Replacement for brake booster check valve

Tiny
LOGAN3
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  • 2001 SATURN L300
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 276,000 MILES
Brake booster check valve needs to be replaced but I can't find an exact OEM replacement anywhere online, can't even find the part number. Assuming I could get the hoses vacuum tight, could I use one of the "universal" check valves like Autozone sells?
Sunday, May 8th, 2011 AT 2:34 AM

21 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Check the salvage yards. That's a very low failure part so you're likely to find a good one.
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Sunday, May 8th, 2011 AT 3:26 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Just to add to this one how do you know you have a bad check valve?What are your symptoms?Did you check to see if your brake booster holds vacuum?
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Sunday, May 8th, 2011 AT 4:38 AM
Tiny
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Actually, I brought this on myself because I was in the process of moving stuff around to get to the rear spark plugs when I managed to snap one of the plastic stems off the existing check valve. I'm going to call around to the salvage yards tomorrow but I drive 50 miles one-way to work, which means it'd be better time-wise to stop by Autozone or O'Reillys if one of their 'universal' valves would be suitable. I can probably adapt the hose sizes OK, but wasn't sure if using a non-OEM part would cause a problem. Normally on something like brakes, steering, etc, I use only OEM parts, but this time I can't even find the part number. Thanks!
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Sunday, May 8th, 2011 AT 10:21 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Got it. You might try driving it with the hose plugged to see how hard the pedal is to push. At least that would get you to work until you got to the salvage yard. On some cars you'll barely notice the difference, but on some you need both feet and some help from a passenger to push the pedal!

You might find the same part in other GM models. Basically, you need a check valve and the extra port for a smaller vacuum hose if you have cruise control.
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Sunday, May 8th, 2011 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Other gm models use that engine but they all use a different intake set up and vacuum lines on each one of them. From what I remember that car is pretty hard to stop without power brakes. You can try the used route or go to a chevy dealer and order it. You could also try splicing the hard plastic lines together with some rubber hose. Also the cruise control on that car isn't vacuum controled its all electronic.
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Monday, May 9th, 2011 AT 4:54 AM
Tiny
LOGAN3
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Cardiodoc, Saturntech9,

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I'm trying to get the OEM number and a price from the local GM folks. I checked Autozone and O'Reillys but their universal valves have tubing ports that are much smaller than the ports I'm dealing with. My main concern is the vacuum line. For some reason, GM used what seems to be a thermoset plastic tubing for the vacuum line. Whatever it is, it is VERY rigid and when I finally get the part I'm going to have to exert a lot of force to get the stems into the tubing. Do you think there would be any issues with cutting off the hard tubing and replacing with plain old vacuum hose that fits nice and snug? I can use small clamps as a backup for the hose's normal gripping strength. Thanks again!

Logan3
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 12:10 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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From what I remember that hose and the pcv are all one part when you get a new one. If the hard plastic line is cracked or broken you could use some rubber hose that fit's tight to splice it together.
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 12:55 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Nuther note. If you have trouble installing any kind of hose onto a fitting, use Silicone Spray Lube to make sliding it on easier. This works real well for sliding tight heater hoses onto hard-to-reach heater core tubes. Hoses will slide on so easily that if you're pushing as hard as it normally takes, the windshield will be the only thing that prevents you from falling into the car!
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Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 AT 3:32 AM
Tiny
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Thanks again, guys. I'll have to remember that trick with the Silicon Spray, sounds like a good one! I heard back from the GM dealer. They checked with the factory and the check valve is part of a brake booster assembly, not an individual part. And, that assembly is no longer available from GM. I asked them to please check and see what other GM vehicles the assembly or valve was used on because the local salvage yards I've tried don't have any L300 Saturns. Hopefully it was also used on some more common GM vehicles!

Logan3
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 12:49 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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From what I remember the hard line hose is part of the check valve.I have seen aftermarket brake boosters that don't have the check valve. Can you post a pic of where its broken?
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 1:02 AM
Tiny
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Iam looking for that part for you give me a couple of days iam waiting for a answer from someone that I think might have it.
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 1:28 AM
Tiny
LOGAN3
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The hard line hose might very well be considered part of the check valve, it's so tightly attached. But the actual check valve (can't post a pic yet, I have to get my camera back from work) is a small black plastic 'pancake' with stems coming out of each side. The broken part is one of the stems, right where it attaches to the hose. GM got back to me and said that that particular brake booster assy was used on Saturn L300's, from 2000 to 2005, so at least I have some latitude when I call around tomorrow. Nobody has a 2001, but maybe one of the others can be found. Thanks very, very much for your help in the search!

Logan3
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 11:22 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you can get me a pic that would be great you don't have a cell phone with a camera that you could email the pic with?Iam waiting to hear back from a guy on ebay that is parting out a L300.
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Wednesday, May 11th, 2011 AT 11:32 PM
Tiny
LOGAN3
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Managed to get a not-too-good pic of the check valve with a cell phone. The gray stuff is JB Weld. (I've got my doubts about it working but I've gotta try something.) There's a drawing at

http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_product=3121324&ukey_assembly=384761&ukey_make=1031&modelYear=2001&ukey_model=14666&ukey_driveline=0&ukey_trimLevel=0

that shows what may be the right hose. I'm in the middle of sending them a message asking them to confirm it's the right hose for the car. In the drawing it's part #25 and looks close to what I've got. Hate to spend $50 for a check valve, but oh well...

Image (Click to make bigger)
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 1:11 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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Hey Saturntech9, that looks like a standard check valve that Chrysler uses for the vacuum hose going to the heater controls. The hose ports look too small to be for the brake booster. Does the Saturn booster have a curved metal pipe welded to the booster housing? I was picturing the much larger valve that plugs into a rubber grommet in the front of the housing.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 2:16 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The only metal part on that line is the nut that screws onto the intake manifold. You can't use a piece of rubber line to connect the line to the booster?It looks like you found the line with the check valve keep me posted on what that website says. Iam still waiting to hear back from that guy on ebay.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 7:26 AM
Tiny
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Will do. Yes, have a rubber hose for now but leery of driving it without the valve.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 1:28 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
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The valve is there to maintain vacuum in the booster in the event the engine stalls. That should give you two to three power-assisted pedal applications to safely stop the car. Without the valve in place you will likely not notice any braking difference under normal driving conditions, but the brake pedal will push harder during periods of acceleration when engine vacuum is low.
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Thursday, May 12th, 2011 AT 3:51 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for the explanation. I did a test drive around the block and everything feels normal so I'm set to drive it to work tomorrow. Haven't heard back from Nalleygmc. Com. Saturday I'm hitting every junk yard I can find, hoping I can find just one that I can pull the valve from. BTW, y'all have been a big help on this and I'd like to pitch in at least a few more $$. Is when you ask a question originally the only time $ can be donated to the cause, or is there a link that I could go to and send a few more?

Logan3
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Friday, May 13th, 2011 AT 1:24 AM
Tiny
LOGAN3
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Called nalleygmc. Com. Real nice folks but they don't have the hose in stock. The lady there said it looked like it would be PN 90575499. I think it's time to call it a day on this one until I can find a junk yard or some salvage place that has a parted-out car. I'm also searching for that PN on the Internet in the meantime. At least I'm back on the road, thanks to you guys!

Logan3
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Friday, May 13th, 2011 AT 11:02 PM

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