Hydroboost brakes?

[pelky350]

I know it's been mentioned before but what are benefits/ negatives with them? A parting put truck on cl near me has it it's a 91 f350 and maybe it's something simple to do possibly cheap I haven't asked the price yet, is it gonna matter if it was on a gas truck? Is it worth the effort?

 

[Dieselcrawler]

F350 won't have it unless it was swapped. Only fsuperduty trucks came with it. No real disadvantage. Much better stopping power

 

[chillman88]

The only disadvantage is if you blow a power steering line or your pump goes out. Same thing would happen if you lost a vacuum line or pump on our trucks though so if by chance it does have a hydroboost unit, do it up!

To the best of my knowledge Dieselcrawler is correct though, only
F-450/F-Super Duty's got the hydroboost from the factory. I have no reason to doubt him either, he's torn apart more of these trucks than I'll ever own!

 

[towcat]

16840/lbs gross combined weight in pic. full confidence of being able to stop this whole mess in urban rush hour traffic.
peace of mind.........priceless.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[Golden Helmet]

For me, the best perk of hydroboost is not having to rely on the alternator belt for your brakes. The belt driving the power steering pump doesn't fall off every other week like the alternator belt.

The second big perk is the stopping power. The stock vacuum brakes are a joke, whoever thought vacuum brakes in a heavy diesel was a good idea deserves to be shot at sunrise. Hydroboost brakes are on the opposite end of the scale. Wear your seatbelt, or else you'll be kissing the windshield

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

Yeah,there's no question,all these trucks,at the very least all the diesel's and big block trucks,should have gotten the hydroboost from the factory.There's no comparison in safety.

Golden Helmet,post up a want to buy thread in the marketplace for a complete serpentine pulley set.

 

[icanfixall]

So far whats posted shows why hydroboost out performs vacuum brakes hands down. Easy way to look at a wrecking yard rig that might have this system is look at the 10 lugs on the wheels as you walk around shopping. It also keeps the rear brakes in adjustment better because the auto adjusters really do not work.

 

[Garbage_Mechan]

I just finished the hydro conversion on the 91 using the 1 5/16 master cyl. Wife took it to go get some hay and came back with a smile "now that's the way that truck is supposed to stop!" Nuff said right there...

 

[idiTravelAll]

Good info guys, this site is my holy grail for the Travel all build.

 

[Macrobb]

Hydroboost is awesome, no matter how you do it.
My '88 F-250 has it, done "wrong":
I used a HB unit off a '03 F-450 and just modified it to bolt into place where the old vacuum booster was. Made a spacer for the stock master cylinder, and got it to bolt up with slight wallowing of the holes.

I used locally made hoses with compression fittings to adapt to the various lines, and used the stock PS pump with a tee into the return line(also added a filter into that return line as well.

The pedal is stock as well, and I just made a splice to fit the stock end to the HB shaft.

After all I did "wrong" there... It still worked just fine. That truck stopped wonderfully(and will again as soon as I can build a new motor for it).

 

[idiTravelAll]

I was looking for a replacement to my hideous IHC brake booster, are some hydro boost better than others? Local cl has a 2000 ram 2500 hydro boost for 125, and a 2004 gmc 2500 for 90.

 

[chillman88]

I was looking for a replacement to my hideous IHC brake booster, are some hydro boost better than others? Local cl has a 2000 ram 2500 hydro boost for 125, and a 2004 gmc 2500 for 90.

My understanding is the actual unit is the same for the most part with minor differences. The difference is primarily in the pedal rod and backing plate.

 

[pelky350]

I emailed the cl person but with no response so far, how much do these setups run used as average priced so I know what to offer is the chance comes up?

 

[u2slow]

I emailed the cl person but with no response so far, how much do these setups run used as average priced so I know what to offer is the chance comes up?

I typically won't pay more than 50% of new price. For comparison, I bought the Motorcraft one on rockauto. Plus the pressure hoses. It was worth every penny.

As for the pedals, master cylinder, and return line plumbing... I just cobbled with the stock stuff on my F350.

 

[DougsOBS]

Fwiw I just ordered a new f450 hydroboost from Ford last week for $225.