild kit is to be found)
My thread begins several days ago with the subject line "Hissy Fitting', on the FWDLK's Daily List Server board, which is found
on this site's Homepage, at the upper-board-listings.
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7809
Location: Williams California | I received the booster back from Karp's quickly, and visibly with a new bellows. There was no charge for the warranty work, and they honored it fully. A good vendor! ---John |
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Karp's brake service
