Poll - Hydroboost vs. Vacuum

[Jeff10]

Hey Everyone,

I have read quite a bit on this site about hydroboost versus vacuum boost for brakes. My 1971 Bronco currently has manual brakes... stopping 4-wheel discs and 35s. It needs some help.

I am leaning towards one of the salvaged Astro van setups offered for sale on this forum; but, I want to make sure I look at all of the facts first.

Bryan at Duff prefers vacuum brakes because it doesn't give you so much stopping power so soon when getting on the pedal. In other words, you have a little more control, particularly when off-roading. That makes sense to me.

But... there are a lot of supporters of hydroboost.

Any supporters of regular old manual brakes?

I know there are lots of other threads about this topic. After searching and reading a couple of pages of feedback, I did don't recall seeing any polls... so I thought I would see what kind of response there might be.

Thanks for any input.

Jeff

 

[ransil]

either is an upgrade from manual brakes.

I finally put hydro boost on my street bronco this year after running manual brakes for the past 20 years.

I did the angle bracket and astro booster, the pedal is touchy as you stated , mainly cause stock bronco brake pedal is being used with donor parts, to over come this the pedal linkage would need to be re-engineered to give it more throw at the pedal and less at the booster, its on my list to do but might take me another 20 years to do it.

 

[trtlsoup22]

Hydroboost hands down! I have zero complaints. After doing it myself I cannot believe anyone wouldn't want to do this upgrade. You won't have any regrets!

 

[gravy]

hydroboost all the way- and you can do for cheaper then a vendors vacuum brake conversion kit- I spent around 250 for everything- Thanks Ransil for the booster! Works great

 

[dbevans2249]

JMO vacuum brakes if you only want to slow down. Hydroboost if you want to stop! There are so many Astro Vans to get them from in the U Jerk yards it can be done for way less than a kit sells for. I wish I had done it years before.

 

[Bartonatl]

I run 35's on my 74 and have a vacuum booster and drums all around. It worked fine until I put in a racing cam and lost my vacuum so now I can slow down but not stop.......for a while. I could add an electronic vacuum pump (hot rodders use these). I think I'm going hydroboost.
If I had manuals....I would go hydroboost.

 

[Jeff10]

Hey,

You guys are great!

I'm old enough to remember when there were very few resources for opinions like yours. It makes it a lot easier to do things right the first time.

I like the level of respect everyone shows on this forum, too. I'm coming from the Jeep world... some of those forums can get a little nasty. (I learned a lot on them; but, some people sure like to make life tough on other people.)

I appreciate all the input.

Jeff

 

[Jeff10]

Hi,

Now that I'm leaning toward hydroboost, I am trying to figure out what power steering pump I have, and what I'll need to do (if anything) to outfit hydroboost.

Since I have a 1971 Bronco, and it has power steering, I guess it's a given that the power steering was added by one of the Bronco's previous owners. Without knowing who did it, I'm kind of left to figure it out on my own.

There was a Bronco in the classified section over the weekend that had a similar looking power steering pump/reservour. (Fairly round with a dipstick out the back at an angle. I know it isn't necessarily part of the power steering unit; but, the 2-pass finned cooler on the sale rig is very similar to what is installed on mine.) The link to that sale Bronoco is http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184339 in case anyone has time to look.

I have also attached a few pics of mine, although it's a little tough to see everything.

Thanks for your help.

Jeff

 

[Fredly1]

DEFINITELY hydroboost! I had vacuum on my 77 with 35's. Like what was said before, it would slow down ok but not great for stopping. Switched to the hb and it was a night and day difference!

 

[G's Baja Bronco]

I have Hydro-boost on my 01 GT stang, I love them. I am putting the same mustang GT hydro boost system into my 75 EB and m,y Bro into his 74 EB, I had mechanical brakes, he had vacuum power brakes. I have chibby front disc on my 44 and on the rear I am adding exploder discs. I plan to use the stang prop valve, since stangs have all disc brakes;D

 

[greatguy57078]

I just put 33" tires on my '68 halfcab. After reading and researching I think I should pull the trigger and go with the hydroboost. I have an entire Lincoln setup setting there begging to be installed. The down side is I just bought a brand new remanufactured vaccum boost and master cylinder! :-X

 

[904Bronco]

Hi,

Now that I'm leaning toward hydroboost, I am trying to figure out what power steering pump I have, and what I'll need to do (if anything) to outfit hydroboost.

Since I have a 1971 Bronco, and it has power steering, I guess it's a given that the power steering was added by one of the Bronco's previous owners. Without knowing who did it, I'm kind of left to figure it out on my own.

There was a Bronco in the classified section over the weekend that had a similar looking power steering pump/reservour. (Fairly round with a dipstick out the back at an angle. I know it isn't necessarily part of the power steering unit; but, the 2-pass finned cooler on the sale rig is very similar to what is installed on mine.) The link to that sale Bronoco is http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=184339 in case anyone has time to look.

I have also attached a few pics of mine, although it's a little tough to see everything.

Thanks for your help.

Jeff

Looks like the factory pump to me... I would recommend replacing it with a Sag pump... Cardone dual return pump # 20-8606. Napa # NPS-73077 pulley, WH sag pump mounting bracket....

Look at the "101 Hydroboost" thread for all the other answers to your HB questions

 

[trtlsoup22]

I didn't see if anyone posted about a fluid cooler.. I got an inexpensive inline transmission fluid cooler. Works fine! The power steering fluid was getting REAL hot before.

 

[OX1]

I have Hydro-boost on my 01 GT stang, I love them. I am putting the same mustang GT hydro boost system into my 75 EB and m,y Bro into his 74 EB, I had mechanical brakes, he had vacuum power brakes. I have chibby front disc on my 44 and on the rear I am adding exploder discs. I plan to use the stang prop valve, since stangs have all disc brakes;D

Worked great on mine, same stang HB/prop valve with stock 77 front disk and MK VII rear disk.

 

[NYLES]

Hydroboost hands down! I have zero complaints. After doing it myself I cannot believe anyone wouldn't want to do this upgrade. You won't have any regrets!

What turtleboy said!

 

[G's Baja Bronco]

Super cool to know

Worked great on mine, same stang HB/prop valve with stock 77 front disk and MK VII rear disk.

Thanks OX1, I now have verification on using the prop valve ;D;D;D