Brake Booster Resto.

[68COPO]

Looking for a quality power brake booster restoration. Any recommendations? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif

[Nasblu]

Give Steve a call he does great work!!! Check his website out www.brakeboosters.com (http://www.brakeboosters.com)

Steve Gregori
2496 N. Zediker Ave.
Sanger, CA 93657
(559) 875-0290

[Salvatore]

Post deleted by paceme

[Plowman]

Do it your self,its not hard.

[68COPO]

Thanks fellas.
I was going to do it myself but thought the plating should be gold iridite (?). Mine has been painted black and I wanted someone to replicate the original.

[SSRSBOB]

Me and my boy are flying out to Macneishs for the dyno testing on our 302 engine. Has sent me many photos of the engine assembly and detail going together at his place. Will also check out some of the other services that he does while we're there. Should make over 400 hp. That's what we're looking for. I'll also check on brake booster service if you want.

Bob

[CamarosRus]

I have taken several (9204) Brake Boosters apart recently.............

Other than glass beading to remove rust what do the pros do to condition
the metal surface, prior to yellow zinc plating.....

I'm thinking that running the booster halves thru a vibratory tumbler/shaker
would polish the metal to look "as new".....\

ALSO, where might I find new replacement plastic/nylon "parts" that fit
on back of booster close to firewall ???

Thanks, Chuck

[Damien]

Give Steve a call he does great work!!! Check his website out www.brakeboosters.com (http://www.brakeboosters.com)

Steve Gregori
2496 N. Zediker Ave.
Sanger, CA 93657
(559) 875-0290

Steve is the guy. Easy to deal with and reliable.

[CamarosRus]

I'm reluctant to call "Steve" and and ask him what/how he restores boosters that I'm attempting
to do on my own in Seattle area.

Does anybody know if Yellow Zinc DiChromate is the only plating finish
used by everyone in todays restoration world ?????

[scuncio]

Another recommendation for Steve.

[NorCam]

Just sent mine to Steve a few weeks ago. He's getting to his busy season so best call him and get it there soon. Great guy to deal with and costs are reasonable.

http://www.brakeboosters.com/default.htm

[Billohio]

I sent one to Jerry and wasn't happy with it and had Steve do it. I had specific instructions when it went to Jerry and I would guess he sends them to someone else, and they didn't care other the instructions were lost. I had a similar situation with a balancer. He said he had a friend at ati that would take it to work and rebuild it. It was returned in a damper doctor box.

[GaryW]

Steve Grigori does excellent work and at an equally excellent price.. :)

[Steve Shauger]

Steve does fabulous work and has an inventory of dated cores as well if you're looking for a booster.

[NorCam]

FWIW guys...

I spoke at length with Steve recently, and he said he doesn't know when but that one of these days he's gonna pull the pin on doing this stuff and actually retire. He said "I started doing this years ago" when I was done working the first time.

He also said, if you know guys who want Boosters done now, you better tell them to get them into me because I likely won't be doing this much longer. He asked that I pass that along here so I guess now's the time.

I sent mine in days after he told me that. :naughty:

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I've had good luck with Booster Dewey in the WA/OR area....

[CamarosRus]

In post #7, I reopened a 7 year old thread on Brake Boosters.

I asked questions about RESTORING BOOSTER COMPONENTS ON MY OWN.

The next 8 or 9 posts suggested that I send my Booster(s) to Steve, Jerry or Dewey.

I am still wanting helpful suggestions.........

1) How to prep the rusted metal before having the metal Yellow Zinc DiChromate plated
in SEATTLE. I'm thinking that glass beading ALONE without additional "polishing"
would not produce the correct NEW appearance

2) What company/vendor might sell me any individual replacement parts

Thanks for telling me where you would send your boosters !!!!

[Billohio]

The nice ones that are restored are polished. Takes out pits and gives nice surface.
I have seen the painted ones and they look terrible and if you use regular brake fluid it wll take the paint off.
I have never seen a kit to refinish with the chemical process.

[GaryW]

In post #7, I reopened a 7 year old thread on Brake Boosters.

I asked questions about RESTORING BOOSTER COMPONENTS ON MY OWN.

The next 8 or 9 posts suggested that I send my Booster(s) to Steve, Jerry or Dewey.

I am still wanting helpful suggestions.........

1) How to prep the rusted metal before having the metal Yellow Zinc DiChromate plated
in SEATTLE. I'm thinking that glass beading ALONE without additional "polishing"
would not produce the correct NEW appearance

2) What company/vendor might sell me any individual replacement parts

Thanks for telling me where you would send your boosters !!!!

OK... Following STEP by STEP to restoring your own part(s):

1) Degrease, Clean, remove old paint, etc.
2) Disassemble, sort into reusable/restorable parts and parts to be replaced.
3) For your brake booster halves, remove the rust, beadblast then polish as necessary.
4) Take the booster halves to your plating facility (in your garage or ??) and replate as per the factory specification.
5) Restore any other metal parts removed (bolts, nuts, brackets,etc)
6) Procure the rubber parts to replace the deteriorated parts
7) Reassemble using the factory process.
8) TEST ...
9) if 8 is successful, then reinstall.


How is that? And I didn't suggest you send it to Steve... :)

[CamarosRus]

Gary and friends, I called and spoke with a very helpful, friendly Steve G yesterday.

I was surprised to hear that after he has his booster halves polished to remove any pits
that he glass beads with a fine grit/grade of glass (?) BEFORE the Yellow Zinc plating.

Evidently if you zinc plate over the polished metal, the results are too shiny, not correct.

My booster halves/pieces are not "pitted" but only surface rusted. I'm wanting to glass bead the surface rust and then run booster half(s) thru a shaker machine....This
will be an experiment to see how I can condition the metal surface before plating..........

[wheelhop]

I hear Steve Gregori is no longer restoring brake boosters.
any other recomendations?
thanks in advance

[parkbrau]

I hear Steve Gregori is no longer restoring brake boosters.
any other recomendations?
thanks in advance
Did you call him? Web Site is still operational.


http://www.brakeboosters.com/products.htm

[R68GTO]

Steve recently did a bunch of stuff for me. He told me he was working with a couple of different people to take over the business so he could back away. Either way the biz is likely to remain operational, he does great work!

[wheelhop]

Did you call him? Web Site is still operational.


http://www.brakeboosters.com/products.htm

No, but a friend of mine in Florida texted me yesterday and and said he has retired and shut down business.

[NorCam]

He'd been warning many of us for years that he was going to retire and may just shut it down if a buyer wasn't found. Used to be a guy in Winnipeg that did great booster restorations but haven't heard from him in years. I'll try and call to see if he's still doing them.

[SS427]

He has not completely shut down but has purchased a retirement home and is ceasing most of his plating services. I currently have some product with him now. He has not made it official yet but plan ahead. I am hoping someone buys the business from him and continues on with the process.

[HawkX66]

What a shame. Steve's retirement will be a major loss. Hopefully he can find a quality replacement.

[Charley Lillard]

Looks to me like a opportunity for someone.....Maybe Eric ?

[32KZ]

CHP did mine a few years back, along with the distributor.

Spoke to Steve just after thanksgiving, said he was pretty deep in work yet and was finishing up what he had, hoping beginning of the new year. Think I just got my parts out to him in time.

[wheelhop]

Spoke on the phone with Steve today he said he is basically done taking in any new booster restoration work. He does have some julian dated cores that he would be willing to plate and sell. But he said move quick if you want to get something from him as he is weeks away from a full retirement. On the good side of the news, he is in negotiations with someone to purchase business but it is not a done deal.

[Rainer]

Ok I just got off the phone with Steve, and he confirmed that he is no longer accepting boosters/parts and is heading into retirement. HOWEVER, he does have a customer in his area who he is in talks with to take over the business. This person is not 100% in, but there is another person in line if this doesn't work out.

Steve plans to work with the new owner to make the transition, which will involve using his same plater and polisher. While this transition is underway, Steve will continue to have his website up for continuity. He suggested I check back with him at the end of February to see where things are at.

[Rainer]

Spoke on the phone with Steve today he said he is basically done taking in any new booster restoration work. He does have some julian dated cores that he would be willing to plate and sell. But he said move quick if you want to get something from him as he is weeks away from a full retirement. On the good side of the news, he is in negotiations with someone to purchase business but it is not a done deal.

LOL beat me by 6 minutes Wheelhop!

[Mr70]

Just got off the phone with Steve.
He said he wishes everyone would quit calling him. :)

[Rainer]

Just got off the phone with Steve.
He said he wishes everyone would quit calling him. :)

Yeah I actually emailed him and he called me back, but I get the joke ;)

[Burd]

I used Booster Dewey in Portland, 20 years later and it still looks and works great.

[BCreekDave]

Looks to me like a opportunity for someone.....Maybe Eric ?

I thought about Eric Jackson also, but the carb business I bet keeps him pretty busy. It's one of those things that you would almost have to hire someone to be able to service folks quickly. Not sure that fits in Eric's business model. Steve and Eric's businesses are built only on the part quality and delivery. If it slips, then its a quick path to failure. I agree it needs Eric's level of attention to detail to make it work, whoever ends up with it.

[SS427]

The problem with Eric doing it is the plater that Steve uses are in California. No matter where you are in the country you would only be as good as the plating your vendor supplies you with and they have to be local to you in order for you to stay on top of the quality let alone the pick up and deliveries. If Eric could find a local plater that could do the work, Eric certainly would be the man. He would have to expand his shop however.

[ronzz572]

I usually use Steve also for my boosters to. But Im not going to find a new restorer since he is done. I found a very reputable plater locally to do mine. He is willing to do the plating. It's not a difficult task to disassemble a GM brake booster and reassemble. So I'm going to experiment a little. I disassembled a couple boosters I have and polishing them and removing pits. It might have to be the new future for restorers to do they're own.

[1967Z28]

Just a little bit more of an update. A good friend of mine who has been friends with Steve Gregori for a very long time is looking to take over the booster business. He asked me to post this message on his behalf. He has worked at MCACN the last couple of years and been in the hobby forever so I see this as the best case scenario if this were to come to pass.


"To members of this website:
I am a member here and know many members personally. I am currently in negotiations with Steve Gregori, to purchase his brake booster and plating businesses. I have been a customer and friend of Steve's for over thirty years. If I am able to complete purchase of the business, Steve will remain on board for as long as needed to make sure that there is a smooth transition. I live near him and have already been doing business with the same plater and polisher that Steve uses and I have agreements in place with both to continue using them. The intention is to keep everything the same as it is now as far as the quality and service that Steve has provided for many years. I am currently subject to a non-disclosure agreement so I can't reveal my identity at this time. My question for members is; how many of you are interested in being future customers based upon what I have described to you and are there any other services that you would like this business to provide?
Thank you and Sincere Regards"

[Charley Lillard]

??????

[Burd]

Booster Dewey in Portland. 20 years and it still looks fresh.

[Charley Lillard]

OK...I know who the prospective buyer is and I'm keeping it super top secret until everything falls into place. Everyone should be happy.

[Mr70]

Member of this Board.
Worked @ MCACN.
Lives near Sanger Calif.
..I think I know.

[wheelhop]

I have a booster that will be ready to go to California when the mystery man reveals his identity! Also interested is other parts such as caliper brackets, dust shields, master cylinder cap, etc.

[Rainer]

Also looking forward to having another booster done as soon as things are up and running.

[RamAirBirds]

This is the way it should go...somebody establishes a great reputation and is able to pass on his business to another..When one buys a business with no real assets it is pretty much said that they are buying "customer files and good will"..Steve certainly left "goodwill"....The right person could take this on and not miss a beat...Speaking of missing a beat...I waited and waited...Now I have 4 boosters sitting waiting to be done for cars in process...I trust these will be handled by the party involved here...Best of luck on the Acquisition and transition.....
Ross

[bergy]

any update on this? I have 2 boosters to send out. Thanks

[Charley Lillard]

I'll ask.

[NorCam]

I spoke to Steve a week and a half ago and although some things have gone back and forth with lawyers involved etc, it didn't come off sounding like a done deal to me? I suggested someone that might be a good fit for his business and he asked me to forward that person's contact info. Requests like that usually don't happen if a deal is in the works and looks like it's going to close?

:dunno:

[Charley Lillard]

I was told a offer was going to be made tonight. Yes I believe there are different opinions on value.

[302moz]

I know someone in Ca that is interested in Steves business . He would be the absolute best person to take it over. The same plater would be used and this person has the knowledge and skill to do an excellent job. Hopefully it works out. Its a much needed business.

[Charley Lillard]

My understanding is things are progressing.........:biggthumpup:

[ban617]

Nice thanks for the update.... Has anyone ever applied Sharkhide sealant to protect their restored booster ?

[z28s4mjg]

New owner of Brakeboosters.com
OK, guys I can finally update you on the status of Brakeboosters.com. Today my wife Norine and I completed the purchase of the company from my longtime friend Steve Gregori. As was posted earlier, by Jon Mello (1967Z28), we will be doing our very best to continue to provide the same services and quality that Steve has for the last 37. To that end Steve will remain as a board member and technical adviser for as long as needed to ensure a smooth transition. I will be providing the same services that Steve has and will do so using the same platers, polishers and parts vendors. We will be updating the website over the next few days to provide my contact information.
I have many friends on this site and look forward to meeting more of you in the future. We will also be adding an aluminum restoration service. I will provide more details about that in the next week or so.
Mike Gibbons
[email protected]

[68camaroz28]

Great news Mike and knowing both your abilities and ambition to do the best I know boosters will be the same great level Steve gave the hobby for years. Congratulations friend!

[302moz]

Great news ! Congrats

[NorCam]

Glad to hear you got a deal done Mike, and good to have Steve helping out to ensure a smooth transition. Should have a couple boosters for you to restore soon.

Congrats!

[Kurt S]

Congrats Mike!

[ZLP955]

Great news, for sure.

[bergy]

Congrats Mike!!! Now back to work! LOL

[Steve Shauger]

Mike, so happy it's official. Congratulations, and I know you are a perfectionist and will maintain the same quality and service. :beers:

[Mr70]

Way to go Mike & Steve,glad to hear this.
Brakeboosters.com lives :burnout:

[SS427]

Congratulations Mike. I have been using Steve for MANY years and am looking forward to continuing to send product your way. Once I get some of the plating back that Steve was doing for me I will start sending in all our stuff to you.

One question I have, is there any way you could add dull zinc to your services or is there no one out there by you that can do it?

[1967Z28]

Great news it's finally official, Mike. Congratulations and thanks for all your efforts.

[z28s4mjg]

Hello,
Thanks to all of you for your support! It is greatly appreciated.
Mike

[z28s4mjg]

Reply to Rick Nelson,
Hi Rick,
Regarding you question about "dull zinc". I have an alternate plating source that does what you are asking for (I think). Probably the best thing to do is for me to send pictures to you of finished product, so that you can evaluate. I will also put some pictures of it on the website as we start to change all of the information.
Regards,
Mike

[L78 Fred]

Congratulations Mike!

I look forward to doing business with you !
Best Wishes
Fred

[z28s4mjg]

Hello Everyone,
Thanks for all of the support! I have had a few people ask if we are open and ready for business. The answer is yes! Please check out the website at: Brakeboosters.com to see all of the updated contact information.
Mike

[Burd]

Booster Dewey

[scuncio]

Mike, I am glad you're continuing Steve's business. Will be sending stuff to you. Will you offer separate plating services - master cylinder lids, hood hinge phosphating, etc?

-Tony

[BCreekDave]

Reply to Rick Nelson,
Hi Rick,
Regarding you question about "dull zinc". I have an alternate plating source that does what you are asking for (I think). Probably the best thing to do is for me to send pictures to you of finished product, so that you can evaluate. I will also put some pictures of it on the website as we start to change all of the information.
Regards,
Mike

Along with the dull zinc, hot dip zinc galvanizing with the spangle pattern for disc brake shields. Is this available?

[z28s4mjg]

Hello everyone.
Yes, the plating services will still be offered. Also, I am working on setting up to do spangle galvanizing which was used on some backing plates, Wittek clamps and coil brackets.
Mike

[BCreekDave]

Hello everyone.
Yes, the plating services will still be offered. Also, I am working on setting up to do spangle galvanizing which was used on some backing plates, Wittek clamps and coil brackets.
Mike

and floor drain plates.......

Great news!

[firstgenaddict]

The dull zinc appears to be zinc without ANY passivation.
IF not mistaken the bright shiny bluish looking tone is due to "clear or blue" passivation, Which BTW is the least durable of the passivated zinc.
Olive is the most durable,
Black and gold are in the middle...
Blue or clear is least durable

[Billohio]

Does anyone know a place to buy just a diaphram? My neighbors malibu ate his. Literally. His booster had quite a bit of brake fluid in it and the diaphram was gone, completely. I took it apart and nothing. He has tried to order a new booster but the rebuilt ones seem to be discontinued at NAPA and theres a repop made but he had one ordered quite a while and they keep pushing the shipping date back

[Charley Lillard]

What year Malibu ?

[clnovaparts]

5467856 is the GM part number for 67 to 71 chevelle, malibu Moraine brake booster diaphragm

[Billohio]

78 I believe
Besides no diaphragm, the guy before him had the calipers upside down. I cant think his brakes were very good

[Lee Stewart]

78 I believe
Besides no diaphragm, the guy before him had the calipers upside down. I cant think his brakes were very good

How do you bleed the brakes with the calipers upside down?

[x77-69z28]

Gravity? Lol
Buddy