The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop brake booster for '57 dually 3600

Haven't had time to work on the truck because I've been using it to work on my project house. And, do I ever need to do something about the brakes. There's been alot of discussion about disc brakes for these 3600's but mine has dual wheels and I guess that means the front hubs are larger than single wheel. Sooooo, my latest hair brained idea is to just install a brake booster and keep the drums for now. Found a frame mount booster kit on Brothers but there's a note that says not for manual transmissions. I'm thinking this has to do with the rear trans mount crossmember perhaps interfering with the unit. So far they haven't responded to my email.
What do y'all think about this idea and have any of you made this little upgrade?????

If you're still using the single line master, use a hydro-boost. It can be mounted anywhere that you have space. I think NAPA can get them still. If not, there's several vendors that carry them,
Scott

Works off power steering pump???

No, it's a remote vacuum booster from the old days,
Scott

Scott,
When I did a search for hydro-booster I found the hydraulic booster that is linked to power steering and not recommended for use with drum brakes. A remote vaccum booster would be the ideal solution if you know where to find that product. Thanks, Don

I think what Scott actually meant was Hydra-Vac, not Hydro-Boost. The Hydra-Vac is a remote mount booster run off engine vacuum. I think that Midland still makes them. They were popular in the '80s on Pro Street cars. They would use a frame munted master cylinder with that booster to clean up the firewall for appearances.
On that booster kit from Brother's that you mentioned, the type of trans shouldn't make any difference. In fact, I'd think that there would be more room with a manual trans over an automatic.

Skip,

Don't see why the transmission would get in the way. If anyting, the auto tranny might be a problem, but the manuals are usually OK.

My 1958 1 ton dually came with a hydrovac (or is it hydra vac... I'm not sure). Anyway it's the one that connects to the intake manifold vacuum. It works with the single cylinder brake master cylindre. They were an option on the 1 tons, and I think they might have been stock on the heavy spring dually.

My truck is not currently functional, so I can't tell you if it works well or not, but I suspect it's better than without!

By the way, have you rebuilt your brakes? Have you adjusted them? My brake wheel cylinders were shot, and I have installed 4 new. I'm in the process of new hoses throughout. Then on to the master cylinder and the hydrovac.

I'm contemplating if it wouldn't be cheaper to buy a new dual cylinder master cylinder with booster built in. I think it will be cheaper than rebuilding the old master cylinder and hydrovac, and it will certainly be cheaper, and safer. I've seen ones claim that they "bolt right in" to the old mount and connect to the old pedal. Just not sure yet.

I rebuilt the master and wheel cylinders, turned the drums, replaced the shoes and the hoses. I did the cheapest route to make it decently safe to drive whilst I tried to figure out what upgrades if any are available. It stops but it's an E Ticket ride especially when carrying, oh, say, 3,500 lbs. Eventually I'll figure out a way to McGiver some disc brakes on this thing but for now a little power assist would be a vast improvement. I have a call into that brake place in Florida but I may just pull the lever on that frame vacuum unit. Thanks for the help guys. Don from California. (at least there's no snow here!!!)

Hi Don!

I have a used Hyda-Vac booster with master cylinder for $100 plus freight.

Jeff in southern Oregon.

Jeff,
I'd be interested. What is it off of? Firewall or frame mount? You can email me if you want at [email protected]

FOR LESS THAN $150.00 YOU CAN BUY A CORVETTE STYLE DUAL MASTER CYLINDER AND A 7INCH DUAL POWER BOOSTER AND MAKE YOUR OWN FRAME BRACKET TO HOOK UP TO YOUR ORGINAL PEDAL