I have decided to stay with the stock drum brakes on my 59 F250. But would like to add a booster, I've seen several for the F100's but not the 250's. which have 12 inch drum vs 11 inch in the 100, and the master and slave cylinders are larger also. So my question is has any one found a bolt-in booster using a new style 1.25" master cylinder or tried using the 1" F100 unit. The 1" seems like it would not displace enough fluid.
Any brake knowledge out there? I need some!

 

I would use Pirate Jack. You can find him on the net or call them. I have two setups from him and the booster quit on one, but the warranty was without question on one call. They sent a new one out right away. They have larger boosters available, too.

 

You can usually buy just the booster bracket kit from one of the aftermarket suppliers. If youre truck is manual with the clutch master cylinder, you'll need to make sure the booster bracket will allow for clearance of the clutch master cylinder. You can order the bracket from one of the suppliers, then buy a master cylinder and the booster from your local auto parts store and you'll save a ton of money. When you buy the bracket, just ask the sales/tech guy what the booster and master cylinder that mounts to it are from, and take that info to the parts store. Be sure to use a drum/drum master cylinder if you're running stock drum brakes, or a disc/drum or disc/disc master cylinder if you're running a disc conversion up front or all around. If you're already using discs, then the proportioning valve and residual valves you're currently using will be fine with addition of the booster.

Keep in mind if you are using stock drum/drum brakes all around, then the booster assembly won't help much, but it will be better than non-power stock brakes. The pedal will feel better, but the brakes won't stop any better. For better stopping power, run a disc brake setup, with or without the power booster. I run discs all around in my daily driven '56 F-100 with no booster and don't feel that I need power brakes at all.

 

I disagree that a booster won't help much. I have two trucks that use a booster in the drum/drum application.

 

I'm considering using a booster from a 1975 or so F350 or F250. Drums on both ends before they went to discs. And using the matching master cylinder.

 

UnRW
I'm looking at this way also do you know the bore diameter of the master and slave cylinders for the 75-78 setup.
I will stay with drums until i decide if the original 44-4f diff is going or staying, and the booster one way or the other is the way for me.
Thanks for your input.

 

wullee....I didn't say that it doesnt help, I said it doesnt help much. The brake pedal will FEEL easier to apply, but it doesnt affect how the brakes actually stop the truck. The booster only assists in applying the pressure to the master cylinder and makes it less effort on your foot, it doesn't apply extra pressure to the master cylinder or wheel cylinders, and it doesn't increase the stopping ability of the brakes.