Hydroboost or vacuum booster?

[73azbronco]

Give me a few months as I swap the vacuum booster setup in I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[broncobilly72]

I installed the usual after market booster, master cylinder, angled bracket set up. I only had to fabricate new lines. total investment: $ 260.00 and about four hours work.

 

[Rustytruck]

If you find the Hydroboost too sensitive keep the rubber brake lines to tone it down. Just make sure the brake lines are in really good shape.

 

[sykanr0ng]

That's been my experience.
Most people report a decent boost with the aftermarket stuff over a stock manual setup, and most of those do not have an original vacuum booster experience to compare to. But from the few I've driven and the few other users that have driven both, the originals seem to have the edge.

Of course, tire size and individual booster quality might be part of this difference too. I was not keeping track of the tire aspect, and don't know what makes one aftermarket booster better than another, but there could be unknown variables.
Perhaps those with original boosters that felt stronger also had smaller tires? I only know of a couple of cases where they were compared back-to-back on the same vehicle with the same setup. But from what I can tell in as much an apples-to-apples way as I can (with no printed empirical date to back me up) I'd say that the originals still have a slight advantage.

Which is why I often recommend that if a person still has their original and has the time they can have their Bronco off the road for a few extra days, to have their original rebuilt instead of buying a new replacement and tossing their original.

Paul

A lot of the aftermarket vacuum boosters sold in the hot rod market are based on the Mustang II booster due to the small diameter making it easier to fit in small spaces.
It looks the same as the ones sold for Broncos, which have small spaces too.

Can't really expect too much from something designed for a dressed-up Pinto.

 

[ntsqd]

The valve inside the booster that varies the boost with the braking effort appears to play a huge role in how the brakes work and feel. A valve meant for a dressed up Pinto probably won't have the same response curve and will probably feel "off" compared to the OEM valve, even if the diaphragm area is exactly the same.

 

[Z Bronco]

I have the original style booster purchased from a vendor many years ago with a chevy disc brake conversion in front, and I run 35's. I have towed a small military trailer on 35's loaded with camp gear, and have been very happy with the braking with the booster. Way better than when I had drums all the way around, especially after creek crossings.

 

[JR.BONNER]

So getting going on my build.. 75 going to have a explorer motor setup. Has the disc conversion up front all ready, 23 gal tank going to run either 33 or 35 tires. 99% street.
I have not done anything from proportioning valve back towards firewall yet. Hydro boost or traditional booster? Have to buy a set up regardless is the hydro really worth extra price?

 

[DirtDonk]

Well, I'd have to say that, just from the tone set here in this one thread, that hydroboost is more powerful than vacuum boost. And everyone that has installed hydroboost themselves and commented here feels that it was worth the additional cost.
But there are plenty of people that have vacuum boost and are happy with that as well.

We can't answer the money question for you though unfortunately. Just what it's been for those that have gone down that road. You're still deciding on tire size, so you should wait until that's been decided, or else just go big now and never worry about it if you go bigger in the tire department.
Your choice of 33's seems to be in the area that few really have any issues with vacuum OR hydro. But the choice of 35's is right on that gray area, where some are ok with vacuum, but most would recommend the hydro.

So it still comes down to your own personal sense of balance between cost and reward.

Paul

 

[gr8scott]

Hrydro.........All the way! Astro van with vette master

Boom! Installed mine yesterday. Went with the inline bracket.