The average price of a brake booster replacement cost is between $602 and $762 for most vehicles on the road today. The labor costs are estimated between $182 and $229, with the total billed time typically taking between 2 and 3 hours to complete the procedure. Lastly, the cost of the parts ranges between $420 and $532 for the brake booster replacement cost.
⚠️ If It's Broken, Don't Fix It - Get Paid Cash for Your Vehicle ⚠️
Let’s see the importance of the brake booster in your car, the signs and symptoms of a faulty brake booster, the steps to replacing this important mechanism, and sample brake booster replacement prices that can help give you an idea of how much you will spend on the brake booster replacement cost!
What is a brake booster?
To understand why you need to pay for the brake booster replacement cost, you first need to know the importance of this part in your vehicle. The brake booster is the mechanism that sits in between the brake pedal and the master cylinder. By using a vacuum or hydraulic pressure, this part assists the driver when coming to a sudden stop or attempting to slow down the car.
- The brake booster works together with the brakes to help keep the vehicle in control when driving. The most common type of brake booster is the vacuum booster, composed of a round drum mounted under the hood in front of the driver’s seat.
- The location of the brake booster and the type of booster can influence how much you will spend on the brake booster replacement cost for your specific vehicle.
How does the brake booster function?
The brake booster is in charge of applying extra force to the applied brake pedal. By increasing the amount of force and pressure in the brake pad and pedal, it prevents the car operator from having to slam down on the brakes every time they need to come to a stop.
When the brake pedal is pressed, the pedal moves a rod into the brake booster. At this point, the brake booster pushes back on the master cylinder with a high amount of force, letting the driver press the brakes with ease and avoiding any harsh slams on the brake pedal.
Symptoms of a Faulty Brake Booster
Some of the most common bad brake booster symptoms can give you an idea of the root cause of the issue and the overall brake booster replacement cost you’ll be spending for your specific make, model, and year of car.
There are many situations where your brake boosters could fail after minimal use, whether it be due to poor operating conditions or high temperatures. Although these issues may not seem severe in the beginning, they will only get worse over time, leading to further problems and a higher brake booster replacement cost.
Let’s check out the most common bad brake booster symptoms that all drivers and car owners should keep an eye and ear out for in their vehicle.
Stiff Brake Pedal
- If you have a properly-working brake pedal, you will easily push down on the pedal to operate it correctly. The brake booster works to help the driver press down on the pedal without having to push too hard or push too softly.
- If you find the brake pedal is feeling very stiff and hard as you press down on it, requiring more force to get the same performance reaction, this is a sign of a bad brake booster.
- A stiff brake pedal is the most obvious sign of a faulty brake booster. Since it is easy to recognize, it can help you diagnose the problem and pay for the brake booster replacement cost before the issues worsen.
High Brake Pedal
- Similar to the stiff brake pedal, a high brake pedal is another common sign of a bad brake booster. Since the brake pedal is in the incorrect location, it will lead to performance issues and safety problems if the driver incorrectly presses down on the pedal with too much force.
- The high brake pedal means the driver touches the brake pedal at a different angle, causing a reduced braking power in comparison to the normal levels.
- Furthermore, the higher brake pedal means the driver will have to lift their foot higher every time they want to stop or slow down the car. This can quickly tire out the driver and lead to an unsafe driving situation.
- If you forget about the high brake pedal and need to stomp down on the pedal suddenly, you could have a server safety issue that can lead to a crash, unsafe driving conditions, or a higher brake booster replacement cost.
Takes Longer to Stop the Vehicle
- Even when the driver presses firmly down on the brake pedal to stop or slow down the car suddenly, it might still take longer than normal for the car to come to a stop – a very dangerous driving conditions if you are in traffic, need to break all of a sudden while following behind another car, or if you are approaching a turn too quickly.
- With a bad brake booster, the brake pedal is not receiving the correct amount of power – a problem that can significantly increase your stopping distance when trying to control your vehicle at high speeds.
- Along with the increased stopping distance, inclement weather will only exacerbate this safety issue. In this case, you need to pay for the brake booster replacement cost before driving your vehicle any further.
Engine Stalling
- The brake booster is made with a diaphragm, which prevents too much air from getting through the seal that can stop the braking power.
- If the diaphragm is damaged and no longer works correctly, the engine will feel as if it is stalling every time you press down on the brake pedal. With constant engine damage, it can lead to a much higher brake booster replacement cost and a potential for a complete engine replacement cost in your vehicle.
When should I replace my brake boosters?
If you are deciding the proper interval for replacing your brake boosters, keep in mind that it can be very dangerous and worrying if you continue to operate your vehicle without high-level brake boosters working in tandem with your brake pedal. You do not want to drive your car for any length of time if there is a brake problem.
Driving your vehicle with a brake issue is not only concerning, but it is very dangerous since you will not be able to slow down or stop at the right time to prevent your car from hitting another vehicle, person, or object. You will most likely notice a brake booster issue if the brakes become difficult to press and you have to exert a high level of force to stop your car. This worrying symptom should be enough to bring you to a mechanic to obtain a brake booster replacement cost quote.
In less severe cases, the engine light will also come on the dashboard, and you will experience poor gas mileage and performance reductions. The type of symptoms you experience depending on the kind of braking system your car operates with and the extent of the damage in the car. If you notice engine concerns, transmission issues, and performance problems, this is a sign of a high brake booster replacement cost.
Steps of Replacing the Brake Boosters
Before the mechanic can begin replacing the brake boosters in your vehicle, they first will have to diagnose the problem based on the brake booster type. Vacuum boosters have different properties and a different construction than hydraulic boosters, leading to a higher labor price, more billed time at the mechanic shop, and a more expensive brake booster replacement cost.
- The first step in replacing the brake booster is to take out the master braking cylinder.
- The hydraulic lines are then removed from the braking area in a vacuum system.
- Once the hydraulic lines and cylinder have been removed, the mechanic can remove the brake booster.
- After the faulty brake booster has been removed from the vehicle, the new brake booster can be installed, and all of the previous parts reattached.
- The final step is testing the brakes to ensure everything is connected properly and no steps have been missed.
- This final step almost always includes a road test to ensure the braking booster works together with the brake pedal to slow down and stop the car.
Brake Booster Replacement Cost Comparison
For driers to get an understanding of how much they might spend on the brake booster replacement cost for their specific car and in their geographical location, we have included sample prices of what you might spend at local shops and chain stores around the country.
- Local Mechanic – Drivers can expect to pay between $210 and $1313 at their local mechanic for the brake booster replacement cost.
- Midas – Drivers spend between $245 and $1265 at this popular chain store.
- Mr. Tire – This chain store is slightly cheaper than Midas, coming in at between $230 and $1399 for the total brake booster replacement cost.
- NAPA – This is the least expensive option in chain mechanics that can perform this procedure, with the total price coming to between $211 and $1359 on average.
- Walmart – If you think you can do this procedure on your own to save money on the overall brake booster replacement cost by performing the labor yourself, you can pay just $108 to $699 at Walmart for the parts.
- Amazon – For those who do their shopping online, Amazon sells parts for the brake booster replacement for between $99 and $742, depending on the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Sample Brake Booster Replacement Cost Examples
Here is a list of some brake booster replacement cost examples based on popular vehicles on the road today. By seeing the average prices for some of the most common car brands, like Ford and Toyota, you can get a good idea of a fair price before visiting your local mechanic or dealership.
- Ford F-Series and Nissan Altima – Both of these vehicles have a total brake booster replacement cost of between $219 and $385, with the parts coming to between $138 and $282, and the labor between $81 and $103 for this 1-hour fix.
- Chevrolet Silverado – The Silverado is the second least-expensive option, with a total price between $366 and $714. The cost of the parts is between $258 and $576, while the labor is between $108 and $138, taking just over one hour to complete.
- Honda Accord – The Accord comes in between $397 and $485, with the parts between $127 and $141, and the labor being the most expensive portion of this procedure price at a whopping $270 and $344. As you can see, this car is more labor-intensive, taking approximately between 3 and 4 hours for the brake booster replacement cost.
- Toyota Camry – The Camry’s total brake booster replacement cost comes to $419 and $1266, with the parts between $176 and $956, and the labor between $243 and $310 on average.
- Honda Civic – the Civic has a total price of between $430 and $882, with this car model costing between $223 and $618 for parts and between $207 and $264 for labor.
- Toyota Corolla – The most expensive car option in terms of brake booster replacement cost is the Corolla, costing between $580 and $997 for the entire procedure. The cost of hte parts is between $328 and $676, while the labor comes out between $252 and $321 for this 3-4 hour job.
The Bottom Line
Although most drivers do not want to spend upwards of $1000 for the entire procedure of replacing their brake boosters, these parts are crucial to the performance and safety of your vehicle. Without properly-working boosters, your car will not be able to come to a stop or slow down when you want, leading to an increased risk of crash.
By keeping an eye out for signs and symptoms of a faulty booster, like a high brake pedal or engine stalling, you can fix the issue before it becomes too late. Paying for the brake booster replacement cost can help save you the trouble of future engine issues, transmission concerns, and potentially dangerous car crashes!