I just replaced a booster due to a vacuum leak that occurred while braking. I tested the new booster with a hand vacuum pump and gauge as soon as I got it on and it held vacuum, it actually broke the plastic hand pump at 19 inches and held that for several minutes while I cleaned up the garage.

As soon as I turn it on my AFR on my wideband O2 gauge goes 17+ AFR (that was how I knew the old one was leaking when I pressed the brakes) and the brakes are soft like I don't have any. No lines on the master cylinder were disconnected, there are no brake fluid leaks, and the internal rod for the new booster was adjusted to be as precisely the same length as the OEM unit I pulled off; and I visually saw it slide into the master cylinder tunnel/pipe/housing that the piston is supposed to go into.

No other hoses appear damaged or loose for vacuum.

Any ideas what this could be?

 

So I bled the brakes assuming some air might have gotten into the emperor cylinder while moving it about tinkering with the booster. I just finished and there is no change, so I decided to take it for a small test drive. The brakes have more stopping power now than they did before with much less effort, I just have to push the brakes in about 2-3 inches before they stop hard. There is still some stopping power in the sponge portion of the first 0-2 inches of pedal.

I guess this is how my new brakes are.

I have ABS and I spent a day bleeding brakes a few years back when I found out I needed to disconnect it to bleed them. I remember hearing air pressure every time I would pump the brakes for the bleeding process. I thought I had left it disconnected since I have a custom rear axle with disk brakes but I am just now thinking about it...shouldn't i have an ABS light on if I pull the relay for it?

I'm not sure I left it out now that I think about it. Maybe I reconnected it back then and assumed future Coffee Commando would just remember it all and disconnect it.