Hydraulic Booster

[geoffinbc]

Anyone ever driven a vehicle with a Hydraulic Brake Booster? Asto Vans used them and I am toying with the idea of installing it in my truck. But the only way I would do it, is if the pedle feel and feedback stayed the same or improved. But I have never driven a vehicle with Hydraulic boosted brakes.

[sharkey]

hydra-boost setups take a bit of getting used to. i find the pedal is a little more touchy and but you have better feedback. nice thing with a hydraboost setup is that you end up with a lot better brakes.

now if you do put this setup on, just make sure all your brake lines are in very good shape, and consider swapping to stainless braded hoses. hydraboosters can produce up very high brake line pressures, and a weak hose will not stay together for long.

[patgizz]

2 of my trucks have hydroboost brakes. i recently(like 2 days ago) put my c1500 back on the road that has vacuum brakes, and the pedal feel is nowhere near as positive as the hydroboost ones. i love the system, now theyre making retrofits for muscle cars and universal units.

[prophiseer]

Drive all the time with some fleet vans and trucks we service; it does take some getting used to. Pedal is a ton more sensitive, doesn't take much effort to put the pads down, y'know. Really great for stopping a ton of weight effectively.

With the vehicle off, though, the pedal will usually feel kind mushy, almost floored; but you can defi feel the pressure kick up once you start the car up.

Along with sharkey's recomendations, I'd also like to point out that you should make sure your p/s system is up to snuff, especially your p/s pump.

[geoffinbc]

Yea the systems on my truck are mint I am not worried about them. I want braided hoses anyways so would do it at the same time. I have got positive feedback from everyone on this forum and S-series so I am gonna go for it. I need to take measurements on bolt spacing and stuff first to make sure it will bolt in.

[patgizz]

braided hoses.... the russell powerflex stuff is a bitch and a half to put together. i'd just go ahead and have a hydraulic shop make custom lines with factory style fittings and hose.

[geoffinbc]

braided hoses.... the russell powerflex stuff is a bitch and a half to put together. i'd just go ahead and have a hydraulic shop make custom lines with factory style fittings and hose.

Yea I hear ya. I just go to the shop my work uses every time we blow a hose on our machines. Factory hoses blow but never the ones they make. They made me the stainless steel hoses with stainless fittings for my remote filter setup. Serious overkill. But very nice workmanship.

I got the booster on the weekend and got the lines. So I can remove the rubber lines and replace with stainless once I figure out the lengths.