Power brake conversion: Necessary??
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 68
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From: Annapolis Maryland
Power brake conversion: Necessary??
I've done a bit of searching on the FORUM and have found many mixed feelings and methodology regarding the conversion. I have a '72 SB non PB that I was considering upgrading to PB. Seems quite the task; and I'm quite the novice. Leaning towards keeping it non PB. Thoughts?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I love having power brakes. If you are considering changing, and you have power steering...look into installing a Hydrobooster assist unit instead of a vacuum unit. I stand by them 100%.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
My 68 has no power anything except under the hood and I never noticed any problems without the assists....Big arms help steer however. 
If a woman driver is present,then those power assists would probably help them. But none ever complained driving mine without the power accessories.
If a woman driver is present,then those power assists would probably help them. But none ever complained driving mine without the power accessories.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 5
From: Upstate South Carolina
I have had non power brakes on five Corvettes (65, 70 (2), 71, 75) and power on two (79, 92). Properly maintained non power brakes work great and the pedal pressure isn't bad. I'd spend my money upgrading something else.
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
My car came without PB and I drove it for years like that. No problem until it came time to bring it down from speed and on the autoX. I found myself actually pulling on the wheel to apply more pressure. It stopped the car but in aggressive situations I found I needed an upgrade. I put in a Hydroboost and the first time I hit the brakes I almost went through the windshield. I had to learn how to brake the car all over again. It is a nice upgrade and does not take up much room like a PB booster. The manual brakes are OK for astocker but if you want an upgrade the Hydroboost is a nice unit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
i took my 72 rebuild out for an initial test drive yesterday(no seats, front clip, and only the left side dash). drove it up and down the street a few times. had to push on the brakes hard to stop it. thinking to myself "what's going on- only half a brake system working, bad caliper, bad m/c ?"-then i realized i didn't have any of the vaccum lines attached. no power boost ! it's a big change after driving nothing but p/b cars for 45 years. go for power boost.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Nope, it's not that bad at all. If you PM me your email address I will send you an information packet I put together on the Hydrobooster. It's got explanations, pics, and diagrams.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 383
Likes: 0
From: Roseville CA
St. Jude Donor '09
What's been the average or "general" cost of doing this if one was to do all the work themselves?
Ben
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
If you can source the right parts and do the install yourself, including making your own lines...it won't cost you much more than $350. That's for the Hydrobooster, a '77 or later master, and the parts needed to make the lines. I have the list of parts needed to make the lines in the information packet that I can email.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
i took my 72 rebuild out for an initial test drive yesterday(no seats, front clip, and only the left side dash). drove it up and down the street a few times. had to push on the brakes hard to stop it. thinking to myself "what's going on- only half a brake system working, bad caliper, bad m/c ?"-then i realized i didn't have any of the vaccum lines attached. no power boost ! it's a big change after driving nothing but p/b cars for 45 years. go for power boost.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
i took my 72 rebuild out for an initial test drive yesterday(no seats, front clip, and only the left side dash). drove it up and down the street a few times. had to push on the brakes hard to stop it. thinking to myself "what's going on- only half a brake system working, bad caliper, bad m/c ?"-then i realized i didn't have any of the vaccum lines attached. no power boost ! it's a big change after driving nothing but p/b cars for 45 years. go for power boost.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I have a non P/B car here, and just like what some of the guys here said, you only have to get used to it, and you'll be able to stop it just like any brake assisted cars (of the same technology. of course! .. don't compare with modern ABS and larger discs cars). Now I am converting to a hydroboost just as a added insurance. I've been into a few situations where I was forced to kick the brake really hard and it was so scary, also, in case someone will drive my car, I always warn them few times about the hard braking thing, but I still feel nervous about it. My best choice was to go for a hydroboost, which I strongly recommend it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I have a '73 small block with manual brakes. The brakes are stock except for Hawk HPS pads. The car stops fine but takes a lot more pedal pressure. As Gordon mentioned above when autocrossing one of these you will definitely need to adjust your driving style. Hertz found this out very quickly when they were renting Mustang GT-350's back in the 60's... manual disc's up front and drums in the rear.
A few years back I was caravaning with our club to a show in Myrtle Beach. I like to stay in the back for personal reasons so I just followed behind. Very quickly I realized that with all of the C-5's and C-4's (and their much more efficient brakes) in front of me, I had to be very observant when they would stop. After diving for the side of the road a few times to avoid the car in front of me, I got much better at watching the cars up front to give me a few more seconds of braking time.
My point is that with so many vehicles on the road today equipped with power brakes, driving in traffic with manual disc brakes requires an adjustment to your driving style. This is particularly so if you don't drive them daily.
Good luck... GUSTO
A few years back I was caravaning with our club to a show in Myrtle Beach. I like to stay in the back for personal reasons so I just followed behind. Very quickly I realized that with all of the C-5's and C-4's (and their much more efficient brakes) in front of me, I had to be very observant when they would stop. After diving for the side of the road a few times to avoid the car in front of me, I got much better at watching the cars up front to give me a few more seconds of braking time.
My point is that with so many vehicles on the road today equipped with power brakes, driving in traffic with manual disc brakes requires an adjustment to your driving style. This is particularly so if you don't drive them daily.
Good luck... GUSTO