The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts universal brake booster adjustment

I put thread out for future reference. My 52' 4400 received a total over haul on the brakes including replacement of all wheel cylinders, a new dual 1 1/4" master and a 7" universal dual diaphram booster, and a rear adjustable proportional valve. The brakes never felt that they stopped the truck right. I played with shoe adjustment and bleed them multiply times. I always had double pump them and no matter how hard I stomped the pedal, I could not lock the brakes. I took a page from another project and pulled the plumbed master off the booster. There is a little adjustable nipple that inserts in the back of the master piston. I turned the nipple out a 1/4" and reassembled.The first attempt put me through the windshield, with a tap of the brake. the third adjustment screwed back in a 1/4 turn and the brakes stop without locking, and with a little tweaking the proportional valve, stopped like today's drum brake vehicles. I hope someone down the road uses this to plan and execute a brake project from single manual to a power dual master.

Rich,
can you list the part numbers you used and a few photos of the new set up would be good as well. Thanks.

I just chucked the box.But here is the fitment. Rock auto stocks a 1976 Chevy G30 master with a generic 7'' dual diaphragm booster off Ebay. Both are under $100. Raybestos website is top notch for cross reference. The wheel cylinders for big bolt are still new stock from Rockauto.

did you modify the pedal and install it on the firewall or rig it up under the cab to work with the stock pedal?

I used the floor stock brake pedal assembly. I fabricated (4) 7'' long posts that bolted a after market dual master adapter bracket. I threaded the posts into the booster then bolted the assembly to truck A custom made push rod threaded to the booster push rod. the posts were to push out the booster to clear the transmission mounted brake assembly. The master bolted up and lines were installed to the corresponding axles. The master floor access hole is under the seat.