The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Do away with Hydrovac?

Anyone's thoughts on this swap kit? I purchased one today to have the simplicity of a system i can understand and work with. Seems like a pretty nice system to me. the cool thing would be with a proportioning vavle you will have two separate circuits so no more one broken line means no brakes at all! Ill make a thread on how this install goes and my feedback.



https://www.battlebornbrakes.com/pr...diaphragm-firewall-booster-master-c60vb2

If you are in a spot where you need to rebuild the master and the HydroVac, the upgrade looks to be a good choice. It wouldn't work in my truck due to the master is under the floor and not much room on the firewall for modifications. Give us the details while you make the swap.

I'm a little crippled- - - -but I think I could outrun anybody who tried to GIVE me a system like that. Just put the original brake system back to "as new" condition- - - - -wheel cylinders, hard and flex lines, hydrovac and all, and don't try to reinvent the wheel!
Jerry

Have you considered a Hydrobooster/ You could easily adapt a Booster/ Master cylinder from a late model GM truck to your firewall. You would need to add a power steering pump, but all of this could be found in a local salvage yard for a 3rd of the price.

the only issue is i have read time and time again horror stories from guys buying these remanufactured Hydrovac systems and going through a couple till they get one that works. Let alone getting a master thats been remanufactured 30 times over with the same stories. Seems like they guys has a pretty good system and then let alone you put a proportioning valve inline, so if you loose a brake line your not dead in the water relying on a transmission emergency brake. Seems safer to me but i may be overthinking it.

I did consider that! but figured this was an easier swap since i would have to locate a PSP for the 292. Which is not that hard but up in ohio they are hard to come by in junk yards. Most of the cars in junk yards up here are 90's SOME 80's. Hydroboost would be fantastic though and would prefer that over vac brakes.

One of the downsides to a hydroboost is the complete loss of power assist if the engine stalls and won't restart. Those master and wheel cylinders that have undergone multiple rebuilds can be made better than new with stainless steel sleeves that will outlive our grandchildren.
Jerry

I had a buddy that had a 56 GMC school bus, (40 + years ago). We were in it one day and coming up to a red light, it killed and we rolled right through it!! When I put my 46 together I rebuilt every thing except the Hydrovac. Removed it and bypassed it. My truck has stopped fine for the last 18 years or so.

Similar to adding a vacuum reservoir for a hydrovac, you could add a hydraulic accumulator to the pressure side of the hydraulic lines to give you some stored pressure if the engine quits. It would be rather costly though.

A working hydrovac has a built in bypass
Losing the vacuum means you have normal brakes
It would be advised to try pumping the pedal a bunch if you feel you have no brakes in that situation
Poor maintenance could leave you feeling like you have no brakes when you lose vacuum because the hydrovac increases the fluid volume available to push worn pads further out to the drums

Vehicle maintenance is the real thing
-s

I'd sure like a kit like that for a 55-59?
My factory stuff all works and is adjusted - but could be so much better.

This new system looks lot less complex, a lot easier to source parts for, and more powerful braking to boot. @HotrodLincon why would you be wary of this?

I would go with the original system. Everything has a place to go with no adapting. The vac boosters work extremely well, once rebuilt and right. In an emergency, the booster will slow you down much more quickly than without. I have 2 heavy 50s truck with vacuum boost and they work exceptionally well. You never have that feeling that you're not going to be able to stop in time. They both have reserve vacuum tanks (original) to help in an engine loss situation.

Even if I did the modern day booster brake mod, I would still use the original vacuum tank, because the reserve capacity is a good idea.