Selecting a Master Cylinder and Booster
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Ontario
Selecting a Master Cylinder and Booster
Hey all! Need some help selecting the right master cylinder and booster for my truck project. Right now I have a IFS from a 90 C4 and getting a IRS from a 96 C4. Both are complete with brakes. Since I'm finishing the cab repair, I need to think about the MC and booster setup I want to run so I can add support under the dash. Stock truck had the setup under the floor. I want to run a fire wall mounted setup but not sure what setup I need to purchase. I would like to get a chrome or polished aluminum setup.
With what brake setup I already have, I don't know what setup I need to get. Can you all lend a hand? I appreciate it.
With what brake setup I already have, I don't know what setup I need to get. Can you all lend a hand? I appreciate it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
Hey all! Need some help selecting the right master cylinder and booster for my truck project. Right now I have a IFS from a 90 C4 and getting a IRS from a 96 C4. Both are complete with brakes. Since I'm finishing the cab repair, I need to think about the MC and booster setup I want to run so I can add support under the dash. Stock truck had the setup under the floor. I want to run a fire wall mounted setup but not sure what setup I need to purchase. I would like to get a chrome or polished aluminum setup.
With what brake setup I already have, I don't know what setup I need to get. Can you all lend a hand? I appreciate it.
With what brake setup I already have, I don't know what setup I need to get. Can you all lend a hand? I appreciate it.
Last edited by WVZR-1; May 5, 2014 at 12:06 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
I would think you would want a Saginaw Type II pump likely with a remote reservoir similar to the C4 but be able to be plumbed for the HB.
Every thing would depend on the front accessory drive that you're intending to use for whatever engine!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Ontario
Thanks WVZR-1. Regardless what I want, I need to know what specs of the parts I should get for the C4 brakes I already have. Like if I wanted to order a setup from Wilwood. I do want the "pretty stuff" or a nice looking setup. What's HB? I'm running a 1995 LT1 for an engine and also have the power steering pump that came with the 1990 Vette IFS.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
HB - hydra-boost I seldom use acronyms but I thought HB might fly. You'll need an LT1 pump I'm quite sure, I'd have to study that a bit. Now if you were using maybe someone's front end drive package for AC, alternator and the like then their pump arrangement would be the desired regardless of the type of brakes.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Be careful about choosing the Hydraboost. The '90 LT1 pump was designed for the Corvette power rack , but may not have the capacity to supply the rack and the brakes at the same time. You may feel a little "kick" in your steering if you're in a corner and jump on the brakes at the same time. How big a "kick"? I don't know, I'm just looking at the engineering design, and the comments of other street rod builders. I'd recommend a double diaphragm vacuum booster for best performance.
Classic Performance Products has some well designed and attractive vacuum power booster set-ups. They're in Placentia CA, 800-823-1068. They have a good tech department, too. They may ask you to call on their other number 714-522-2000 for tech information.
I worked on an Olds with the Hydraboost, and it had an oversized power steering pump.
Classic Performance Products has some well designed and attractive vacuum power booster set-ups. They're in Placentia CA, 800-823-1068. They have a good tech department, too. They may ask you to call on their other number 714-522-2000 for tech information.
I worked on an Olds with the Hydraboost, and it had an oversized power steering pump.
Last edited by Hot Rod Roy; May 7, 2014 at 02:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Ontario
Thanks for the reply and info Roy. I will call them and see what they say. Just to make sure everyone knows what parts I have already. I have a 1995 LT1 still in car running and driving. A complete 1990 Vette IFS with rack, power steering pump and reservoir with rotors and calipers. On it's way is a 1996 D44 IRS complete with rotors and calipers.
Thanks again everyone.
Thanks again everyone.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
There are certainly many options available to the OP and each likely have their own pro and con points.
Only the OP can determine that and make decisions. regardless of the decision there's a good bit to make the choice effective. Pretty not as difficult - effective maybe more difficult.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
Not "oversized" but just a P-series pump. Hydraboost systems use an accumulator for some of what you're attempting to influence are the downfalls of the Hydraboost. I believe you used the term "kick". True that the Saginaw Type II pump creates more aeration than a P-series but with a proper remote reservoir and maybe even a cooler that becomes a non-issue. The pump can also be tuned for pressure and volume so there's little reason not to do a hydraboost if it "desired" or more appropriate for the build.
There are certainly many options available to the OP and each likely have their own pro and con points.
Only the OP can determine that and make decisions. regardless of the decision there's a good bit to make the choice effective. Pretty not as difficult - effective maybe more difficult.
There are certainly many options available to the OP and each likely have their own pro and con points.
Only the OP can determine that and make decisions. regardless of the decision there's a good bit to make the choice effective. Pretty not as difficult - effective maybe more difficult.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 55
Likes: 1
From: Eastern Ontario
This is getting harder than I thought. All I'm looking for is a unit that will work with stock C4 brakes but is much better looking under the hood. I don't know all the technical stuff that's been mentioned. That's why I asked. Has no one here installed a nice Wilwood or other unit in their Vette that's a direct replacement?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,393
Likes: 2,741
This is getting harder than I thought. All I'm looking for is a unit that will work with stock C4 brakes but is much better looking under the hood. I don't know all the technical stuff that's been mentioned. That's why I asked. Has no one here installed a nice Wilwood or other unit in their Vette that's a direct replacement?
I've seen several on custom chassis but not in a truck application so firewall size and available real estate for the mounting I'm certainly not familiar with. I've participated in a couple of builds.
Your firewall and pedal mounting can't actually be compared to a C4 install.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,953
Likes: 550
From: Mission Viejo CA
This is getting harder than I thought. All I'm looking for is a unit that will work with stock C4 brakes but is much better looking under the hood. I don't know all the technical stuff that's been mentioned. That's why I asked. Has no one here installed a nice Wilwood or other unit in their Vette that's a direct replacement?
You might also try Flat Out Engineering www.flatout-engineering.com They do Corvette suspensions in a variety of trucks and other non-Corvette's.
Last edited by Hot Rod Roy; May 8, 2014 at 11:58 AM.