Anybody running hydroboost?
 

If so where did you buy it? Do you like it? Would you recommend it?

Just run bigger motor so ya have more vacuum!

The issues with hydra boost is that you loose a lot of pedal 'feel', and pedal granularity. In a lot of cases it 'over boosts' too.

There's a cost association with using one too, not to mention additional troubleshooting overhead, cost, and increased potential of failures. (more moving parts)

The only reason to use a hydra boost is if you have no other choice, like with boost. That's why the Buick GNs got them.

You're far from no other choice, and a dual 9" booster is your best bet. Don't throw stuff on there 'just because'. A dual 9" works to almost 9-10" of vacuum, and I suspect you will be well above that.

My daughter's 442 has like 12-13" at best, and the assist from a dual 9" is almost too much. It's like a Caddy from the early 70s, will throw you through the windshield if you're not expecting it.

.

There is a thread in this section about aftermarket cruise control. Take a look at that. One of the posters has several pics of a 67 GTO with hydroboost installed and he seems to really like it. Don't know what the rest of his braking system consists of. I have worked on many hydroboost systems. In general, they are used on trucks and heavy cars that require lots of boost or diesels that don't run a vacuum pump. Agree they provide little pedal feedback and provide tremendous boost pressures. When I worked on Ford cop cars with the system, we had numerous situations where we had to replace rotors because the cops would sit in the median after a little pursuit and kind of massage the brake pedal while they were waiting to jump out on the road again. The system put out so much pressure they would bend and sometimes crack the rotors from sitting still and putting heavy foot pressure on the pedal. On a 4-wheel drum brake system, I would think the self-energizing action of the shoes would make for a very touchy brake pedal combined with the super boost provided. Disc/drum would probably work better. Concerning Buick Grand National brakes: I am pretty sure all years came with the GM PowerMaster brake booster. That was a sort of self-contained electric hydroboost that used an electric pump and not power steering pump pressure. Sort of like an integral ABS system. They had all kinds of service problems and some GN's were converted to true hydroboost like the OP is asking about.

I am that guy, and I will state that the "feel" is way more better than the car ever had with the factory vacuum boost. Never run out of brakes any more. No dangerous reactions, ever at very high speed applications either.

I have 78 Firebird disks up front (11" I believe) and the stock drums in rear. Have a set of Eldorado disks for the rear and Scarebird brackets sitting on the shelf. NOT needed!

Car finally has brakes like it SHOULD have been equipped with to handle the speeds it was capable of. I don't ever have that "oh s#it" feeling anymore.

Like having a monkey in the trunk with an anchor on a chain, IF NEEDED.

I would never go back, but I saved all the parts and made no modifications that couldn't be reversed in a heartbeat.

Charles

Ford added Hydraboost on the Mustangs in 1996 and never went back. Millions and millions of cars built with the systems since 1996 and in the last 20 years I was at Ford (39.7 total) I never really heard of vast numbers of Mustangs involved in Hydraboost recalls, ever. So I agree with Old Goat 67. If you panic, and slam on the brake, yes, you can lock them up, If you drive the vehicle like Jacki Stewart (drive the vehicle like a Limo Driver) the brakes work and work.
Our 781 HP (281 cid) 1996 Mustang (Boosted) had 1st gen Hydraboost on it and it did not take long to get used to the system.

Tom V.

I have hydroboost on mine and pedal feel is perfect. I run the OEM 69 disc's up front and have the S10 Blazer rear disc conversion, the parts of which I picked up in the local Pull-A-Part. The hydroboost unit itself and the correct firewall mount came from http://www.custompowerbrake.com/ The M/C is a 4 wheel disc Corvette part.
Based on my experience, I feel hydroboost is well worth the effort.
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...5&d=1482595905

I love finned valve covers I have a similar set for my 467.

Here is a picture of my install.
I have $165 in the whole thing. $100 for a rebuilt 83 Chevy 2500 series P.U. unit and two hoses @ $35 each.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1514992018

My 79 1 ton pickup has it factory. 38 years old and I've never had to touch it. Stops that 5300 lbs. truck effortlessly.

Installed it on my fathers 69 GTO, with it's stock disc/rear drum setup still in place. No need anymore to upgrade the brakes to anything bigger, it's stops on a dime. He loves it and won't be going back.

Simple bolt on with the right bracket, and used his original master cylinder. I do longer custom made hoses though so I can run them inside the fender. They come out low under the battery and over to the box and pump so everything is clean and out of site.

Is anyone familiar with Vintage Speed Reaper Inc. (Tallon Hydraulics). Received the name from Wilwood technical line when looking into my brake upgrades. They forward people interested in hydraboost systems, and the Wilwood brake booster is usually used by Vintage on their hydraboost units. Thanks.

Best brakes EVER
 

This is my first reply , long time pontiac fan and owner , call Paul at hydratech brakes , what a great guy , He was the the first guy in my life to promissory His product would work . And did EXACTLY as promised. . Care be taken my 70 TA almost put me threw the windshield. On first application of pedal . WOW ! Never again brake woes

We changed mine over a year ago, I should of changed it 48 years ago.

Has anyone changed to hydroboost with a 4 wheel drum set up and retained the 4 wheel drums? I would be interested in hearing how that came out. My Catalina has 8 lugs and I want to keep them. But it has a single master cylinder that can't be upgraded without changing the booster anyway. That's because on those ancient power brake systems, the master cylinder piston is integral to the booster. This all changed in 63. So a hydroboost and a dual master cylinder upgrade would be a cool compact deal if it worked well with all drum brakes. Has anybody tried this?

Here is an interesting thread on the subject!
 

:Ithink: DEJA VU?
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...ght=hydroboost

Old 12-23-2016, 09:28 PM
64speed 64speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior

Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Westminster S.C.
Posts: 1,865

Anybody run hydrob:eek:st?
If so how does it work? Do you like it? Does it clutter your engine bay with hoses? I'm running a 9 inch booster right now and my brake feel is not how I would like it to be.


:focus:

Lol:jumping:

He never stops

Sorry I cant remember what I posted two years ago back when the car was running and driving and I was having trouble with the brakes on it

No need for an apology. It's all good. The search feature never works that well for most of us anyway.

I honestly didn’t remember I asked if that’s why I didn’t search

I can remember that feeling all too well!

Distant past! :jumping: :jumping:

It was 12 months ago but that's fine thing change I guess.

I used a Hydratech Booster, works very well. I only had 8 niches of vacuum and had tried a vacuum pump. Yes the vacuum pump worked, but it was noisy and you could feel the vibration when it came on. Also had relay problems which you would not know until trying to stop with no vacuum.
http://www.hydratechbraking.com
I went for the full show option. Looks and performs very nice. It can be done a lot cheaper but I did not want a used one.

Do you know how to search your own posts/threads?

I didn’t think to search cause I forgot I asked it.

I went to their web site and looked around. Looks very nice and a nice web site. I found in their FAQ's my exact question. They DO NOT recommend using a hydroboost, (at least their's), on a 4 wheel drum brake application. They say it will be grabby in the front and pull left and right. So that answers my question concerning my 62. Since I am married to the 8 lugs, I guess a new vacuum booster/master cylinder is my only option for a dual system. That's unfortunate.

Take notes. Write information down. That way there isn't repeated questions as on other post or threads. It goes a long ways for future references...

It's all good.

Advanced Search can bring up lots of good info from other threads besides your own. The key is you have to learn to differentiate those that do/have done from the google regurge.

Didn't intend to derail you thread.
Hope you find what your looking for!
:cool:


:focus:

Mike, you need to build one of these and have disc brakes with your 8 lugs......:thumbup:

https://preview.ibb.co/kf3mCG/792_TPG_4293_copy_1.jpg

I found a tuff stuff dual diaphragm 9 inch booster for 168 bucks minus firewall brackets I am gonna try first but if it’s anything like the booster that came in the kit I bought I will be switching to hydroboost. I bought a CPP kit and the only remaining pieces from the kit a year later are the spindles, steering knuckles, dust shields, and caliper brackets. Sad. I looked at piecing together a kit from rock auto but it’s just too much of a hassle to buy all the individual parts and then hope for the best. I will suck it up and buy a complete kit from somewhere like cpp etc if I go that route.

I saw that several years ago and thought it was a cool idea. I think Roush was doing the conversion. At the time, the price was out of my range for a car I only drive 1000 or so miles a year. I don't think they are doing them anymore. The drum brakes are actually ok but the single master cylinder is a little frightening. The Pontiac Delco power booster/master cylinder through 1962 is really goofy. The master cylinder piston goes into the booster. So to upgrade, you have to replace both. Just thought hydroboost would be a neat way to get added boost, reduce size, and get a dual system. I was happy to read it won't work well before I took it all apart and found out the bad news for myself. Once I double the HP of the current weak 455, I will have to do something.

Another option for cars with low vacuum but want or need to keep the vacuum booster is a vacuum pump. In my not a Pontiac car with very little vacuum I installed a vacuum pump from a Ford 350 diesel truck. It is belt driven works so good I had to install a bleed off valve because it was making 22" vacuum. They are trouble free, last forever and quiet. And less than $100. If that interests anyone I can post specific's and a picture.

A Friend Bill Klausing (used to run a 63 Catalina Wagon at Norwalk until the car was stolen) did that mod at least 20 years ago. Basically 8 lug hub caps to work with 8 lug rims and disc brakes.

Tom V.

So if I was to piece together a set hypothetically what all do I need? I am gonna try the 9 inch dual first but if that doesn’t work it’s gonna be hydroboost. It doesn’t look like you use a prop valve in any of the pics I’ve seen. Anything else unique? Also I am running an 86 Monte Carlo SS steering box with the lees flares pressed in. Any pitfalls there?

Is there an electric pump that can supply the hydroboost?

Yes. Essentially GM had a system like that they called PowerMaster. It was OE on Grand Nationals and a few other cars in the 1980's. Noisy, poor brake feel and feedback, leak prone and a generally a pain to work on. Like allot of GM systems, great idea, poor execution. The kind of system that probably worked great in engineering and prototype, then the bean counters made them take all the money out until it didn't work anymore.....then put 1% back in.

Worked on a subaru sports car, some years ago, that had electric power steering. Pump was mounted to the firewall and very quiet. It was an on-demand deal that was speed and load sensitive. Easy steering in a parking lot and would tighten up some at highway speeds.

Something like that could probably be adapted to work with hydroboost.

Just sayin'
Clay

Yeah, I forgot about the electric pumps on GNs. And true it was a poor execution.

The electric steering deal I hear folks are adapting to hot rods, think I heard of some Aussies doing that, can't quite recall, but sounds interesting. And feasible.

My 'bird has a hydratech system on it, did that because the car was going to be a boosted build. I changed directions, going NA, but will leave it on there. Haven't driven it yet with hydraboost, so can't really comment on it. But I have driven other cars with hydraboost in the past.

.

Have use hydroboost in two of my cars and will do it again. No regrets! If you have a low vacuum motor and room (length) for the unit along with the master cylinder - that is the way to go in my opinion. Expensive... yes.

Of course... the car would need power steering or at least a power steering pump.:burnout:

I'd be interested in seeing that. How did you figure out the brackets?

FWIW, GM has been using vacuum pumps on most of their diesels as well as some of the smaller displacement gas engines that needed extra vacuum for heater control diaphragms, and vacuum boosters. The 5.7 diesel that came out in 1978 had a vacuum pump in the distributor hole, other applications had belt driven pumps. GM W bodies (GP) had electric vacuum pumps for the brake boosters also. These pumps were made by Saginaw. If you don't want to use a ford part, plenty of GM cars came with vacuum pumps too.

What the f is hydroboost.....? Sounds like somthing for a big truck...

https://www.knowyourparts.com/techni...acuum-booster/

Old Super Chevy article:

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/brakes/0601sc-hydro/

:beerchug:

I don't think he really wants to learn based off his previous post. Troll???

Hydraboost is a braking device that allows vehicles with Turbochargers and superchargers to still have great brakes even when under boost conditions.

The systems have been on fast Mustangs as STANDARD EQUIPMENT since 1996. So you are a bit behind in your info and need to do some research into the systems. Hydratech makes a large number of systems for retrofit on older vehicles.

Tom V.

hydro boost
 

Look into Astro Van hydro boost. Have one on 65 GTO with front disc. Works great and not to hard to install. You need power steering and bend or modify the brake line.

Hydraboost
 

Now I remember ! The old WW2 GMC trucks used hydraboost ! :jumping:

Just saw your post, I will try to get some pictures on Mon. and a bit more info.

Her is what I did. These pumps come with the air in and out in different locations, I chose this one because it fit my lay out. This is a Ford pump. It was designed for the vacuum brakes on a truck. Some out there look the same but supply much less vacuum. Most of these pumps made for GM only supplied vacuum for HVAC controls and cruise control so keep that in mind. It came with a flat pulley, I changed it to a GM to help keep the belt located.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1517252469
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...1&d=1517252469

Hydro
 

Mine came off 08 f250. A little more line work and be done.