Stupid question but how do I know if my booster is bad? Replaced Master Cylinder because old one was leaking down the front of the original booster. Brake pedal is ok but still has way to much travel...about an inch from the floor. No air in the lines.

Replaced front pads and hoses. Turned original rotors and the front original calipers appear to be working fine. Rear brakes shoes had plenty of meat left so all I did was clean off the hardware with brake cleaner. Bleed all four corners for a good four hours with my Mighty Vac. Brake light is NOT on and e-brake actually works.

I did not adjust the rear brakes, left them as is.

So my question is why do the brakes feel like they are manual and how can I check the booster? The check valve is working, vacuum is present. Could the leaking brake fluid damaged the booster?

Brakes feel no different than before I replaced all the compenents above so all that's left is the Booster, right?

With power brakes (booster) with engine running,The booster should quickly ativate the M/C and give you good brakes.At sometime ago,did you replace the M/Cyl?)Some M/C's require a long push pin at the rear piston hole and some require a shorter on.This push pin snaps into the center of the booster between the 2 M/C studs.You may have a short pin in a deep M/C hole.AS far as the booster,the rubber diaframs can go bad and constantly leak down creating a hard petal caused by loss of vaccum pull to the booster.This can be checked by putting a vac gauge on the carb at idle, (take a reading),then disconnect the vac hose at the booster a plug it to see if you get a higher vac reading.If so,then your booster diafram is leaking.

It sounds like you have more than 1 problem. You say the pedal has way too much travel, and that the pedal is stiff. Have you tried adjusting the rod length at the pedal, and also, is the rod attached to the correct hole in the pedal? Most brake pedals have 2 holes, 1 for manual brakes, and 1 for power, and the rod should have clevis to adjust brake pedal height. If the brake pedal is real stiff, then I would suspect the booster is defective. Most of the boosters that I have had that were bad, had a vacuum hissing noise when the brakes were applied.

No, I have not tried adjusting the rod length nor did I check which hole is being used. I look in the morning. Since you mentioned it, when I apply the brakes an odd sound comes from the firewall...sounds like swoosh. If the Booster is no good, sounds like it is, should I have the original rebuilt or just by a repo?

I'll also connect a vacuum gauge tomorrow and get readings at both ends.

Didn't notice which length rod was in the booster, all I did was clean the dust shield grommet.

Thank you for the quick replies,
Eric