plastic... brittle after 27years? who'd guess

[juxtamit]

so, im an idiot, i broke my main vacum hose right after the vacum pump. i was trying to disconnect the 1st vacum tee to get a reading on my vacum pump and *snap* . I've decided to replace ALL of my vacum lines, check valves and vacum tees just to be rid of future head aches. this raises a few questions.

#1 hard plastic vacum hose i find to be a little scary, i tend to break things that are rigid and unforgiving. Im speaking strictly of the 1/2" main vacum hose from the vacum pump to brake booster, not the .25" plastic lines (those are surprisingly rugged). is there a method to this madness? Are there improoved vacum hoses available? Or am i going to have to settle for the factory style hose?

#2 i did manage to get a reading from my vacum pump, roughly 2.25 psi. this seems relatively low, yes? if so, do they make rebuild kits for vacum pumps? if memory serves me, a replacement vacum pump is on the pricey side. if i can buy a kit and rebuild it, i will.

rebuild kits are about 60-70, just found out


after driving my '68 Ford everyday for ten years ( no brake booster) it didnt even dawn on me that my power brakes could actually be more powerful. im gonna give myself whiplash when i get proper vacum to my booster

[diametricalbenz]

Those hoses break but you have to replace them with the hard plastic lines otherwise the line will implode and pinch shut. They are annoyingly expsensive at $60 but there aren't any alternatives unless you can find the tubing and put one together yourself.

The vaccum pump diaphragm is torn. You have to pull the plate off (a pain) and stick a new one on and off you go. You'll notice a lot of things work when the vaccum is functioning! Brake effort, doors, and tranny shifting, and even engine shutoff time.

[juxtamit]

my parts supplier told me upwards of $180 for the assemled line. i did get rather annoyed actually. where do you go for the $60 version?