Can you use a hydro boost w/ drum brakes?

[Gas Pig]

Hi, I'm planning to change my DANA 44 front drum to disc sometime soon. But can I use a hydro boost sytem in the meanwhile with my all wheel drum brakes until I can make the convertion? Someone told me that a hydro boost system sometimes can blow the wheel cylinder on a brake drum system. If that true is there any quick fix so they work together or should I not put the hydro boost on until I get the front disc brakes.

Thanks Jeff

 

[toddz69]

Hi, I'm planning to change my DANA 44 front drum to disc sometime soon. But can I use a hydro boost sytem in the meanwhile with my all wheel drum brakes until I can make the convertion? Someone told me that a hydro boost system sometimes can blow the wheel cylinder on a brake drum system. If that true is there any quick fix so they work together or should I not put the hydro boost on until I get the front disc brakes.

Thanks Jeff

Sure, you can use the h-boost on all drums before going disc. OEMs use h-boost on vehicles with drum brakes (rear) so I doubt blowing a wheel cylinder is a concern. Be prepared though - the self energizing feature of the drums coupled with the amazing power of h-boost is going to make for some brakes that really grab you!

Todd Z.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Like Todd said...

I have hydro with my rear drums. It still won't help with fade of the "which way will it pull this time" affect that you get with drums

The only exploding brakes I have heard of using hydroboost was when someone specially built a unit. first time they mashed the pedal all 4 calipers exploded.

 

[broncnaz]

I'd wait until you get front discs as the famous bronco pull with drums will be even more dangerous with the hydro boost why take the chance.

 

[Triggerman]

Yea I'd wait until you got disk on the front before putting hydro boost on. Once bought an EB that had a front disk conversion done because the PO had a deer run out in front of him one night and exploded one of the front drums from a panic stop. This was with 38's and manual brakes! Hate to think what the extra power of hydro "could" do to front drums.

 

[SaddleUp]

I wouldn't hesitate to run hydroboost with all drum brakes. If I could take back one upgrade and change it that I've done it would be to have done hydroboost first and then disks. That way I could have had the extra braking power right away since it made more difference than either of my disk (front or rear) conversions did. Instead it wasn't until I had done both of the disk conversions that I added it so there was a year or so that I could have had more stopping power. BTW, If a drum breaks just from a panic stop then the drum itself was either damaged or defective.

 

[Triggerman]

Thats a good posibility the drums were faulty-rusted-fractured, whatever. Fact is something like this could happen w/ front drums so I wouldn't risk it. There are just too many advantages of front disk over front drums that have been hashed out time after time over the years on this and other lists.

 

[SaddleUp]

Thats a good posibility the drums were faulty-rusted-fractured, whatever. Fact is something like this could happen w/ front drums so I wouldn't risk it. There are just too many advantages of front disk over front drums that have been hashed out time after time over the years on this and other lists.

Granted, there are a lot of advantages to disk over drum but I don't think breakage is one of them. I.E. I think there is just as much of a possibility of a cracked backing plate failing as a drum breaking. (I've seen both broken after accidents) Both would be unusual occurances. Like I said above I would put hydroboost first on my list but I still would follow this with the disk because brake fade would still be an issue. I would seriously consider replacing all 4 wheel cylinders though at the same time. (I did blow out a master cylinder with my hydroboost) I just wish I would have had the hydroboost earlier in the buildup process on mine.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Thats a good posibility the drums were faulty-rusted-fractured, whatever. Fact is something like this could happen w/ front drums so I wouldn't risk it. There are just too many advantages of front disk over front drums that have been hashed out time after time over the years on this and other lists.

Don’t think that disks are any better then drums as far as failure. I have seen a rotor snap off of the hat and just flop around inside the wheel. Wasn’t due to wear, neglect, abuse, corrosion, etc. That was with a little P235 tire as well.

I have also seen caliper bolts fall out. Sometimes the caliper stays on the rotor, but not usually. Usually it just slides around inside the wheel making bad noises. Sometimes it catches the wheel and just brings that wheel to a complete stop, right now!

As for hydroboost vs. disk as the first brake system upgrade, it depends on what I want to fix first. If the pedal effort is the problem go hydroboost. If fade, strange pulls under braking, inability to stop after driving through water or everything up front is just wore out then do disk first.

What problem do you want to tackle first?

 

[Gas Pig]

Thanks to all guys who to the time to reply!

Thanks to all the guys who have taken the time to responded to my question! I really didn't believe that a hydro boost system would give a chronic problem of blowing wheel cylinders and/or drums. I wanted to make sure I wasn't over looking something I shouldn't have. But with that all said I know any time or in any serious circumstance bad thing can go wrong with drums and/or disc brakes. Some of the guy talk about the chronic pull or the dreaded drum fade problems. Which to this point I haven't had any problems with either. My "work in progress" 72 is a 2" lifted uncut daily driver with slightly bigger then stock tires on it. The truth is I don't drive all that far or much and nevry plan to take it off road (I'll save the off road fun for my next Bronco). My hope and goal with the hydro boost system was to get a better feel with the pedal then manual braking system. And from what all you guys have said, hydro should do the trick for now but the front disc is the complete package. Once again thanks for all your time and help! I wish I would have used this site a lot sooner You guys are great!!!!! Gas Pig

 

[TOFIC]

Watch a few things.

Now you listen to Saddleup and ToddZ, NOT a problem just things to watch.
I assume you have power steering this is mandatory.
Check all your hard lines, replace any one that looks suspicious. Hboost puts 2500 to 3500 lbs of pressure into this system. To give you some idea of the power, vacuum is 600 to 900 lbs of pressure. A weak line will let go pretty spectacularly when you jump on Hydroboost for the first time
Get some new lines from the master to the Hblock. with Hboost the cylinder is going to move forward and you will need longer lines here.
Check the master, make sure it is good.
Ask questions everyone will answer any question on this.
TOFIC

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

On an uncut, street driven Bronco, I feel adding disks is more important than adding a booster. The extra power you get from a booster isn't necessary to lock up the size of tires you'll be using. The extra power would be nice, but IMO, it's just a luxury. Adding disks not only gets rid of the random right or left lurching in situations, but they also still work fairly well when they get wet. Wet drums are pert-near useless.
Increasing the size of your tires also increases the need for increasing braking power. If your tires are over 33" or 35" dia, a power booster becomes less of a luxury and more of a safety issue.

 

[lonesouth]

I have just added vacuum brakes to my 73. it has 35" tires, drums all around. I also have power steering and a steering stablizer. Will the steering stablizer help stop drastic pull in a panic situation? Note: Not a DD.

LS

 

[Broncobowsher]

I have just added vacuum brakes to my 73. it has 35" tires, drums all around. I also have power steering and a steering stablizer. Will the steering stablizer help stop drastic pull in a panic situation? Note: Not a DD.

LS

A steering stabilizer (correct termonology is a steering damper) will NOT correct brake pull. The only thing a damper does is slow down sudden movements such as hitting a rock or a curb. Notice I only said slow down, not stop. The steering wheel will still turn or want to turn, just won't snap as hard.

 

[TOFIC]

I have just added vacuum brakes to my 73. it has 35" tires, drums all around. I also have power steering and a steering stablizer. Will the steering stablizer help stop drastic pull in a panic situation? Note: Not a DD.

LS

NOPE, that problem is brake related not steering related.
Check the brakes on the affected axle real carefully. You have an imbalance situation and must correct it to stop the pulling
TOFIC

 

[SaddleUp]

It is pretty common for the brakes to pull to one side if one of them is out of adjustment. While inspecting the brakes make sure they are all adjusted up at the same time. (Both front and back)