Hydroboost or Vacuum

[Phantom]

Need opinions on swapping out my hydroboost with conventional vac assist. I saw the tech tip & the swap looks fairly simple but does it work?

 

[TurboBuickSix]

It's worked flawlessy for my for 2 years.You will clean up eng compartment and shave weight too.And you don't have to worry about losing your power assist if the belt fails or gets wet.But my neighbor always tells me "Brakes are for pussies"(cats of course).

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

works great and gets rid of all them hoses.

make sure you get the pedal assembly since it is slightly different between the 2

i pulled all mine out of a regular regal i parted out and it works fine .

 

[Phantom]

All right guys. Thanks! I'm on my way to the boneyard to hunt up some roadkill!

BTW, Red, the camsensor was 180 out. Runs better but still bogs hard @ WOT. I reset IAC to factory specs but have the idle high. Found bad block ground on the neg battery cable & fixed the elec problem. TPS is at .42-.43 @ idle & 4.79 @ WOT. Took a 2.25" hole saw & punched 2 holes in the air cleaner can - helps it breathe a lot better. No prob with the MAF. Still no adjustable regulator.

 

[cool 84]

Why do you want to convert? I understand the powerdisaster people wanting to convert but I prefer the hydroboost. If you hit water and you loose your brakes and steering most likely you have oil on the belt or it's loose. When I have lost my assist I've noticed I can still stop hard, almost able to lock the wheels with no assist. I couldn't do that in the vacuum brake one.

 

[Phantom]

Well my booster turned into a fountain & spewed PS goo all over the left side of the motor & down the firewall. I'm looking for options since the pickin's here are thin at best. I need a bulk cat litter supplier too so I don't have to wade through the garage.

What's the trick to getting the bolts off the booster & pedal without pulling the dash? - been there, done that, soaked the T-shirt in hydroboost goo and don't want to go back!

 

[cool 84]

In order to get the four bolts off you have to cut your hands many times on the sharp metal around them and bruise your ribs from laying on the floorboard. All you have to pull is the lower panel. You're lucky, when mine went it went inside the car under the carpet.

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

15 mm deep socket swivel and long extentions them are easy...if changing the pedal assembly out dont forget the 13 mm socket to get the top support bolt out.

 

[Phantom]

The booster wasn't too bad except for the harness retainer that I had to dig at with my Craftsman all-purpose flat bladed pry tool & hack into little pieces with tin snips jammed between the pedal & fuse block, then tear it off using all the brute force I could muster while on my knees - which are about shot after too many years paying homage to the almighty auto - with my chin on the floor looking at it through the top of my head!!

So anyway....at this point is it worth it to rebuild the booster or should I go to vac? I can see how much it'll clean up the mess under the hood.

Thx for the words of wisdom.

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

your choice but i switched.

 

[TurboBuickSix]

I hate when stuff leaks into the car! I have a new carpet and would be p!ssed if it ended up with p/s fluid on it.I though it was actually easy to do,you don't need to remove the dash either.

 

[Phantom]

I picked up the booster & master cyl from an 83 Cutlass. Not sure if it'll work but there weren't any 84-5's junked. All mid 80's G body's I saw had masters w/square plastic brake fluid can.

Anybody have pics of the finished project?

 

[Buick From Hell]

My hydraboost unit started leaking about 2 months after my warrantee ran out

Dealer wanted $280 or so...

Found a used one on an '81 Olds diesel for $50, haven't had a problem since!

 

[HOTSIX]

I'm in the middle of this conversion project...

Except I HAD a Junkmaster instead of a Hydroboost. My Junkmaster came out without too much hassle.....4 bolts on the firewall and disconnect the pin and clip at the pedal...then I removed the pedal (that was fun) 'cause (I was advised) the vac brake hookup will only fit a vac brake pedal.

Is this true ?

I'm hittin the boneyard tomorrow to get a vac booster and master cyl from a G body car.

What years are OK to use guys ????
Ever seen a Junkmaster collide with a hammer ? Didnt realize they split WAY open like that.....

 

[TurboBuickSix]

Yes you will need the pedal as well.My whole setup came out of a 78' malibu wagan I was junking.

 

[Phantom]

I didn't catch what Reds was telling me until it was too late. Make SURE that you swap the pedal BEFORE installing the new booster. The pedal hangar is held up with the 4 booster bolts + 1 13 mm straight up under the dash. Drop the hangar then it's easy to get to the 16 mm bolt & 18 mm nut that holds the pedal. Do it my way, by installing the booster first, & you'll find a whole new meaning to pain unless you're a contortionist that can fold yourself into a suitcase. I ended up with my ass in the seat & head on the floor bent in ways a normal body shouldn't bend. Today I'm dragging my knuckles on the floor when I walk.

Do it right & the whole swap is a day or less. I spent a couple hours (at least) just installing the new pedal & gave up.

Can I get by with the original master cyl which now sits at about a 20-25 degree angle toward the firewall, or does it need to be replaced with the vac version? The piston cup on the stocker is smaller diameter than the one that came off the vac system.

 

[TurboBuickSix]

I must have done something wrong because it only took me about a half hour tops

 

[HOTSIX]

Hey Phantom - I just removed the pedal by itself...although it could be done easier your way...I always choose the hard way...its in my nature.

Nonetheless - its done now... I used a master cyl / vac brake booster combo from an 80's V8 regal. Theres tons of them in the yards.

I just bench bled it...after removing the old black fluid...and bolted it in place on the firewall. The reservoir / master cyl is a bit different on the new one so I dont think the original will work.

Just go to the yard and grab one...you wont be in over your head by any stretch. Get a pedal too...Its real easy...just takes time. I used the pedal only and bolted it to the original pedal bracket.

Plus the booster and master come as one unit bolted together in any of those ol Regals....

 

[Phantom]

Yea...thanks. I got mine done too but the brakes are weak. I think the booster's hosed. Found both hydro & vac boosters rebuilt within $10 of each other at one of the parts houses here and will certainly stick with the vac after all the hassle with the pedal. I was real lucky when the hydro blew. The inner boot was good so all the P/S fluid ended up in the engine bay.

Total swap cost me less than $50 - so far - & included a new high side P/S hose that dropped right in.