hydroboost brakes... i need to know more.| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

ThePhranc HalfDork
2/26/12 6:42 p.m.

As much as I like manual steering a 20:1 turn ratio sucks. Today the assend broke loose on me and I came to the conclusion that it took to much to turning to correct and thats not safe for me. So in looking up the best power steering boxes I saw something about hydroboost brakes. From what I gather its vacuumless boosted by plumbing into the power steering pump. Is it really that easy and what did these come in besides Asto vans? How available are parts? Can I score these at junkyards? Also with the power steering box and brakes tag teaming the pump would a fluid cooler be needed?

JThw8 SuperDork
2/26/12 6:47 p.m.

Chevy used them in a lot of larger trucks. I'm pretty sure the BMW units are sought after as conversion pieces for a lot of other cars.

I've had the trucks with them, its a good setup, takes up less space than a vacuum booster. Parts can be a bit pricey if you get them at the store but can be junkyard found. Any system I've seen had a small cooler on it.

mad_machine SuperDork
2/26/12 6:53 p.m.

I seem to recall a friend's olds Toranado had hydroboost too?

ThePhranc HalfDork
2/26/12 6:57 p.m.

JThw8 wrote: Chevy used them in a lot of larger trucks. I'm pretty sure the BMW units are sought after as conversion pieces for a lot of other cars. I've had the trucks with them, its a good setup, takes up less space than a vacuum booster. Parts can be a bit pricey if you get them at the store but can be junkyard found. Any system I've seen had a small cooler on it.

When you say larger trucks do you mean GM 3500 or bigger than that?

ronbros Reader
2/26/12 6:58 p.m.

i have Hydroboost brakes on my Buick Grand National, converted 2002 camaro rotors,calipers,, carbon pads,, Wilwood M/C.

for an old buick it stops with little pressure, and straight arrow, you cant make them fade.

a great system!

Ranger50 Dork
2/26/12 7:10 p.m.

Mustangs with a 4.6. Common as dirt and priced about the same.

patgizz SuperDork
2/26/12 7:12 p.m.

my 90 3500 has them as did my 76 c30 and all my astros.

i'm going to convert my 68 c20 to hydroboost once i pick up a power steering box. it'll knock out power brakes and steering in one.

also had an 83 mark VII with it.

stuart in mn SuperDork
2/26/12 7:17 p.m.

Some older BMWs used a hydroboost system.
1980-1992 BMW 7-series
1983-1992 BMW 533i and 535i
1982-1989 BMW 6-series

Keith SuperDork
2/26/12 7:21 p.m.

How else would you put power brakes on a diesel? Can't exactly use engine vacuum. I'm pretty sure my Dodge has 'em.

1988RedT2 SuperDork
2/26/12 7:24 p.m.

My 1985 Chevy C30 Dooley has hydroboost brakes, FWIW.

ThePhranc HalfDork
2/26/12 7:29 p.m.

Keith wrote: How else would you put power brakes on a diesel? Can't exactly use engine vacuum. I'm pretty sure my Dodge has 'em.

Vacuum pump :)

oldtin SuperDork
2/26/12 7:35 p.m.

70s big mercurys, big ford wagons, lincolns (some newer town cars), some cadillacs, diesel pickups, some astro vans, newer mustang gt/cobras, dodge ram 2500s & up...failure points are usually O-rings - easy to fix. The older ones are SAE threaded masters, newer ones are metric - buy to match your power steering pump otherwise it will cost you about $70 in high pressure hoses/fittings.

JFX001 SuperDork
2/26/12 7:49 p.m.

Just to give you an idea:

http://www.jamesduff.com/eb/booster.html

I think all of the hydroboost EB stuff started with a 70's Lincoln.

ThePhranc HalfDork
2/26/12 7:55 p.m.

I think I'll look for something with the hydrobosst, sagnaw 12:1 power steering box and pump all in one car. Time to cross reference the holy hell out of rockauto.

Ranger50 Dork
2/26/12 8:21 p.m.

ThePhranc wrote:
Keith wrote: How else would you put power brakes on a diesel? Can't exactly use engine vacuum. I'm pretty sure my Dodge has 'em.
Vacuum pump :)

+1. I've replaced that POFS on my Ford twice.

novaderrik SuperDork
2/27/12 1:58 a.m.

i love the hydraboost in my 84 Regal T Type. it leaked for a few years before i found a place that sells a rebuild kit- www.piratejack.net - which was pretty easy to install since there really aren't that many moving parts in there.

if we are talking a GM vehicle here, then look under the hoods of any diesel powered vehicle- pickups, early 80's Cutlasses, etc- and some luxury cars from the 70's and 80's like El Dorados.. then there are the AWD Astro vans, obviously.

Wally SuperDork
2/27/12 2:57 a.m.

ronbros wrote: i have Hydroboost brakes on my Buick Grand National, converted 2002 camaro rotors,calipers,, carbon pads,, Wilwood M/C. for an old buick it stops with little pressure, and straight arrow, you cant make them fade. a great system!

What did you use to mount the brakes to the spindle? I'm trying to decide what to do for brakes on my Monte Carlo.

novaderrik SuperDork
2/27/12 4:23 a.m.

Wally wrote:
ronbros wrote: i have Hydroboost brakes on my Buick Grand National, converted 2002 camaro rotors,calipers,, carbon pads,, Wilwood M/C. for an old buick it stops with little pressure, and straight arrow, you cant make them fade. a great system!
What did you use to mount the brakes to the spindle? I'm trying to decide what to do for brakes on my Monte Carlo.

you cut off the stock caliper mounting bosses and drill and tap the caliper mounting holes on the spindle to a larger size and make a simple bracket out of 1/4" steel that uses the stock caliper mounting holes on the spindle to mount the Camaro/Vette/whatever caliper mounting bracket to hold the caliper over the rotor.. if you don't know how to drill 4 holes in a piece of steel, there is always the option of buying the adapter brackets from a place like Kore3 for something like $75 for the pair.