Brake Booster

SuperDave

I have a GM power brake assembly that I am going to install on my 49. It's a complete swinging pedel, master cylinder and vacuum booster from a 95 Buick Roadmaster. I already have front discs and a dual MC. My only problem is the huge 11 inch vacuum booster. it's just too damn big!It won't clear the fender brace and horn. Does anyone know of a smaller ...,like 7", that has the same GM bolt pattern?. I know I can buy one from Speedway, but being Frugal ( OK..CHEAP) , would rather pick from a salvage yard. Any info welcome.:D

[Deleted User]

I used a brake booster out of a 1982 S10 in my Essex coupe.

Here's a link to a pic of it in the car. click on the pics for full size view.

http://nucwa.com/page7.html

Ol racer

Take a walk through the wrecking yard and look at compact GM cars for a smaller booster cannister but measure the M/cyl bolt 'spread'.

Unknown

KEWL!!! I like the MY CAR...:)

SuperDave

I think I found the booster for the 49. I found a 93 Chevy Astro van in the salvage yard that has a Hydra Boost system. All the previous ones seem to have vacuum boosters. My 96 has hydra boost, but it is mounted at an angle downward and would look strange and might interfere with the fender brace and the horn. The 93 is straight out. Looks like it has the same bolt pattern as the swinging pedal from the 95 Buick and the same MC hole spacing. Since I already have a Saginaw PS pump, all it will take is a little replumbing. The pedal assembly from the Astro has a crazy bend in it to move the pedal to the left since the mounting is much closer to the center of the van. So far it looks like the Buick pedal is perfect.I'll hit the salvage yard next Monday. Goin to the Turkey Rod Run at Daytona Friday.

Have a Happy Thanks Giving..

Dave W. (FL)

SuperDave

Well, I took the plunge. Got the Hydra Boost from a 94 Astro Van (Mfg Oct 93). Every Astro I looked at had a different braking system. seems like GM kept making improvements or tried to correct problems?,, Anyway, I used the entire Mastercylinder,HydraBoost and pedal assembly. I didn't use the remote reservoir since my PS pump is mounted at almost the same elevation as the booster. I ran the vent line from the booster back to the reservoir on the pump. Drilled a hole in the upper portion and installed an AN fitting. My car already has Classic Air and heater, So the original heater and it's plenum have been removed. The brake pedal bracket intrudes into the area otherwise occupied by the plenum. I used some GM presuure hoses from the same junk yard and manged to plumb the whole thing in to my R&P and pump. Had to carefully unbend the steel hose portions. I would like to see If I can get some straight "universal" lines and custom bend some to appear a bit better. The brake lines have yet to be connected. Heck it took me all afternoon just to remove the old brake pedal!! Had to make a special puller to press it off. Anyone needs to make one, I'll send a picture of the one I made from a piece of square tube,nuts and a long grade 8 Bolt. The pedal is in perfect alignment with the clutch but is much closer to the firewall. It looks a little strange but feels "right" from the drivers seat. I may weld the old pedal onto the Astro arm to look more stock. I didn't use any of the Buick stuff I had. Although the bolt pattern was the same, the leverage and pivot pin for the Booster rod was different between the vacuum and Hydra Boost. So I opted to keep all the matching pieces. By mounting it where I did, it clears the original throttle linkage well. Another thing I need to mention, is that My car has an alternator and no Voltage Reg. The booster is mounted where the VR was. So Far so good.. Now to hook up the brake lines. I hope the master cylinder has the residual valves integral. Otherwise I will have to use the other ones I installed with the dual MC I installed at the time I put the discs on. Wish me luck. I really want to make the Wednesday night cruise tomorow.

[Deleted User]

Very interesting.. Any pictures?





Dave W.

Ol racer

Sounds like your Hudson will stop like a C4 Vette now... Just be sure of the brake bias so you dont unexpectedly do a donut on a wet roadway and good luck for Wed's cruise...

SuperDave

Well, she wasn't done for the Wednesday Cruise Nite. Had some issues with rewireing the horn and stuff due to the firewall mounting of the booster. I also made another brace to stiffen the mounting. I also wired up the warning light from the brake dumpvalve/equalizer. but WAS done by Saturday night. We drove our friends to the local Performing Arts Theater for a Cool Jazz Christmas show. The brakes work superbly! The bonus I never would have thought of was the improvement in the steering. Seems the added restriction of the booster on the system lowered the pressure to the R&P. Now the steering is not as "twitchey". Actually she drives darned good! I found a thread on the internet about restricting the flow on Saginaw pumps used on Mustang R&P's to reduce the sensitivity. Shoulda thought of that myself. Hey.. It works and now I can move on to other things to fix. I can take a picture or two for anyone that thinks they need some. I haven't mastered posting a picture here, but will email some. Not much to see.. Just a big mastercylinder hanging on the firewall.

rambos_ride

SuperDave wrote:

Well, she wasn't done for the Wednesday Cruise Nite. Had some issues with rewireing the horn and stuff due to the firewall mounting of the booster. I also made another brace to stiffen the mounting. I also wired up the warning light from the brake dumpvalve/equalizer. but WAS done by Saturday night. We drove our friends to the local Performing Arts Theater for a Cool Jazz Christmas show. The brakes work superbly! The bonus I never would have thought of was the improvement in the steering. Seems the added restriction of the booster on the system lowered the pressure to the R&P. Now the steering is not as "twitchey". Actually she drives darned good! I found a thread on the internet about restricting the flow on Saginaw pumps used on Mustang R&P's to reduce the sensitivity. Shoulda thought of that myself. Hey.. It works and now I can move on to other things to fix. I can take a picture or two for anyone that thinks they need some. I haven't mastered posting a picture here, but will email some. Not much to see.. Just a big mastercylinder hanging on the firewall.

You can email me the pictures and I will post them for you. I tnink lots of people would have interest in seeing them and spark other ideas and conversions.