Hydroboost

[frickenbored]

Has anyone here used the hydroboost brake booster with a gas engine?  I know its possible I'm just not sure how to do it.  I also know it get its power from the power steering pump.  The reason I as is because I have a 383 in my 1988 k5 blazer with a huge cam and a slow speeds there isnt enough vacuum for the brake booster so I really have to put all my weight on the brake pedal to get it to stop.  Luckly the 88 k5 also came with the 6.2 diesel engine so I can get the hydroboost booster from the local autoparts store with no problem.

How exactly does it get hooked into the power steering pump?

[VileZambonie]

This $35 vacuum reservoir is a lot cheaper and easier than switching over to hydroboost.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G1464/

Hydroboost has a lot more issues and is more expensive. Yes you can run it with a gas engine but I would just hook up the reservoir.

[malibu795]

This $35 vacuum reservoir is a lot cheaper and easier than switching over to hydroboost.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G1464/

Hydroboost has a lot more issues and is more expensive. Yes you can run it with a gas engine but I would just hook up the reservoir.

what are these issues you speak of?

pressure line goes from pump to boposter then steering box both then booster and box have a return line that routs back to the pump resuvoir.

benifets... increase brake capcity... doesnt care about manifold vacuum

down fall loose when the engien is off.. same as vaccum... you do get 1-3 brake aplications if engine shuts down.

[VileZambonie]

Hydro boost is dependant on the power steering system so anything that fails in the system can directly affect your braking system. These systems are plagued with leaks, morning sickness, failed acuumulators and drag on the engine. Vacuum is a free source for power assist so if you can get away with a Vacuum system you're much better off.

[malibu795]

i havent seen a properly maintian system fail out side manufacture deffect.
just like a vaccum system if you dont keep the hoses good you will loose brakeing ability.
i have had to replace pressure hoses on both style of PS ssystems with and with out hyd boost.
hoses were out its a fact of life. getting the wrong style of coupling will cause leaks.
most PS system operate at ~950-1100psi and applied to a ~2" bore in the booster thats 2.35insq or ~2300psi of force

take a 8" vaccum booster (6.28sqin) with 16inHG is 100 psi of force deliver on top of what your foot does to then MC

nice thing about power steering it you loose a hose the engine doesnt lean out and run like poo or dies

no more drag on then engine then just regualr power steering.... i take it you prefer manual steering over power steering?

[eventhorizon66]

Hydroboost is definitely not cheap to retrofit, especially if you do like I did.  I went with an all inclusive kit from Hydratech Braking Systems.  I believe it was just over $900 when all was said and done (hydroboost system + new MC, PS pump, brake hoses, and calipers).  My pedal feel is greatly improved with near instant response to input and smooth modulation.  It has become much easier to "threshold" brake.  Of all the things I have done (including swapping a 305 with a 350), it is only thing I am 100% satisfied with.  I love my hydroboost.

As far as "morning sickness," I am not sure what this means, but my brakes are a little touchy until the fluid has warmed and the choke is open (normal idle speed).  As far as drag on the engine, I can hear the load on the engine increase when I mash the pedal down harder than necessary at a stop, but other than that I haven't noticed any excessive additional load.  I have nearly 3 yrs on the amateur-installed system and it always works flawlessly with no leaks.

[malibu795]

booster 204.00 wiht out core AZ part numebr 52-9386
perssure line form pump ot booster 18.00 AZ part number 91469
perssere line form booster to steering box 17.00 az aprt numebr 71093
pump withn resevoir 76.00 with out core.. part number 7052
new MC is 40.00 bucks.
bother return lines are basiclyu same as fuel line hose 3/8 dia

i will be upgradeing from 1 1/8 bore to 1 5/16 bore as well,.

[VileZambonie]

Event, yes that's one of the issues with Hydroboost but there is a simple remedy that usually works. flush the system and use the Low Temperature Climate fluid and that usually helps.

There's nothing wrong with having hydroboost but it doesn't make sense for someone to do a conversion when all they need is a reservoir.

[Captkaos]

I have an old Vacuum reserve can I found laying around the garage when cleaning up, $20  This is it:  http://bham.craigslist.org/pts/1721323464.html

[frickenbored]

I've never heard of a vacuum reservoir, what does it do?

I'm not really sure why it would be expensive to switch it over to hydroboost, the pump is 80 bucks at the local auto parts store, is a direct bolt in, and all I gotta do is tie it into the power steering pump. Doesn't sound like $900 to me.

[eventhorizon66]

It's not a $900 job.  For that I got a late model unit mounted to a billet aluminum mounting plate, stainless braided Aeroquip lines, etc, etc, plus a what amounts to a completely new brake system.  One could do what I did for MUCH less without all the fancy stuff.

But if you just want some power assist back a vacuum resevoir (which simply holds a reserve supply of engine vacuum for the booster) would definitely be the cheapest and easiest option.

[frickenbored]

Yea I did some research on the vacuum reservoir and it looks like its exactly what I need.  How does it get hooked up though?  Is it just tied in line with the hose that runs from the intake to the booster or doest it need to be hooked up to a diffrent vaccum port because I'm running out of ports.

[Captkaos]

Reservior goes between the Vacuum source and your booster.

[VileZambonie]

Did you see my first post?

http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/instructions/sum-g1460.pdf

[Edahall]

i will be upgradeing from 1 1/8 bore to 1 5/16 bore as well,.

Can someone explain what's involved with upgrading to 1-5/16" bore?  What is upgraded and what improvements does it bring?

Also, does the power steering pump that came off a hydroboost vehicle put out more output than a power steering pump that came out of a vacuum brake booster vehicle?