Remove/Replace Power Brake Unit Help

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Gary B. Golden - 12 Feb 2006 23:52 GMT

Attempting to remove and replace the power brake unit on a 1981 automatic.
GM shop manual simply says remove nuts from 4 studs on firewall. Yeah,
right. How do you get to them? I can see them and if I wiggle my fingers
just right, I can touch them. I know they're 14mm but can't get to them
with either a standard or deepwell socket with any configuration of
extensions or U joints. I've removed the Tach/Speedo to do some other work
and thought there might be some route through from there. Any help would be
appreciated.

Gary
'64 327/365hp
'78 L82
'81 350

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BDragon - 13 Feb 2006 03:19 GMT

> Attempting to remove and replace the power brake unit on a 1981 automatic.
> GM shop manual simply says remove nuts from 4 studs on firewall. Yeah,
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> '78 L82
> '81 350

Had to do this on my '77 last year. I thought I'd never get it done.
You're right about barely being able to touch the nuts, let alone see them.
I managed finally by patiently (about three days of it) moving everything in
the way and using extensions and wobblies and everything else I could find.
Putting it back together is equally entertaining.

Good luck. (I did not learn any secrets to pass on to make it any easier.
Sorry. It's just one of those things, I think. Patience, patience,
patience. And skinned knuckles. And beer.)

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BDragon - 13 Feb 2006 05:29 GMT

> > Attempting to remove and replace the power brake unit on a 1981 automatic.
> > GM shop manual simply says remove nuts from 4 studs on firewall. Yeah,
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> Sorry. It's just one of those things, I think. Patience, patience,
> patience. And skinned knuckles. And beer.)

Shoot, I did learn one secret. You have to loosen or remove the steering
column bolts where they go through the firewall. That gives you the access
to the booster. You can move the column a little bit out of the way, and
it's just enough.

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Gopish Too - 13 Feb 2006 15:15 GMT

Another little trick before you install the new booster, grind the ends
of the bolts a bit so the nuts have a good taper to start. I think the
master cylinder bolts come like that. I spent quite a bit of time on my
back twisted around the steering column trying to get the nuts on the
studs. I modified the end of the studs and the nuts went on real easy

>>>Attempting to remove and replace the power brake unit on a 1981
>
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
> to the booster. You can move the column a little bit out of the way, and
> it's just enough.

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