hydroboost brakes

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66plyValiant

66plyValiant

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for a long time I had been considering adding a brake booster to my canadian 66 valiant (same as dart) but the new OE style boosters where ranging around $400 where I live, and well I don't exactly have that kind of money at the moment. my boss had a fairly new chev diesel with hydroboost and I asked him how the brakes "felt" compared to normal vacuum ones, he said pulling a 24' camper was no problem to slow down, as well as the car hauler

so I put an add on Kijiji looking for a hydroboost system, looking for any model of vehicle. A guy emailed me and said he had a 1994 chev 3/4 4x4 diesel that he was junking and wanted $25 for it. I went to his place and removed it and bought it back to "test" fit on the valiant at first glance it seemed that the resivoir would hit the drivers side valve cover, but I was told it could be flipped upside down and still work (it will) so with that info I measured for the bolts to bolt it on the fire wall cut down the plate on the hydroboost so it would mount flat on my firewall. I had to measure and drill two top holes in order to use the factory mounting studs on the car.

now for the lines, after some digging around I found that cavailers/sunfires use the same fittings for the fuel line near the rear (they have special O ring fittings) the fuel line repair kit was $9 and included all the special fittings I needed. for the pushrod on the master cylinder I used a bolt to figure out what lenth the rod needed to be, after figuring out it needed to be 4 1/4" long I took my measurements to a machine shop who did it up for me in his spare time for $20. with the dodge master cylinder bolted on I faberated the inside pushrod myself by welding the old pushrod to the hydroboost system.

with the first test drive I had to be very careful, because the brakes are very touchy and could easy lock up all 4 wheels with drum brakes. after a bit of driving I got used to how it responed
 
66plyValiant said:
for a long time I had been considering adding a brake booster to my canadian 66 valiant (same as dart) but the new OE style boosters where ranging around $400 where I live, and well I don't exactly have that kind of money at the moment. my boss had a fairly new chev diesel with hydroboost and I asked him how the brakes "felt" compared to normal vacuum ones, he said pulling a 24' camper was no problem to slow down, as well as the car hauler

so I put an add on Kijiji looking for a hydroboost system, looking for any model of vehicle. A guy emailed me and said he had a 1994 chev 3/4 4x4 diesel that he was junking and wanted $25 for it. I went to his place and removed it and bought it back to "test" fit on the valiant at first glance it seemed that the resivoir would hit the drivers side valve cover, but I was told it could be flipped upside down and still work (it will) so with that info I measured for the bolts to bolt it on the fire wall cut down the plate on the hydroboost so it would mount flat on my firewall. I had to measure and drill two top holes in order to use the factory mounting studs on the car.

now for the lines, after some digging around I found that cavailers/sunfires use the same fittings for the fuel line near the rear (they have special O ring fittings) the fuel line repair kit was $9 and included all the special fittings I needed. for the pushrod on the master cylinder I used a bolt to figure out what lenth the rod needed to be, after figuring out it needed to be 4 1/4" long I took my measurements to a machine shop who did it up for me in his spare time for $20. with the dodge master cylinder bolted on I faberated the inside pushrod myself by welding the old pushrod to the hydroboost system.

with the first test drive I had to be very careful, because the brakes are very touchy and could easy lock up all 4 wheels with drum brakes. after a bit of driving I got used to how it responed
Click to expand...

Have you got more details and pictures of your hydroboost conversion?
 
Did you run your high presure hose from the ps pump, to the hydroboost, then return it to the power steering gearbox, then return it to the resevoir on the pump?
 
Knuckshaft said:
Did you run your high presure hose from the ps pump, to the hydroboost, then return it to the power steering gearbox, then return it to the resevoir on the pump?
Click to expand...

yupp, pressure runs from the pump to the hydroboost, then from hydroboost to steering box, the hydroboost needs a return line as well so I T'd into the factory return line coming from the box, it works good but I think I need an aftermarket higher pressure pump or something of that sort as it will use 2 belts in the run of a summer (10,000-15,000 miles)

I'm going to try and get photos this week, its in storage for the winter and the building is very very small building with lots of stuff around it
 
I know I'm bringing this back from the grave but any more info on your swap? Sounds like you were able to get this conversation done on the cheep...
 
I have difficulty understanding why anybody thinks these cars need power brakes of any kind as light as they are.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I have difficulty understanding why anybody thinks these cars need power brakes of any kind as light as they are.
Click to expand...

Either you have very strong legs or you've never driven a modern car. Every time I get a car in the shop with manual brakes, I say to myself this sucks. I hate manual brakes and manual steering for a street car. Just my opinion as many will argue the point.
 
^ They do, but so does the soggy 'booster'. So I run manual brakes, better pedal feel. If you really want stopping power, I'd do some real upgrades, a power booster isn't enough to get you there. Plus it weighs a bunch, and more importantly takes up a large amount of real estate.

All this being say, we've butted head before, I know your a factory correct type of guy, I say it's day you say it's night; so do what you want to, your going to anyway. ;)

Happy brakes!
 
this change over was done for a couple reasons. quicker stopping power and easier pedal effort, this was done so my father who is disabled could enjoy the car too without as much effort to push the brake
 
is there any pictures to show what you did. and anymore information?
 
GMachineDartGT said:
Either you have very strong legs .
Click to expand...

I don't. I've been diminished by joint problems, and cannot stand for long or walk far. Mine has a Versailles disk brake rear, and 73/ 4 Duster front. Yes, you have to push a bit, but no problem locking them up. None at all.

Having said that, I can understand how some cars with some brake /tire/ wheel combos might need a "bit more."
 
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