Original Booster vs. Cheap Chinese repop
 

I see references to the cheap Chinese booster weekly it seems.

It would be helpful if someone could post a tutorial with side by side pics, especially the 69 boosters.

Just say no to repop

I did. I had my original booster plated.

Mikey (M22 Mike) is a big fan of the Chinese repops :naughty:. Maybe he will chime in?!! Hey Mikey!!!! :grin:

One of the biggest deltas is that as you see on Lynn’s original booster the area where the triangle indentations are how soft the margins are at the imprint. The Chinese repops have severe/sharp margins at the triangular imprints.

I am aware of the Delco Morraine (sp?) stamp being upside down on the passenger side of the booster on the originals. Guessing there are some other tells.

Lynn - there are plenty of documented original boosters with Delco Morraine printed upside right on the driver’s side of the booster as well.

The triangle sections are very crisply stamped on the Chinese ones. Not so on the original Delco Moraine boosters. Very easy to see, which is part of what makes it irritating to those in the know.

Thanks for posting that John, that is one of my pet peeves, I can buy it on a driver cruise car because there cheap (in more ways than the price :shocked:)
Go to any auction now and you will see that booster on some high end restored cars, like LS6's, makes one wonder about the rest of the built :dunno:
Lynn
Thank you for restoring you OE booster.

OK Sam , I have had my rant.:naughty:

There are. I managed to get one for my Chevelle from Steve Gregori.

Did not know that.

Thanks to all for the lesson.

Not true at all, I have taken many of these off original cars and found there are 3 Variations, Upside down Left Bottom, Right side up Right Top and NO Delco Moraine Stamp at all. Just speaking for 1970 Chevelle though as I have had many of these.
Here is a photo of one I have for sale in the Classifieds that Helmut is buying to just throw in an example of the most typical BW Born With Unit

Here's one....

I actually don’t mind these repops...for the price they look decent and work well. Way better than the typical parts store booster that looks like it belongs on an ‘87 Buick Century.

The best restorer of original boosters has a comparison on his website.
Thank you, Steve Gregori:
http://brakeboosters.com/reprovorg.htm

I agree!! We donated the pristine original to a high quality concourse resto effort, and installed a repop - I want Ben to drive the wheels off this thing!! To be honest, I thought the repop look pretty good.

One thing to know is a little tip from Jed P here in PA, the receptacle on the face of the booster is too long - probably for multiple applications, and thus it effectively maintains constant brake pressure. This is a small bakelite type of item, and it must be ground flush to prevent the brakes from overheating....

Lynn , hi where did you get your original replated/ rebuilt ?

There was a Buick GS that had a severe brake failure with a repop . The halves of the booster turned and the booster came apart. The tabs were never locked into place to prevent it from twisting . Car was not damaged but his boxers were totaled ..

I've sent an original booster to Steve Gregori to have it redone and he's brilliant at restoring them if it's not heavily pitted. Sometimes you buy a donor at $200 and then send it to be rebuilt at say $350 and you can easily have $500-$600 into by the time it's back. Not practical for a driver car IMO, and so easy to use the repro at $114 which now includes the stamp. I just used one on this Nova I'm doing and as long as it works..I'll be a happy guy with it on there.

Agreed. I have my original that I'm going to have Steve re-plate at some point. For now, I bought one with the "correct" upside down stamp. Works for me for the time being...

They look better with no stamp at all IMO.

I think Booster Dewey has units on the shelf ready to ship out. I had him redo my OG, he does beautiful work.

Agree, I used Booster Dewey for my Yenko booster....

I think the 68s did not have a stamp i used to redo the boosters

I would like the repops much better if they didn't put the Delco Moraine on them. I categorize this right there with repop'ed Trim Tags. Folks are just trying to fool others with fake stamps. Just my opinion.

With that opinion you must think people that put repop emblems on are also in the same category as repop trim tags. They're trying to fool everyone that they have the original emblems. Date coded windshields too. The humanity...

It is a slippery slope for sure. Once you start down it, its very easy to get swept away.

The only time I dont like the repop booster is when I see it on a high dollar/rare car thats been restored. Especially when you can pretty much buy a good used one and have it restored.

No one is fooled by a chi-neez booster, JMO

Agree!