Power brakes conversion guys chime in
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Power brakes conversion guys chime in
If you have converted your manual brakes to power brakes or still have manual feel free to add your comments.
1. (Positives) The manual brakes do not lock up and stop the car in a controled fashion where as power brakes do lock up which we all know is undesirable.
2. (Negatives) Well cost of conversion. Power brakes do lock up but stop the car much faster.
I have written down my shopping list of what I need to order for the conversion but at $400 plus I'm questioning if I truely need it. Have been in at least 4 panic stop situations and the manual brakes saved me from an accident, just barely. However I know the power brakes would have stopped in even a shorter distance. Before I spend the money/ time and worse yet try to get my 6'4" body under that damn dash is it really worth he time/ expense?
1. (Positives) The manual brakes do not lock up and stop the car in a controled fashion where as power brakes do lock up which we all know is undesirable.
2. (Negatives) Well cost of conversion. Power brakes do lock up but stop the car much faster.
I have written down my shopping list of what I need to order for the conversion but at $400 plus I'm questioning if I truely need it. Have been in at least 4 panic stop situations and the manual brakes saved me from an accident, just barely. However I know the power brakes would have stopped in even a shorter distance. Before I spend the money/ time and worse yet try to get my 6'4" body under that damn dash is it really worth he time/ expense?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Go with a hydroboost system. I have had manual and power and now have the Hydroboost system in my car. What a difference. It cost me around 500 for the kit. Some have gotten the system off other cars but the kit from www.Hydroboost.com fit perfectly and required little time to install. The bracket that converts from manual to the Hydroboost system is very heavy duty. It is a small compact system and it works extremly well. Much better than vacuum power. I feel it gives you a manual feel for the brakes but power when you need it. You don't have to stand on the brakes like I used to with the manual brakes.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by Gordonm
Go with a hydroboost system. I have had manual and power and now have the Hydroboost system in my car. What a difference. It cost me around 500 for the kit. Some have gotten the system off other cars but the kit from www.Hydroboost.com fit perfectly and required little time to install. The bracket that converts from manual to the Hydroboost system is very heavy duty. It is a small compact system and it works extremly well. Much better than vacuum power. I feel it gives you a manual feel for the brakes but power when you need it. You don't have to stand on the brakes like I used to with the manual brakes.
???
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
I can't speak for the hydroboost system however I wouldn't trade my manual brakes for power and never had a problem locking up the wheels at any speed. I was surprised to read a while back that some people couldn't. I did however also recently upgrade to the Hawk HP plus pads which substantially reduced the pedal force required which I suspect was most peoples real issue. The force needed never bothered me (strong legs) before but I experienced serious brake fade problems when I took it on a track which is why I upgraded. The Hawk pads give a MUCH lighter feel and with little force I can make the tires just "talk" to me at any time. I really like the combo now and would suggest you try it before swapping out you whole system. I think pads for all four cost me just short of 100 bucks or so. If you were in Seattle or somewhere nearby I would just have you take a spin in my 69. These are the best feeling brakes I have ever had. I like them more than my late model BMW 735il. No steel braided hoses or anything. Just new working components correctly power bled.
Hope that helps
Hope that helps
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Connecticut
BTW, locked brakes won't stop you any faster, in fact it will stop slower! The optimum braking is just at the point of locking, which is much easier to achieve with manual brakes. Remember in a panic situation we all slam the brakes on as hard as possible anyway, so power brakes won't help you there. They do make it easier around town, though. I have driven both in vettes and manual brakes aren't that bad when you get used to them. Joe
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Looks like they went up a little in price. I got mine on a group buy a little over a year ago. I did get the lines with it and also got a new master cylinder. If I recall I paid a little under 500 for the whole setup. I have much more pedal feel with this system than with the manual brakes. I did not like the vacuum power at all. The manual was not bad but required more effort to bring it down from a faster speed. Around town it was not bad but I still prefer the Hydroboost.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 5
From: Nashville TN
As your brake pads heat up it does take more force to get the same amount of stopping power due to brake fade. This is where the hydroboost helps out a lot.
I have a hydroboost kit on my car and it works great. The system that Paul at www.hydroboost.com came up with for manual C3's does not require you to drill the firewall for a conventional booster, it uses a special plate that retails the factory firewall configuration.
My car has a healty camshaft in it, I appreciate the power brakes during low speed operations like backing out of the garage. When I had vacuum brakes it was a little hariry as adequate boost had not built up.
I have a hydroboost kit on my car and it works great. The system that Paul at www.hydroboost.com came up with for manual C3's does not require you to drill the firewall for a conventional booster, it uses a special plate that retails the factory firewall configuration.
My car has a healty camshaft in it, I appreciate the power brakes during low speed operations like backing out of the garage. When I had vacuum brakes it was a little hariry as adequate boost had not built up.
