hey there was just wondering if you got the hydro boost brakes done yet ? if so how did they turn out ?


thanks

 

Yes I DID! I knew I was supposed to get back to someone on it but couldn't recall who it was. There was only 2 things I had to do to the booster to make it bolt into place. First off, the 4 bolts on the mounting plate don't quite line up on our trucks. They're the same width I believe but just a little bit narrower from top to bottom. There's a dozen ways you could fix this including making a new mounting plate but I chose to go redneck on it and cut the plate off my vacuum booster and then weld it to the new mounting plate (had to cut the studs off the new plate). That part is easy enough and it fits perfect.

The second thing that had to be done is the rod has to be shortened. The rod on the hydroboost is about 7" long whereas the vacuum boost uses a 4" long rod. Again, there may be smarter ways around this but I chose to build up a fat spot 4" down the rod using my welder and then cut the rest off. Then I ground the sides flat and drilled out the center so the eye of the hole was 4" from my mounting face. HOWEVER before you go do this read on: My first brake booster worked great but I noticed it was leaking out the back onto my headers. It was PS fluid somehow getting past the rear seal. I thought you could get a rebuild kit for these but I thought wrong, you have to get another booster. That's another $100 minimum . . . not good. Now it's very possible that the first used booster I bought just had a bad seal but I really believe it's possible the heat from the welding burned it. I didn't want to chance this with the second booster so I submerged the whole unit in water with the exception of the portions I was welding on so it would keep the heat out of the plunger unit. I did this for both the mounting plate and for the rod. This seemed to work great, no leaks at all and let me tell you that ***** stops like you wouldn't believe.

Pro was over this weekend and him and another FTE member were riding with me. The truck has some pretty good get up and go so we were leaving the store parking lot on my way back to my house and I was really on it. Light turned red unexpectedly and when I hit the brakes it locked up all 4 tires. I do have rear discs and I'm sure that's helping but what really amazes me is how little pressure I need to apply to make it lock up. Also the pedal doesn't have to move more than about 2" now whereas before I had to really mash it down to the floor to stop.

Btw, you'll need a good hose shop to build you the 2 hoses for it. I think mine cost me around $60-$70 for 2 hoses. Hang onto the metal hoses/fittings that come with the booster. The fittings are oddball and my shop had to cut and braze them to make it work. I just took them in both of those and then my pump fitting and my steering box fitting so they knew exactly what needed to be done. Lastly, regarding hoses, the inlet and outlet sides of the booster use different size fittings. They look identical but they won't interchange so make sure you don't mix them up when you take them in to get those hoses made.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I'm headed to work but I can snap pics later if you need.

 

That thing will snap your head back and stop on a dime, its crazy. I've never been in a big truck that will stop like that. Kind of a bummer really, because I was hoping he'd "accidentally" plow through a couple of imports but now he doesn't have an excuse.

 

that sounds great and now im outa money just got the warn 16.5 winch so it'll have to wait another month but could you give me the names of the companies or dealers that you got the hydro boost from and the rear discs (btw i think we are using the same rear axle mines outa a 76 E 350 van ) and pics and prices of stuff just an estimate is fine .


THANKS for all the help again even though you were a little late (thats because all he could think about is buying that new ricer ) must of sliped his mind . lol just kidding thanks

 

pfffffffffffffffffffffffffft, rear brakes who needs those , they just add extra weight, you could be like me and just throw it in the garbage .

 

Well I like being able to stop on top of a ricer for my mall crawler of the year photo opportunity.

For $200 you can buy them brand new from Autozone, otherwise check out ebay auction 7995337702. If you keep checking ebay you can find them fairly often with the master cylinder. They almost always close at around $100. Otherwise I picked up my replacement booster from the local junk yard and paid $100 with no MC. The MC's are about $60 I think if you need to buy them separately. Disc brakes can be bought from Blackbird's Custom Trucks. E-mail or PM me when you're ready and I'll get his # for you. He's just down the street from me and makes disc kits for almost every axle out there. Really cool guy to work with too. My axle was out of a 77E350 so they should be the same. I can run by his shop when you're ready so he can double check the measurements.

 

I thought the point of the ricer was to stop you anyway .

 

Maybe if I had little wussy 38's.

 

So whats that make my 35's, manly?

 

hey did you get the hydro boost from another truck and if so what years will work or did you buy the kit that was mentioned in one of the other postings ?

 

Did you check the ebay number I gave you above? That's the booster I used. They're used in (I think) 2002 and newer Super Dutys and Excursion diesels. Chevy uses a similar booster but the story that I heard was that they use a smaller plunger on the MC and it doesn't stop as well. Don't know if there's any truth to it but I wasn't going to take any chances.

 

Check out hydroboost.com they have universal kits that would work great. I have inquired about a kit for my truck. They sell for around $350.00 I didn't think that was really too bad.

 

ok i started getting prices for all this stuff (new) and the booster is like 180 $ and the master cylinder is like 400 $ from napa sounds a little steep . the prices are for a 2002 excusion without cruise . does that sound close to what you got and any ideas other than e-bay for better prices im going to check the junk yard tomorrow . part # 's would be great but you prob don't have them


thanks

 

I don't have part numbers but my advice is don't buy ANYTHING from Napa. They're way overpriced on all their crap. Check Autozone or else just call your local junkyard and ask them for a price on a hydrobooster with MC from a new Superduty or Excursion. I paid $100 total for my junk (used).

 

Actually, try Autozone part #52-7357. I don't have a part number for the MC but if you check their site you'll find it. I pulled this number off a 2000 F450 diesel.