Power Steering and Power Front Disc Brakes

[Broncobowsher]

If you have ever driven a Bronco with vacuum brakes and one with hydroboost, you wouldn't ask the question. You would know yourself.

Hydroboost has a better feel to it, doesn't have the delay of the vacuum. On a hard brake apply you don't run out of booster either.

Another is if you loose an engine and have to be towed out, vacuum brakes without vacuum are really hard. You get the inverse of the vacuum assist. With hydroboost it just reverts back to manual brakes, what you have now. You don't fight the booster.

 

[BigOrsnge]

How many of you did the front disc conversion yourselves and how difficult was it? Also, if you were purchasing one of the conversion kits (like the TBP above), which is the best?

 

[DirtDonk]

Depends on your comfort level with tools and maintenance.
If you can replace brakes, you can swap out your drums to discs.

When using most of the kits, the deepest you have to get into is is removing the spindle, and that's just 6 fasteners. Takes a lot of cussing and yanking to get them off usually, but that's just the years talking.

So a disc brake upgrade is not technically difficult, but it can offer up some peripheral frustrations, such as making sure you have a few of the right tools (hub nut socket, torque wrench capable of more than 100lbs, snap-ring pliers, flare-nut wrenches for the brake lines, etcetera.

Then there are the "while we're here" scenarios. Axle shaft u-joints that may never have been changed. Ball joints and king-pin bearings that might need replacing or servicing, flushing the brake fluid. You know... The usual stuff.

Paul

 

[VB67bronco]

I’m ordering the front disc brake kit from TBP and having a local shop install them..


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[DirtDonk]

Make sure the mechanics there know how to adjust wheel bearings.
More and more, the younger mechanics have literally never had to do it outside of class. And that's assuming they did it in class.
Many modern wheel bearings (most maybe?) are the unit-style, or "hub bearing" where you simply replace the entire module after removing three or four bolts. There's a whole procedure to follow when adjusting bearings on a Dana front axle.
And it ain't like grandmas '72 Cadillac either.

Then they need to grind for clearance, so reading the instructions would be a good thing here.

So just make sure they know what's what with your front end. The rest is pretty basic mechanic stuff.
Hopefully they know that...

I think you've already spoken of other stuff being done there, and that you trust them on this kind of stuff. Is that correct? If so, then you probably don't have to worry about all that other stuff. But I bring it up since it seems to happen more and more these days that shops don't really understand what used to be general knowledge.

Paul

 

[VB67bronco]

I’ll definitely mention it to them.. Thanks Paul!!


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[Pa PITT]

... Many years ago we had a post where we all listed the best upgrade we'd done.
I can't remember which one was best. I think I liked the power steering better than my Disk brakes .
I did mine by gathering up wrecking yard parts . But man those kits would sure make it easier. ... My Bronco had good working Drums until they went south.
... I'm still just running manual Disk no power. They worked so good I haven't bothered with putting on a Hydro booster ...

 

[VB67bronco]

I want to order a power steering kit and front Power disc brake kits from toms bronco and have them installed this month. A shop here in Virginia Beach send it installed both kits for $1100-$1400. sounds like a reasonable price to me. Wihen my truck is going about 50 miles an hour or more I feel like there is a lot of play in the steering and I just don’t trust the Drum brakes at all. Maybe some new anti-swaybars and suspension and bushings would help as well but one thing at a time.


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[bronconut73]

Wow I guess I am getting old.....I didn't realize how cheaply a lot of us do this stuff by hitting the junk yards and installing the stuff our selves....kudos to you fellas with the extra coin to keep our vendors in the black.

 

[Btempy]

If you ever changed disk brakes there isn't that much more work then that, like dirtdonk mentioned the hardest part is probably removing the spindles. (unless you have the puller ;D) Other then that its just grinding the knuckle, installing wheel bearings/seals, and putting it all together. If i wasn't working so much id gladly help.

 

[rydog1130]

My 2 cents, I initially thought I could get by on just drums alone running stock tires wrong...The brakes felt like cheese, and I would have to shift it to N to get it to stop. Then I went out and got a vac booster because most people I talked to said boosted drums should stop easier. Well, they were right I did notice a major improvement. I could now make anticipated stops but any unexpected braking I know would be an issue. I was a little nervous doing the disc upgrade but with all the videos out there its actually a really simple upgrade. I'm in the process of wrapping up the rear this Monday and Tuesday. I figured from a maintenance perpesctive and since I was replacing the wheel bearings it just made sense to get it done now! Im hoping my brake issues will be done otherwise the hydroboost maybe next!