Hi there,

since my '56 has 4 drums, I'm thinking of mounting a brake booster like this one (CPP):

I found a lot of information about such boosters right here in the forum but nothing about the experience or any comparison before and after. Can someone tell me, whether that booster does improve the brake significant or just a bit. Thanks in advance.

 

here comes the pic:

 

Well if you are currently driving a truck with no booster at all I'm surprised you haven't suffered a heart attack. Stopping a vehicle with no booster is a terrible experience not to mention dangerous. You will notice a world of difference with a booster and wonder why you haven't added one before. It's a fairly straight forward installation. Do it. You won't regret it.

 

Wel, Calvin - I've just replaced all brake drums, cylinders and brake shoes, so it's already much better then when I got the truck. But You're right, it's like a
workout for your legs to get the car to a stillstand . But it is feasible.
My '67 Mustang has brake booster and disc brakes in the front and brakes like a modern car. So I think I'll order and install that brake booster in the truck. Does that booster need a vacuum hose from the intake manifold?

 

It does, yes. And I'm jealous of your Mustang!

 

The brake booster will require full manifold vacuum (not ported). There are usually plugs in the intake manifold where you can tap into.

Since most of the braking comes from the front brakes, disc brakes are a significant improvement. There are a number of kits to convert drum brakes to disc.

There are a few issues to deal with doing a disc/drum conversion. Due to latent spring pressure on drum brakes, you may new a proportioning value or 10 lb. residual value to equalize the pressure for effective braking. Also if the master cylinder is below the calipers, you will need a 2 lb. residual value to prevent brake fluid from siphoning back causing the discs to lockup.

I had these problems when a converted my stock ’56 F100 to disc brakes. However, most of the brake hardware shops selling these conversions offer a lot of information and diagrams to properly set up the brakes.

 

@Calvin: yes the Mustang is a beauty, I hope spring is coming soon, so I can
let the little horse out with the top down

@edzakory: thanks, that's what I expected and it's the same on the Mustang. Nonetheless I'll stick to the drums and try it with that booster
at first.

 

@Calvin: three pics of the Mustang

Have a nice weekend boys!

 

The one big improvement that people forget when going to a brake booster is that they are also going to a dual cylinder and if you ever had a leak with the original and pushed the pedal to the floor without any resistance you wont forget that feeling. Thank goodness for that emergency brake band on the tranny.

 

That's a sweet ride! And whoever your photographer is also knows what they're doing. My next door neighbor is restoring a '70. I'm helping him along on occasion. It's so much fun to tinker!

 

@pweng1 Yes, that's a very good point! One more reason to go this way. I've just ordered that booster

@Calvin yep, a good friend of mine likes to make photos and since he owns two Mustangs, you can guess, what motive he likes the most ;-) The '70 Mustang is the last year I like the design of. All the later models are not my taste, except the brand new Mustang 2017 ;-)