Hydroboost power brakes for your truck

[TOFIC]

Hello all you wonderful people, especially you Keith
I have been lurking on this site for months and decided to throw in my nickels worth on the power brakes.
I have an early 70's Bronco and after much trial and error I gave up on vacuum brakes and discovered hydroboost brakes. After installing on my truck I was amazed at the stopping power and ease of installation of this braking system.
May I recommend some of you try this if you are thinking of power brakes? I got mine off a 1976 Mercury Grande Marquis wagon and bolted it on.

[splavin90]

what's hydroboost brakes?

[TOFIC]

what's hydroboost brakes?

It is a braking booster that uses the power steering pump pressure to boost your braking power. Basically it is a hydraulic valve that uses your PS pump pressure to give you power brakes

[Big D's 69]

My buddy just installed them on his 79 Bronco with 9 inches of lift and 39's. Never could get brakes on it now since he installed the hydra boost and 4 wheel disc brakes it will slide the tires now. We are getting ready to do another setup on my other buddies Bronco to solve his brake issue. I am a believer in them now for sure.

[FORDification]

For what it's worth, I've got a complete Hydroboost setup from an '82 Brand X truck that I was intending to install on my '69 4x4, but since getting the choptop and deciding I really don't need three projects, I'm probably going to be letting the 4x4 go and so I think I'll be installing the Hydroboost on the choptop instead. I think it'll look cool once it's cleaned up and detailed and will definitely be something a little different.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Hydroboost setup. They're much more compact but have substantially higher pressures enabling you to lock up even the largest of wheel/tire combos. However, you really need to use a Saginaw power steering pump with these (instead of the Thompson/Ford 'pencil-neck' pumps), and if you're looking to install one on an FE, you'll have to fab up your own pump brackets, since Ford never installed a Saginaw on the FE's.

[mljjones67]

What vehicle would I get a setup like this off of? This looks like an awesome idea. Is this possible without using the power steering? Could I just use the pump not hooked up to the steering? I have a non 1967 4X4 f-250 that would be a big pain to convert to power steering. Thanks all

[FORDification]

Here are some links to check out and spend some time reading....they should be able to answer most (if not all) of your questions:

* http://www.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?t=269760
* http://www.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?t=270572
* http://www.bronco.com/pmwiki/pmwiki.php ... mpUpgrades
* http://www.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?t=270456
* http://www.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?t=269766
* http://www.broncofix.com/viewtopic.php?t=3901
* http://www.hydroboost.com/
* http://www.hydratechbraking.com/forums/index.php
* https://home.comcast.net/~jcmiley/mainhydroboost.htm
* Gearheads Cruiser Products - sells a full PS kit for FE engines using a Saginaw pump

[1972_f100_hammond]

so basically if i seen the picture right it is a master cylinder but it also hooks in to your PS pump? so do i need disk brakes or will it work w/ drum brakes? and how much braking difference will it make? thanks john

[TOFIC]

Keith I am devastated!! you missed my article on the classic Broncos website. I wrote it so guys could install it on any vehicle not just a Bronco.
Hydroboost is NOT a master cylinder, it is a booster just like that round vacuum thing. The compact size, incredible power (saw a guy lock up 37" boots at 60mph avoiding a ricer) and safety makes this the booster of choice. Tow a Trailer??? You have to have this. Safety, if the Hboost fails it fails to manual brakes, you will never be without brakes
As to vehicles that is the nice thing about this conversion, it does not matter what vehicle you get it from, it will work!! Ford vehicles are the easiest to convert but all others work, the popular one on the Bronco site is the ASTRO unit. As to pump the Saginaw is the pump for this BUT you can make any pump work by using the TEE method I describe in my article. Hydrotech (Paul Clarke) is a great guy and will make you a kit for your truck but it will be pricey so watch it.
If you do this, BE CAREFULL!! Get used to the setup before you go on the street it is that powerful. The bronco crowd have had a couple of guys hurt themselves with this. It will stop you cold and give you change. Want to smoke the rubber stopping instead of praying you will stop?? you just found the cure.
Expensive ?? not really, I installed mine for about 70 bucks Canadian to working. This is less than I paid for one ujoint on my steering shaft.
Try it it works and you wont go back i garantee it.
TOFIC

[FORDification]

Keith I am devastated!! you missed my article on the classic Broncos website. I wrote it so guys could install it on any vehicle not just a Bronco....

Well heck, post the link! I'd love to check it out. The links above were some I bookmarked a while back when researching this for my own project, but a guy can never have too much information, right?

[TOFIC]

Do you and the site one better
Send me a standard Email address and I will send a copy of the article complete with pictures!!
TOFIC

[Clarko]

Current Super Dutys have Hydroboost, too.

[FORDification]

Do you and the site one better
Send me a standard Email address and I will send a copy of the article complete with pictures!!
TOFIC

Thanks! PM sent.

[Wes]

Hey Tofic,
Welcome this is a great Board. Just like Classic Broncos. I thought your nickname looked familiar .
I'm doing a Hydro boost on a 67 4x4 right now along w/ p/s, am going to post pics and write when done.
Here's a sneak peek

[Big D's 69]

Might be a good thing to run on a truck with a big cam and vacuum issues. I might have to go this route. Don't want to run a vacuum pump to make sure I have enough vacuum.