Service break booster?

Whats up everyone? Bewby looking for info. I proudly drive a 03' Silverado w/ 48000 mi. Yesterday while going down the road i notice a loud buzz or hum that could be felt in the peddles coming from under the hood i pulled over and opened the hood and noticed the cylinder attached to the break booster buzzing. After about minute it stopped, but now every time i start the truck it does the same thing for about a 30 secs. I also noticed the " driver info center" on the dash says "service break booster" after the buzz stops so the ecm is picking up the problem. My questions are, Is the break booster servicable? I always thought you had to replace them when they went bad. Also what is the cylinder attached to the booster, and can this be replaced? The truck still stops fine so im hoping this a simple fix. Also has anyone heard of a break booster crapping out so soon? I'd just like to somewhat informed before i call the shop and they try to soak me for a new break booster. Any and all help/info would be much appreciated. THANK YOU.

Welcome to the forum!!!

i dont think you can service the booster ha ha, usually when they go bad you have to replace them, so are you talking about the master cylinder on the booster? the thing that holds the fluid ?

Well, its definately not the master cylinder, The cylinder I'm referring to is mounted on the booster just to the left of the master cylinder. It has a wiring harness on the top and what looks to be a vacuum hose coming from it. I'll try to post a picture. Thanks for the reply.

A picture may help.

Northy87, thanks for the warm welcome, looks like you guys have a great forum here. Can't wait to dig into all of the good posts.

is it an aftermarket part? did u get the car used?
 

Having trouble loading pics, image to big, can't re-size. i will continue to try.

Yes, i purchased it used from a relative with 40,000 miles on it. It has always  been well taken care of.

You can go to http://photobucket.com/ and sign up for free. You can then upload your pics, after that it will give you four urls you can use (copy and paste) as a link in your post. Use the second url that way people can only see that pic not the entire album. like this:
 
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg102/northey87/melaniescamera316.jpg

well maybe they might know what it is

[IMG]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/[IMG]http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg240/jermacjr/DSC00373.jpg[/IMG]gg240/jermacjr/DSC00372.jpg[/IMG]
 
 
Here they are, (i think) its just to the left of the master cylinder.

Maybe not

wrong one bud its the one that has an http at the beginning, direct link

I did that before. You just need to edit your post and use the second url link photobucket gives you (Direct Link).

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg240/jermacjr/DSC00372.jpg
 
 
O.K. here it is (finally) did i mention i'm not very good with computers?   Its the cylinder to the left. Thanks guys for ALL the help.
 

You need to put a space between them, it sees it as one big link not two.

Nevermind, you got it.
 
Frankly I don't know what that is. Someone here can help, I'm sure. Hang in there.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg240/jermacjr/DSC00373.jpg
 
Another with the road grime wiped off.

Thanks northy87 for all of your help!!

looks like some kind of booster resevoir or something, im not too sure i have never seen that before, hopefully someone else on here knows what it is because now i want to know ha ha

Does that cylinder have a line that runs between the it and the booster? If is does that cylinder may be part of the ABS and the noise your hearing (a vibrating hum) may be the ABS applying itself needlessly. Does the ABS light come on while its make the noise?

No line between between the two, Thats the wierd thing, i can't figure how the two are related. theres just the wire harness on the top and the vacuum line that runs behind the manifold.

it looks like its bolted onto where the regular booster hose is supposed to be, is it?

Is there another vaccum line running to the booster?
 
Easy way to test, if it is a vaccum line (if not, or not sure then don't try this) then disconnect it and plug the end, run the truck and  see if the brakes are stiff. If they are then they are connected, if not (and braking is normal) then they are not related. 

06chevy5.3, Yeah, its mounted right there. After checking closer, it IS attached to the booster, behind it theres a small fitting going into the booster with a rubber gasget sealing it. I think northy87 was on to something when he said it was for the abs. Might have to break down and go get a manual tomorrow. northy87, I'm not totally sure that its a vacuum line, I don't what else it would be though.