Picked up a hydroboost system at junkyard today for $60 complete w/MC. One line twisted so I will have to get a new one. Also got rod to pedal and p/s pump cover with the return nipple.
1. Are pedals the same?
2. Fluid required? ATF? It has regular p/s fluid in it now
Any install tips appreciated. Ive read tech articals on here and OBN

 

The brake pedals are not the same. Some claim the vacuum pedal works fine, others complain of excessive pedal effort. If at all possible, get the hydroboost pedal. The pin is closer to the pivot giving you more leverage.

Hydroboost pedal:




Vacuum pedal:




IIRC, power steering fluid is preferable over ATF.

 

The hydroboost on my powerstroke takes mercon atf

 

Pulled this one off a 1990 f-super

 

My '94 F-Super takes type-F atf.

 

Picked up the pedal assembly from the parts truck today. $40 for it but the pins are perfect.

 

Well got started today. Only accomplished changing pedels. That will make you want to say dirty words. Didnt get them bolted i walked away to cool off before i broke something. Took them apart and put some grease on shaft.

 

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but can someone enlighten me on which trucks and what years hydro boost was used? I want to do the conversion on my 86, but I need to know what trucks to look for in the JY

 

Not sure on the years, but pretty sure only the F-Superduty/F-450 had hydroboost until sometime in the powerstroke years. At some point in time, probably after the OBS style trucks, the system changed to metric hose fittings and the mount changed, so you'd want to avoid those trucks.
So I would guess mid 80's F-Superduty through maybe '97 F-450.

Hoses are readily available through auto parts stores, and so is the power steering pump, or just the reservoir with the extra return nipple. The expensive item is the hydroboost unit itself. Either pull the pedal from the donor, or modify yours to put the pivot in the right place. Make sure you get the pushrod with the unit. It doesn't come with rebuilt units and needs to be a certain length to work right, so you don't want it to be missing.

 

Dorman does not make just the pump reservoir i done a live chat with them even though they list one cause i forgot to get it. Installed unit to firewall and started buttoning up my dash today.

 

Thanks for the info tecgod, Time to find me a donor truck I reckon.

 

Pulled mine off of a '90 f-superduty.

 

I will point out that if you have a grinder and are willing to modify some things, you can /make/ a modern(~2000 vintage) Hydroboost unit work just fine on these trucks.
If you can get the "right" one, great. If not, the metric spec ones work, but you need to make adapters, wollow out the mounting holes etc.
Even so, it's /still/ better than the vacuum breaking system, by far.

 

Well unit installed and ready to put new lines on. Changed pump reservoir but there is where ive run into a snag. The valve that screws onto the side of the pump is made into my current power steering pressure line. Hum. Never seen one like that until now. Now i need to find one that the hyrdroboost line will thread to. Should be easy enough as many of them pumps are in the junkyards. Anyone else ever seen one made to the line? All others ive delt with the line threads into valve which threads into pump. Maybe I will hijack the pump relief valve off my f150

 

On my setup I had the local auto parts store make me hydraulic lines with compression fittings the right size for the lines on each end; I just whacked the steel lines near the pump and near the steering gear, and near both connections to the HB unit; had two hoses made the right length with compression fittings on both ends, hooked it up and it's worked great for over a year.