Went to the salvage-yard today and someone pulled out a brake-actuator...

without taking off the inverter or brake lines and stuff.

They simply took off the 12mm bracket bolts and SAWED around the inverter, cut the brake-lines going into the actuator and made room towards the firewall and frame. I can't figure out how they got it out? I mean there is a counterweight to stabilize the brake-actuator on the bottom of the bracket as well. nothing else is touched. its like they pulled it upwards & out somehow but there doesn't seem to be enough space but somehow they did it....engine looked like this BUT the windshield-wiper cowel was removed as well. ONLY the area behind the inverter was touched.

HOW DID HE DO THAT!?





should have taken a pic but I was pretty amazed he turned at least a 1-2 hour job into 10minutes.

Also if the brake-fluid holder is full and no parts are pulled in an engine does that mean that the brake-actuator isn't damaged/dried out? Basically what to look for other than that. Also looking at cars that were clearly in an accident thus possibly preserving the engine components.

 

they must've used a sawzall/reciprocating-saw. all the fat orange wires and brake-lines are also roughly cut as well. I was thinking about trying it myself just for answering my own question.

my guess is he pulled it upwards and kept manipulating until it came through that small gap between teh inverter and frame of the windshield.

 

just for clarification. I was speculating on how he pulled the actuator out not if/what? there isn't (doesn't seem to be at least) enough room not to mention the weight and awkward form of the actuator/bracket. I was impressed.

I'll be going back soon. I'll take a picture of the engine if my question wasn't clear enough to be understood.

 

yes.

unless he did an absolutely meticulous job of putting everything back together (with accumulated dust) he took the actuator out from behind the inverter without messing with anything except cutting out direct obstructions (brake lines, orange wires, etc.)

 

@rjparker - thought you might have a theory
@Tombukt2
@ChapmanF


OK. Went back to the salvage yard today. If you look at the area of the pic where the actuator used to be ...nothing around it is touched. He also cut the brake lines which you can see in the 2nd pic.

HOW did he pull the actuator out? Again, the entire inverter area/brackets are untouched. I strongly doubt he did a meticulous job of putting it back together after cutting everything else as well. There was another Prius there with the actuator removed. The inverter and everything was moved to accomodate for removal.

 

How in the name of everything HOLY did he remove it though? its driving me nuts. I guess its basically "how to unscrew cap: the sequel".

An aside, also there are two part numbers for this actuator...47050 (original) and 47051 (the recalled and replaced OEM version). Having a very tough time finding a a 47051 brake actuator. do you think it matters which?

the cost is also factored...to remove one myself is about 20-40 bucks for the 47050 but it might not last/work. I presume the 47051 part will not bring such issues if I can find one. I just figured if I am going to have to replace anyways I might as well find a recalled replacement. However the odds of finding

1) previous owner got recall notice
2) took action and replaced
3) got in accident but not destroying front end
4) at local salvage yard

has turned out to be very low (actually below low...its at ZERO so far after visiting several yards...LOL). Have found several 47050s that I can remove but have my heart set on 47051....thoughts appreciated!

coincidentally, many sellers on ebay use the 47051 serial in their listing title...but when you actually look at the pics...its the old actuator 47050.

 

Not sure if those fit. From what I've read online the original 44510-47050 (aka the one in my car) was recalled for defects in the seals. The 47051 was the improved recalled replacement. I know the one in my car is going bad but figure I might as well try to find the improved version if possible. Every single junked prius I've seen has the 47050 serial on the brake actuator.

also dealing with employees at junkyards makes those at Autozone seem like master ASE certified mechanics. Saw a couple of cool old cars today at the yard though, an old Dodge van ala VW-looking bus from the 1960s and an 70s El Camino (both beyond restorability).

 

Ahh...thank you. That makes sense.