Hydroboost went Hydrobust!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Hydroboost went Hydrobust!
I took the Vette out for a check ride. Imagine my surprise when I found out my brakes were gone! Turns out I threw a PS belt when I got on it.
I thought HB was charged w/nitrogen so as to provide brakes when the PS failed? I had nothing! Does HB require regular recharging?
I'm on my way to put on a new PS belt so as to get it home. Tomorrow I'm having the new PS pump put on. What can be done w/HB? I bought it on the forum as a GP years ago. What are my options here? TIA
Ricisan
I thought HB was charged w/nitrogen so as to provide brakes when the PS failed? I had nothing! Does HB require regular recharging?
I'm on my way to put on a new PS belt so as to get it home. Tomorrow I'm having the new PS pump put on. What can be done w/HB? I bought it on the forum as a GP years ago. What are my options here? TIA
Ricisan
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Even if the nitrogen has been discharged you should be able to still apply the brakes. It will require more effort but the brakes will still work. Do you think the car manufacters would allow the system to be totally gone if the belt broke? You had no brakes at all even if you stood on the pedal?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Replace the pump, fill with fluid, turn the steering side to side 4-6 times, pump the brakes a bunch....
wait till morning for the aeration of the fluid to settle out, and it's fine....
not a issue with HB...just a pump/belt, I bet....
wait till morning for the aeration of the fluid to settle out, and it's fine....
not a issue with HB...just a pump/belt, I bet....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Liberty Missouri
I hear this question quite often. I had manual breaks on my car and setting at a red light I had to stand on the breaks to set still. (big cam, high idle speed, and not enough stall) Some will say that my breaks weren’t working correctly, but I beg to differ. My breaks were good, but with Hydroboost it just makes driving the car much more pleasurable. I have also driven vetts with power breaks and the hydroboost is still hands down preferable to me. I am much more at ease driving in traffic when a panic stop could occur. One thing to note, I don’t think the HB makes me stop quicker, but they do “feel” better.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I had manual brakes and wanted something that required less effort. The vacuum brakes suck! 
The vacuum booster runs down after a few repeated stops and the booster is quite large. I run a big lumpy cam and just would not have enough vacuum. The HB is a much more positive pedal feel and is always there as long as the PS pump is working. yes the stock brakes are OK on a stock car but mine is far from stock. Just my reasons. 
The vacuum booster runs down after a few repeated stops and the booster is quite large. I run a big lumpy cam and just would not have enough vacuum. The HB is a much more positive pedal feel and is always there as long as the PS pump is working. yes the stock brakes are OK on a stock car but mine is far from stock. Just my reasons.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
I just got back from putting on a new PS belt. I did a brake check and things work OK. I've never got the brake power that I thought HB would provide. I was going to replace the PS pump long ago, but my mech said that the problem was hoses were loose and leaking. I'm thinking about replacing the PS pump, but that does not explain my lack of brakes after the belt broke. I got a very small amount of brake drag after several pumps on the pedal. It was not enough to even think about driving in traffic let alone an emergency stop.
Like many forum members, I wasn't happy w/stk brakes. After I got more go, I needed more stop.
I doubt that a new PS pump will effect the HB after throwing a belt or some other failure. Any thoughts? TIA
Ricisan
Like many forum members, I wasn't happy w/stk brakes. After I got more go, I needed more stop.
I doubt that a new PS pump will effect the HB after throwing a belt or some other failure. Any thoughts? TIA
Ricisan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
One thing to remember- if you change the PS pump on a C3 with power steering- the ram and control valve are designed to work at a lower pressure than other cars. f you install a new pump and don't change the pressure regulator you get "twitchy" steering.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,429
Likes: 20
From: Kingston Ontario
HB is suppose to have that Nitrogen charge, must have leaked out. I had an old chevy dually with hb and it would stop on a dime. Once it stalled pulling into the gas pump and holy crap....
...I'm a big guy and I pushed with everything I had to get it to stop from a slow roll.....whew. You would think it should be safer than that on failure of the pump or belt.
...I'm a big guy and I pushed with everything I had to get it to stop from a slow roll.....whew. You would think it should be safer than that on failure of the pump or belt.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I've got hydroboost and believe that it tends to cover up other issues. Your statement here as well as the fact that the brakes failed without the hydroboost leads me to believe that you have other brake issues. Yes, the nitrogen reservoir should provide a solid brake or two after the unit loses hydraulic pressure, but the fact is you should be able to stop the car, with considerably more force to be sure, without the hydroboost.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,672
Likes: 199
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I have hydroboost brakes and it was one of the best mods I did to my Vette. It stops now, real good, almost hit my head the first time I touched them
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 3
From: Halifax, NS, Canada
After installing hydroboost one of the first things I did on the first test run was to shut the engine off to see what the resulting force was on the pedal. After about the third push of the pedal I noticed I needed a fair amount of pedal pressure to stop. I was expecting it to be more difficult to stop than it was. Matter of fact, it was much easier to stop than it was to steer
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
I read all these posts about manual brakes not stopping...I have manual brakes, big cube motor, roller cam...car stops just fine, and I don't have to exert any undo force...Using DOT 5, solid pedal, I'm thinking...maybe my lines are free of air...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
To Be Fair?
In thinking this through, I may have done it to myself. My driveway is a slope. After I start the car on the brick, I have to restart w/o E brake. I wonder if I used up the backup nitrogen long ago? While I'm waiting for the engine to start and the HB to kick in, the car rolls w/brake on.
I've got to get this fixed!
I will keep the forum posted.
Ricisan
I've got to get this fixed!
I will keep the forum posted.
Ricisan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,666
Likes: 289
From: Spring Park MN
There is no replacement for the basics.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 8,627
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
I had manual brakes and wanted something that required less effort. The vacuum brakes suck! The vacuum booster runs down after a few repeated stops and the booster is quite large. I run a big lumpy cam and just would not have enough vacuum. The HB is a much more positive pedal feel and is always there as long as the PS pump is working. yes the stock brakes are OK on a stock car but mine is far from stock. Just my reasons.
The vacuum booster runs down after a few repeated stops and the booster is quite large. I run a big lumpy cam and just would not have enough vacuum. The HB is a much more positive pedal feel and is always there as long as the PS pump is working. yes the stock brakes are OK on a stock car but mine is far from stock. Just my reasons. 
Yes to what Gordon said. Same for me.