Hydroboost Question
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 941
Likes: 10
Your Master Cylinder must be matched to the system (type of brakes) your using. Your Master Cylinder MUST be able to provide the proper displacement of brake fluid when its depressed to operate your brakes properly. The Master Cylinder bore/stroks determines the amount of brake fluid pushed towards your brakes.
I suggest you contact the manufacturer of your calipers and find out what bore/stroke Master Cylinder they recommend. Then couple that MC to your hydroboost and your good to go.
The subject of proportion control is another issue, unrelated to
if your using hydroboost or vacuum booster or the size of the Master Cylinder.
8Valve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
I have a 71 with willwood calibers and mastercylinder.The calibers dont know what kinda of booster your using.Their mastercylinder is compatible with the stock or aftermarket calibers.Mine stops on a dime with the hydroboost system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 974
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't hydroboost for cars that have large cams that don't make enough vacuum to operate a traditional power brake booster adequately?
I do know that hydroboost will do nothing to increase the stopping distance in a car that does not have a vacuum issue. Stopping distances are solely determined by brake swept area of the rotors, caliper design (4 piston fixed caliper on the C3 at each wheel are pretty darn good), brake pad material, and tires. Hydroboost will make the brakes feel more powerful but in reality, no difference in stopping. As has been noted many times before as an example, C3's with non power assist brakes will stop exactly in the same distance as C3's with power brakes, the only difference is the brake pedal feel.
I was actually disappointed by the brakes results recently in Vette magazine on a C3 converted from the stock system to the Wilwood 6 piston front and 4 piston rear conversion (not a knock, I like the idea but was hoping for a more dramatic difference in braking). The brake distance between the stock system and the Wilwood conversion was not significant on the street-would probably matter more on the track where the wilwood would resist brake fade MUCH better than the stock system.
I do know that hydroboost will do nothing to increase the stopping distance in a car that does not have a vacuum issue. Stopping distances are solely determined by brake swept area of the rotors, caliper design (4 piston fixed caliper on the C3 at each wheel are pretty darn good), brake pad material, and tires. Hydroboost will make the brakes feel more powerful but in reality, no difference in stopping. As has been noted many times before as an example, C3's with non power assist brakes will stop exactly in the same distance as C3's with power brakes, the only difference is the brake pedal feel.
I was actually disappointed by the brakes results recently in Vette magazine on a C3 converted from the stock system to the Wilwood 6 piston front and 4 piston rear conversion (not a knock, I like the idea but was hoping for a more dramatic difference in braking). The brake distance between the stock system and the Wilwood conversion was not significant on the street-would probably matter more on the track where the wilwood would resist brake fade MUCH better than the stock system.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Sep 29, 2012 at 09:28 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
If you are buying a complete kit, check that the new master cylinder will work with your calipers as 8valve said. If adding hydro boost to your existing master, the push rod length (rod between hydro and master) must be checked as there are a couple different lengths. The new stroke length must match the stroke needed for the master cylinder.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
Ride in one and find out.Mine stops like a much lighter car.I was skeptical too.I don't have a vaccum problem.I just wanted something that worked better than the factory vaccum booster and calibers that are prone to bleeding problems.Mine gravity bleed now and I no longer have air issues in the brake.The wilwood mastercylinder is correct for the factory or their aftermarket calibers.My pedal travels 1 inch and then its hard as a rock.I'm sorry I waited and worried with the factory set up so long before swapping it out.It's not cheap but brakes are no longer a problem.You can order a hydroboost kit for a deep or shallow mastercylinder.Depends on which mastercylinder you want to use.
Last edited by rugerm44; Sep 29, 2012 at 10:29 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Stock manual brakes used a 1" bore master and the stock booster brakes used a 1-1/8" master each in their respective holes in the brake pedal.
Both work extremely well.
If you want less less pedal effort then go to a hydraboost.
Gives just the illusion the car stops better, but it's just foot effort.
Both work extremely well.
If you want less less pedal effort then go to a hydraboost.
Gives just the illusion the car stops better, but it's just foot effort.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't hydroboost for cars that have large cams that don't make enough vacuum to operate a traditional power brake booster adequately?
I do know that hydroboost will do nothing to increase the stopping distance in a car that does not have a vacuum issue. Stopping distances are solely determined by brake swept area of the rotors, caliper design (4 piston fixed caliper on the C3 at each wheel are pretty darn good), brake pad material, and tires. Hydroboost will make the brakes feel more powerful but in reality, no difference in stopping. As has been noted many times before as an example, C3's with non power assist brakes will stop exactly in the same distance as C3's with power brakes, the only difference is the brake pedal feel.
I was actually disappointed by the brakes results recently in Vette magazine on a C3 converted from the stock system to the Wilwood 6 piston front and 4 piston rear conversion (not a knock, I like the idea but was hoping for a more dramatic difference in braking). The brake distance between the stock system and the Wilwood conversion was not significant on the street-would probably matter more on the track where the wilwood would resist brake fade MUCH better than the stock system.
I do know that hydroboost will do nothing to increase the stopping distance in a car that does not have a vacuum issue. Stopping distances are solely determined by brake swept area of the rotors, caliper design (4 piston fixed caliper on the C3 at each wheel are pretty darn good), brake pad material, and tires. Hydroboost will make the brakes feel more powerful but in reality, no difference in stopping. As has been noted many times before as an example, C3's with non power assist brakes will stop exactly in the same distance as C3's with power brakes, the only difference is the brake pedal feel.
I was actually disappointed by the brakes results recently in Vette magazine on a C3 converted from the stock system to the Wilwood 6 piston front and 4 piston rear conversion (not a knock, I like the idea but was hoping for a more dramatic difference in braking). The brake distance between the stock system and the Wilwood conversion was not significant on the street-would probably matter more on the track where the wilwood would resist brake fade MUCH better than the stock system.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,451
Likes: 974
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Like I said, Hydroboost will NOT change the overall performance of the braking system-sorry it's a fact about physics that cannot be changed! As I suspected and confirmed by some of the comments above, it will add more "boost/power assist" making the car feel "lighter" and the appearance of "better" braking performance with less effort. Brake performance again is determined by Brake swept area of the rotor, caliper design, brake pad material, and tires-no difference in performance between non power brakes, power brakes, and hydroboost.
Hydroboost clearly has an application for cars and certainly will reduce pedal effort along with "better "pedal feel but folks should understand that it will NOT improve the overall brake effectiveness of a brake system. Not possible!
Hydroboost clearly has an application for cars and certainly will reduce pedal effort along with "better "pedal feel but folks should understand that it will NOT improve the overall brake effectiveness of a brake system. Not possible!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
I agree with your statement. If all other brake components remain the same, the hydro just makes it easier to push the pedal.
But you left out the pressure of the fluid in the calipers and the time it takes to reach effective clamping force. Reaching the pressure faster obviously will start braking sooner. And for a given stroke, if you use a larger bore master you will have higher pressure in the calipers. And some people will be able to achieve a longer stroke (= more pressure) than they would without the extra boost because of strength and/or body positioning.
But you left out the pressure of the fluid in the calipers and the time it takes to reach effective clamping force. Reaching the pressure faster obviously will start braking sooner. And for a given stroke, if you use a larger bore master you will have higher pressure in the calipers. And some people will be able to achieve a longer stroke (= more pressure) than they would without the extra boost because of strength and/or body positioning.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
He asked if they work together, meaning are there compatability issues. I read it real careful and coughed up the answer. Another short answer: The most powerful brakes in the world work only was good as the traction and chassis allow.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Its NOT hydroboost vs manual brakes, its hydroboost vs vacuum-booster, I had both manual brakes and power brakes C3s in the past, the manual brakes has a much better feel but needs more leg effort, the power brakes has a horrible pedal feel but needs less leg effort, now the hydroboost has the best of both worlds!, less leg effort, and the same positive feel of the manual brakes, now both my cars has hydroboost brakes in them!
Again guys, its NOT about the stopping distance, its about both the feel and the leg effort.
Again guys, its NOT about the stopping distance, its about both the feel and the leg effort.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
From: Richmond Va
I have hydroboost on my 69 and my 81 CJ rockcrawler w/ 42" tires. I love it on both applications. The jeep has a 78 Corvette power M/C and 4 wheel disc and stops like a race car. The vette has drilled and slotted rotors(not sure how much perf increase, if any, but looks cool) and stock calipers and it stops w/ minimal pedal travel and it makes it easier for my wife to drive as well. This may be one reason NOT to put it on.