Have any of you installed a power brake booster to a Vette with standard brakes? If so, what results did you get, and was it a tough install? I need to so something with my brakes. They suck.

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Click on images for Before and After pics!

I haven't added a booster to a non power system. But I can tell you that I just changed out my booster on the '81...and that sucked to do!

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

[QUOTE=Sarge81] But I can tell you that I just changed out my booster on the '81...and that sucked to do! [/QUOTE] I bet you have bruises in places that you didn't know existed. Also you probably used swear words that don't exist either. The car was built around the booster.

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I have changed mine as well. Pick a real Noisy day when Your Neighbors cant here You Cussing. You will need a Flex Socket to get to some of the Nuts and then You will want to wrap it with Black Tape so that it won't Flex to much when You don't want it to. If your not concern't about Originality you might want to consider one of the Hydra Boost Systems. Look at VB&P online or under the Hood of a Late Model GM Truck. 

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My Car...PIC 1     PIC 2

Its a tough job but the brakes will work better, providing you don't have to lumpy of a cam...this can lessen the power at lower idle...but I have used the SSBC electric brake vacumn motor and works great. Doesn't use any motor vacumn to work. use a good booster and master to make it worth while doing.

You'll also need to change the master cylinder for a PB cylinder...they are different. Of course, going from non-booster to booster with the same master will give you a lot lighter brake pedal.
There is a difference in the size(diameter) of the pistons inside the master on the two different systems, as well as a difference in the depth of the end of the piston that the pushrod(from the pedal/booster) fits into.

Also, installing the booster is not a simple "bolt on" deal, since the booster is held on with 4 studs/nuts, while the master is held on by only 2 studs/nuts. Not to say it can't be done, of course, but it's gonna take a little time to complete. Winter time is coming, tho, so, what the heck? Go fer it!

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks for the posts guy's. I'm glad I asked. Looked pretty easy, but sounds like it ain't. Like Joel say's. I got all winter.

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Click on images for Before and After pics!

Just wait till you try to re-attach the pedal.  Talk about speaking in tongues!!!

The BEST piece of advice I can give you is to start by taking out the drivers seat and T-Top!  Don't even think about squirreling around under the dash for eight hours if you don't do these first.

Also, if you have a very limber family member with small hands and long arms, it would help a whole lot.

A lift might help as it might be easier access from below.  I'd also recommend not doing this one alone, especially if you have a temper like "Some" of us have.  Things could get broken (fiberglass) easily with the frustration level of this install.

Seriously, take your time and be sure to get a shop manual and follow the instructions carefully.  It's also a great time to clean that part of the firewall.

Good Luck!

The booster bolts to the pedal brace assembly.  I checked a power and manual brake car, and they both have the same brace, so you won't have to take that apart.  You will probably have to drill a hole in the fiberglass of the firewall for the bottom bolts.

Larry

Dudes...................you are more and more talkin me outta doing this thang. Uh.................ya man.................I got power brakes now, but I busted out my windshield, an punched a bunch a holes in the fiberglass wid my fist.

Ok, better question. Is there anything I can do to better my standard brake stopability short of putting in a power booster?

my7T12008-10-22 08:48:04

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Click on images for Before and After pics!

Short answer? NO...
If the system is properly adjusted, and there are no leaks, the manual brake system should be fine, and stop the car ok. Takes a bit more footie pressure than power fer sher, but it should still stop with no drama.

We're not trying tuh talk ya out of installing a PB system, Terry...just givin ya info about how it is....it is not a simple 30 minute deal. The booster will fit the pedal brace, but you will need to poke the two holes for the lower studs in the firewall...not really a big job. It's just time consuming...not overly complicated.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

  Plan on removeing the Gauges and doing most of the Work threw the Hole. Mine is a Late C3 so its not that hard to remove the Speedo tach but I'm not sure about the early Cars. Having the Seat out is a Good Idea to. If there is any Dash Work or Replacement I'd have the Parts ready so You can do it all at once.

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My Car...PIC 1     PIC 2

Good idea to replace all the light bulbs when out.

Hey guys? I just did the right side of my '82 with calipers and I'm pretty sure I have to do the other side. I've done pads all around and replaced the front flexible lines. After all that, I've got worse brakes than when I started.

All this talk of it being a tough job and cursing and throwing and breaking things out of anger is exactly why I do this as a hobby and not a job.  When I run into a frustrating situation on any car project, that's when I call it a day and go do something else.  Mabe the yard needs mowed or the gutters need cleaned out, something that requires no brain power.  Get back to the car project the next day or the next weekend. 

A few years ago I made the mistake of setting a goal for myself of finishing a custom engine swap at least a month ahead of a big national show in Las Vegas.  I worked furiously for months and finally started the engine for the first time only two weeks before the show and there were of course "bugs".  There was no way I was going to be confident enough to drive the car on a 2,600 mile round trip right outta the box.  I'd lost a brand new high-performance fuel pump in the middle of the Arizona desert on an earlier project and sat out a few days awaiting Fed Ex with the replacement.  I wasn't going to risk that again.  I decided at that point, no more goals or artificial deadlines.  This is just a hobby.  Instead, I flew to Vegas and enjoyed the show without my car that year.  I worked out the bugs over time and drove it later to another big show in Toronto just to get that road trip that I'd been so looking forward to.

This car hobby is just so much more fun when you can set it aside when you get frustrated and not worry about deadlines and such.

Phil

[QUOTE=pdupler]This car hobby is just so much more fun when you can set it aside when you get frustrated and not worry about deadlines and such.

Phil
[/QUOTE]

Hello, Gale Banks 80 - regarding the reference to a late model GM brake booster - is there is swap?  What year GM are you talking about?  Is this a bolt on?