Power Brake upgrades
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 8
From: Bastrop Texas
Power Brake upgrades
I would like to hear about any upgrades anyone has done to improve the performance of their C3 power brakes. I've never been satisfied with the power brakes on my 76. They don't feel like power brakes in that you need to apply more pressure on the brake pedal than I think you should for power brakes. Maybe I'm expecting too much for 76 technology.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
My experience has been the opposite, I've always felt the system is over-assisted. It doesn't take much pedal pressure to stop and it's not the best feeling pedal either, I'd actually prefer to be able to push harder on the pedal to feel it better.
I'd check to make sure that your booster is functioning properly, a bad booster will make for a hard pedal and limited stopping power.
I'd check to make sure that your booster is functioning properly, a bad booster will make for a hard pedal and limited stopping power.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 8
From: Bastrop Texas
My experience has been the opposite, I've always felt the system is over-assisted. It doesn't take much pedal pressure to stop and it's not the best feeling pedal either, I'd actually prefer to be able to push harder on the pedal to feel it better.
I'd check to make sure that your booster is functioning properly, a bad booster will make for a hard pedal and limited stopping power.
I'd check to make sure that your booster is functioning properly, a bad booster will make for a hard pedal and limited stopping power.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I would like to hear about any upgrades anyone has done to improve the performance of their C3 power brakes. I've never been satisfied with the power brakes on my 76. They don't feel like power brakes in that you need to apply more pressure on the brake pedal than I think you should for power brakes. Maybe I'm expecting too much for 76 technology.
I guess you have to upgrade from non-power in order to notice the huge difference.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 8
From: Bastrop Texas
No, and I just checked with a mechanic friend who took it for a drive. He thinks they are working fine, and I should not expect to react like brakes on a new Vette. Thank you for the suggestion.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 8
From: Bastrop Texas
Thanks to everyone for the advice and suggestions. I really appreciate it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
You want the answer to be "yes". The booster should hold vacuum after the engine is shut off, and you should get a few soft pumps (vacuum assisted) of the pedal before depleting the vacuum in the booster, at which point the pedal should get very firm. If its not acting this way, there may be an issue.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
You want the answer to be "yes". The booster should hold vacuum after the engine is shut off, and you should get a few soft pumps (vacuum assisted) of the pedal before depleting the vacuum in the booster, at which point the pedal should get very firm. If its not acting this way, there may be an issue.
If the one-way valve is O.K. then the booster would be the problem?
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3
Likes: 1
From: Edmond Oklahoma
For what it's worth, I had a similar experience years ago with a 1988 WS6 Firebird that I bought used. The brakes seemed to take much more effort than they should. It was actually a little scary. All components looked fine, including the brake pads. I tried everything, literally. New master cylinder, new booster, new lines, bled till I was blue in the face. Nothing helped. Then I replaced the pads with original equipment pads from GM. Problem solved! Brakes were back to normal. Apparently the previous owner had replaced the pads with some kind of bargain basement items. If you don't know the history of your brake pads this might be worth a shot.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 190
Likes: 30
From: Wollongong Great Southern Land
we upgraded to powers brakes on our 72, Mechanic ordered all the necessary stuff, lines, booster etc etc from his GM supplier in the states. The initial drive didn't feel much different, if at all, from non power brakes. we thought maybe they need to be bedded in. a month goes by and I'm not happy. Took the booster apart and sent it off to a brake professional the mechanic has been dealing with for years, he calls him up immediately and says since when have you been using chinese reproduction parts!!??
The brake dude rebuilt the booster using modern genuine GM PARTS available here in Australian for GM cars, it now stops like a modern car.
The brake dude rebuilt the booster using modern genuine GM PARTS available here in Australian for GM cars, it now stops like a modern car.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,573
Likes: 7,015
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
For what it's worth, I had a similar experience years ago with a 1988 WS6 Firebird that I bought used. The brakes seemed to take much more effort than they should. It was actually a little scary. All components looked fine, including the brake pads. I tried everything, literally. New master cylinder, new booster, new lines, bled till I was blue in the face. Nothing helped. Then I replaced the pads with original equipment pads from GM. Problem solved! Brakes were back to normal. Apparently the previous owner had replaced the pads with some kind of bargain basement items. If you don't know the history of your brake pads this might be worth a shot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
Could be, I guess it could be tested by trying to suck air through the booster side of the valve. Beyond that yes I'd be suspicious of the booster.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 170
Likes: 8
From: Bastrop Texas
You want the answer to be "yes". The booster should hold vacuum after the engine is shut off, and you should get a few soft pumps (vacuum assisted) of the pedal before depleting the vacuum in the booster, at which point the pedal should get very firm. If its not acting this way, there may be an issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
I would check engine vacuume .if not between 15-18 that can make the brakes feel less boosted.you also can change the flexible brake lines to braided ss brake lines to give you a better feel.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 150
Likes: 42
From: mountains of N.E. Georgia Georgia
They just replaced the Booster in my 78 vette. It was feeling like manual brakes with glazed pads. After replacing the calipers and master cyl it improved but still wasn't right. It was all done at the Dealership under Warranty so I know they were doing their best to fix it not just running up my bill. The power brake booster solved my issue. brakes feel and work great now.