IF you hear application thru the breather, the HV is working, with your foot on the brake pedal and with pressure, when you start the engine does the pedal go down a bit, if so the HV is working, if you have a lose of fluid from the master cylinder either the HV is using it or a leaky wheel cyln, as stated above remove a plug or hose off of the bigger part of the HV if fluid runs out it needs to be rebuil. Front brake hoses could very well be swelled up inside,replace them, this can cause front wheel problems. The HV works very well, no need to change to a hydro boost system.