Convert to MANUAL Brakes from Power.
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Convert to MANUAL Brakes from Power.
I want to convert to a non power brake system. So delete my Power booster and mount directly to the firewall a Manual master cylinder .
Has anyone done this and what parts are needed and or is there a kit available.
Has anyone done this and what parts are needed and or is there a kit available.
#3
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2008
Posts: 8,972
Received 2,687 Likes
on
1,414 Posts
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
There is a lot more to it than that. Search the threads, there are multiple threads that show, including information from Willcox. The bolt pattern is not the same, the hole will have to be covered, the brake switch has a different bracket. I want to do the same, but have not made it a priority yet. Have to gather the parts as well.
#4
Dementer sole survivor
Member Since: Oct 2015
Location: YUPPY HELL Westford MASS
Posts: 16,448
Received 6,295 Likes
on
3,920 Posts
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Depends on your year. What year car do you have. A 68 uses the same components, just a different master. I just did the conversion the opposite of what you did. On 69 and later there is a little arm/ bracket that activates the brake lights on the foot pedal arm that is different. the booster rod just goes in a different hole.
Post in the WTB ot WTT section of the want ad section, maybe someone converted to power and can swap out parts or something. BTW I love my power brakes and don't know why you want to get rid of them. Good luck, hope it all works out
Post in the WTB ot WTT section of the want ad section, maybe someone converted to power and can swap out parts or something. BTW I love my power brakes and don't know why you want to get rid of them. Good luck, hope it all works out
#5
Race Director
To do this right you will need to change out the mounting. In the picture below you can see the difference between the two pedal assemblies. It locates the MC correctly. As said above the brake light switch is different. Most people convert manual to power so these pedal assemblies should be plentiful. Manual is on right PB is on the left.
Last edited by Gordonm; 12-03-2017 at 08:52 AM.
#7
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2008
Posts: 8,972
Received 2,687 Likes
on
1,414 Posts
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Manual
The reason I want to switch to manual is same reason I switched the power steering to manual.
If you want to experience the feel of driving a sports car, you certainly want road feel in the steering. I had completely rebuilt power steering system, and the thing was all over the place with play and slop. I switched to manual, and now it is tight as can be, good road feedback, and a MAJOR difference in how fun it is to drive. It really has made the car a blast to drive in the twisties. In parking lot, it takes a little effort...so what. Boo-hoo.
As for brakes, I have all new power booster, master cylinder, etc, and the car brakes well, but that mushy, vacuum lack of feel pedal is annoying to me. I would prefer a more direct feel for the brakes. And if the only penalty for manual brakes is I have to push it harder, but it has a great direct feel, I want it. Most people say the cars brake equally well, manual or power.
Manual steering and brakes do take more physical effort, but I hardly find it "too much" for this 59 year old man. I guess it really depends on what kind of driving you want out of your Corvette sports car.
If you want to experience the feel of driving a sports car, you certainly want road feel in the steering. I had completely rebuilt power steering system, and the thing was all over the place with play and slop. I switched to manual, and now it is tight as can be, good road feedback, and a MAJOR difference in how fun it is to drive. It really has made the car a blast to drive in the twisties. In parking lot, it takes a little effort...so what. Boo-hoo.
As for brakes, I have all new power booster, master cylinder, etc, and the car brakes well, but that mushy, vacuum lack of feel pedal is annoying to me. I would prefer a more direct feel for the brakes. And if the only penalty for manual brakes is I have to push it harder, but it has a great direct feel, I want it. Most people say the cars brake equally well, manual or power.
Manual steering and brakes do take more physical effort, but I hardly find it "too much" for this 59 year old man. I guess it really depends on what kind of driving you want out of your Corvette sports car.
Last edited by Torqued Off; 12-03-2017 at 06:13 PM.
#8
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2008
Posts: 8,972
Received 2,687 Likes
on
1,414 Posts
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Mistake
Yes, manual brakes take more physical effort on the pedal to apply same braking action as power brakes.
Last edited by Torqued Off; 12-03-2017 at 06:16 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Torqued Off (12-03-2017)
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I want to convert for the room on that side of the motor and simplicity and because my cam makes low vac. Car is a 1980 .. I have not done anything yet . I was thinking all i would need was a M/S and a rod and possibly make a plate to cover mounting surface and provide the right bolt pattern
#11
Team Owner
I bought my C3 looking for manual steering and brakes just for the reasons iwasmenowhesgone mentioned.
I was thinking about this thread on the way to work tonight (my Vette is my daily driver) and thought how much feel I have in my brake pedal and how well it stops. When I jump in my son's car or my wife's Explorer I always think the brakes are mushy.
Yes, it takes a man to drive my car but guess what, I'm a man. My wife hates driving my Vette because it has ARMSTRONG power steering and it is hard in the parking lots but straight as a arrow on the road. She's never complained about the brakes.
I was thinking about this thread on the way to work tonight (my Vette is my daily driver) and thought how much feel I have in my brake pedal and how well it stops. When I jump in my son's car or my wife's Explorer I always think the brakes are mushy.
Yes, it takes a man to drive my car but guess what, I'm a man. My wife hates driving my Vette because it has ARMSTRONG power steering and it is hard in the parking lots but straight as a arrow on the road. She's never complained about the brakes.
The following users liked this post:
Torqued Off (12-03-2017)
#12
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jul 2012
Location: Slovenia, EU
Posts: 1,116
Received 263 Likes
on
128 Posts
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
I'm looking on buying the Wilwood master cylinder for my 71 and also was wondering if removing the booster might be a good choice. But is there much to do or just easy bolt on?
As I read here there is some work but nothing too huge I believe.
As I read here there is some work but nothing too huge I believe.
#13
I'm 72 and love my no power steering and no power brakes,maybe in 20 years I'll feel differently about it but for now I'm good .
The following users liked this post:
Torqued Off (06-18-2018)
#14
Team Owner
I hate to burst your 'bubble', but the Corvette is NOT a sports car. It is an American 'sporty' car. For a sports car, it is overweight, too nose heavy, big hi-torque engine, and not particularly nimble (unless you throw plenty of $$$ at the suspension).
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
#15
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2008
Posts: 8,972
Received 2,687 Likes
on
1,414 Posts
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I hate to burst your 'bubble', but the Corvette is NOT a sports car. It is an American 'sporty' car. For a sports car, it is overweight, too nose heavy, big hi-torque engine, and not particularly nimble (unless you throw plenty of $$$ at the suspension).
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
: a low small usually 2-passenger automobile designed for quick response, easy maneuverability, and high-speed driving"
I would say my 77 Corvette meets this definition. Whatever its called, I like driving it......and I will call it a sports car.
Last edited by Torqued Off; 06-19-2018 at 06:35 AM.
#16
Race Director
Bought 75 at an auction. Halfway home I pulled over to check brake fluid cuz brakes felt like doo doo. Opened joes, saw missing power booster, said oh well...
#17
Burning Brakes
I hate to burst your 'bubble', but the Corvette is NOT a sports car. It is an American 'sporty' car. For a sports car, it is overweight, too nose heavy, big hi-torque engine, and not particularly nimble (unless you throw plenty of $$$ at the suspension).
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
#18
I hate to burst your 'bubble', but the Corvette is NOT a sports car. It is an American 'sporty' car. For a sports car, it is overweight, too nose heavy, big hi-torque engine, and not particularly nimble (unless you throw plenty of $$$ at the suspension).
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
It may be able to make decent lap times (because of engine power), but that doesn't make it a sports car.
P.S. I still love the early Corvettes (C1/C2/C3), but I don't live in fantasy land.
#19
Melting Slicks
My cam makes between 6-8 inches at idle,....so with power brakes, they worked great....sometimes,......sometimes not so much. Problem was you never knew when they would be great. With manual, the feel is solid every time. Added plus,....more room under the hood to change plugs.
The following users liked this post:
Primoz (06-20-2018)
#20
Safety Car
I have power steering, but manual brakes. the best of both worlds.
don't need toe tapping braking ease, and my leg muscle is the strongest muscle in my body, so I don't need PB. plus I can easily tell if any air is in my system.
power steering is a big plus for me.. since the car is not a little zippy sports car. I have had both in a C3.
non power steering is ok going down the road. but parking, in and out of the garage/driveway puts meat on your shoulders.
power steering in a c3 is not the one finger steering that today's cars are.. it is 'power assist' and still requires some umph...
try driving a 67 bel-air with no PS for 3 years like I did back in my hippie days.. I could not even sell that car. too many wienies wanted PS.
but it gave me a lifetime of strong broad shoulders.
now that I am old, PS is the way to go.
anyway.. there are pluses and minuses to both..
don't need toe tapping braking ease, and my leg muscle is the strongest muscle in my body, so I don't need PB. plus I can easily tell if any air is in my system.
power steering is a big plus for me.. since the car is not a little zippy sports car. I have had both in a C3.
non power steering is ok going down the road. but parking, in and out of the garage/driveway puts meat on your shoulders.
power steering in a c3 is not the one finger steering that today's cars are.. it is 'power assist' and still requires some umph...
try driving a 67 bel-air with no PS for 3 years like I did back in my hippie days.. I could not even sell that car. too many wienies wanted PS.
but it gave me a lifetime of strong broad shoulders.
now that I am old, PS is the way to go.
anyway.. there are pluses and minuses to both..