Going to be replacing my master cylinder and brake booster this weekend. Advance Auto had 2 options for brake booster depending on the last 6 digits of your VIN (after the S). Apparently one option is for digits up to S003689 (part #53-5432), and one is for digits from S003690 (part #53-5435). My last 6 are 01XXXX so obviously it would be the one from 003690.

My husband accidentally ordered the one up to 3689 because it was like half the price. My question is, WTF is the difference? What does the assembly line # have to do with brake booster? Will the part ordered work or do we really need the other option? On the website it says both are an "exact fit". I'm really confused...

 

what kind of car??

 

I can understand why ppl get to part stores for items but this has happened to me once except it was with a distributer cap there were 2 part #'s both were supposed to fit guess what....neither did . went to the Honda dealer after that and haven't gone anywhere else since hope the one you have does fit. but yes car /engine ?

 

93 Sol Si, like in my user pic. He ended up going back to the part store and getting the other one ordered and they gave it to him at the cheaper price because they thought the employee made a mistake and not my husband....can't complain.

I still really want to know what the difference is and if both would have fit...

 

I believe (not exactly, and in no means mean to confuse the OP) that the difference in that time frame Del Sol had ABS as an option. You could get either and could possibly be a different booster.

 

I thought that too but sols didn't have ABS until 95, and this was sorting parts strictly for 93's.

 

The ABS brake booster has the mounting holes for the master cylinder rotated 90° (it's a smaller diameter and thicker as well, but the only thing that matters is the mounting hole location)

 

That would theoretically only be the case on ABS equip cars, right? Mine doesn't have ABS. I get what you're saying though, I have both parts on hand right now. As long as they fit together, they're fine, right?

Here are the 2 units in question when you input a 93 sol Si.... only difference being the supposed "chassis number" that is in reality the assembly line #, and that the more expensive one apparently comes with instructions and a bleeding kit...Seems like both will work just fine.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/1993-1997-h...3&filterid=g17

Edit: Just opened the brake booster box and there isn't any sort of brake bleed kit included. Back to square one, can't tell any difference between the 2.

 

Ok, after much research because the topic kinda urked me being as I use to have one myself and had a similiar issue, i've come to the conclusion the difference in the boosters is one is for Disc/Drum brakes (S models) and the other is for Disc/Disc brakes (SI). Even spoke with local Honda dealer and he said the same thing. So, hopefully that is the case and solves your mystery. The only other step you may try is call A1 Cardone (the manufacturer of the boosters, I worked for O'Reilly's and Advance) and ask them to differentiate the two by part number. Hope this helps.