Vacuum pump to check brake booster?
I was wondering if I can use a handheld vacuum pump to check if my brake booster is bad. If so, what is the usual vacuum reading as you pump, ie. max vacuum it'll hold. I did a "trial" run with it and got around 11 inches of vacuum, after many squeezes, and that was max. Any help or suggestions would be great, thanks.

 

Did it hold for a while?

Can you only put 11psi vac. on another device with the pump?

If yes to both, then you're good.

 

JMD,
Thanks, I re-checked it and it doesn't hold.

I also checked the pump and I can pump it up to the max pressure. It's a brand new pump.
It looks like the brake booster may be shot...

 

My booster is only 6 months old( still brand new) and it only holds 10-10 1/2 in. of vacuum.

 

Where did you pick up this new brake booster? Maybe you can take it back for another one.
I read on another post that car craft was saying there new power brake booster holds up to around 18" in vacuum. I've checked my books and cannot find anything on how much vacuum these things should hold.