I had the brake booster on my 2009 CX-9 go bad.
Bought the Cardone reman unit for $130.
Turned out the non-adjustable MC rod was 5mm too long.
I really looked at this out of the box new, but did not detect the 5mm difference, and since it wasn't adjustable, let it go.
Ooops!
This caused 2 weeks of nightmare for me...trying to figure out why the brakes were dragging.
The dragging brakes overheated the fluid...causing the brakes to apply and eventually lock up.
Once cool, it was drivable again.
I finally figured this out over a Tecate with the old guy next door who has wrenched for years.
Said it had to be the rod. This used to be a standard adjustment in the 50s and 60s.
An improper reman doomed me to chasing my tail and thinking i had electrical / ABS problems.
The extra 5mm caused the MC piston to be sitting slightly compressed...enough to close off the return ports.
System remained pressurized and it only got worse as the brakes were used and the calipers overheated.
I used a cutting disk to take 5mm off.
Problem solved.
This was one of those times when the aftermarket took its chunk out of me.
I needlessly replaced: 2 ABS sensors - $60, front calipers - $ 180, master cylinder - $130
About 15 hours of head banging.
What was needed: $130 booster ($260 for new), ABS module $800 programming of ABS by dealer $200.
Bought the Cardone reman unit for $130.
Turned out the non-adjustable MC rod was 5mm too long.
I really looked at this out of the box new, but did not detect the 5mm difference, and since it wasn't adjustable, let it go.
Ooops!
This caused 2 weeks of nightmare for me...trying to figure out why the brakes were dragging.
The dragging brakes overheated the fluid...causing the brakes to apply and eventually lock up.
Once cool, it was drivable again.
I finally figured this out over a Tecate with the old guy next door who has wrenched for years.
Said it had to be the rod. This used to be a standard adjustment in the 50s and 60s.
An improper reman doomed me to chasing my tail and thinking i had electrical / ABS problems.
The extra 5mm caused the MC piston to be sitting slightly compressed...enough to close off the return ports.
System remained pressurized and it only got worse as the brakes were used and the calipers overheated.
I used a cutting disk to take 5mm off.
Problem solved.
This was one of those times when the aftermarket took its chunk out of me.
I needlessly replaced: 2 ABS sensors - $60, front calipers - $ 180, master cylinder - $130
About 15 hours of head banging.
What was needed: $130 booster ($260 for new), ABS module $800 programming of ABS by dealer $200.