Converting from manual to power brakes.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bryanw1968 · 04-17-2007, 11:27 AM

I ditched the drum brakes on the front and went to disc a coupla years ago.
However, it's still manual. What do I need besides the vacuum reservoir to make it happen? Will the reservoir bolt right onto the fire wall where the master cylinder was? Any tips would be appreciated.
Thanks,
B

glock35ipsc · 04-17-2007, 11:34 AM

You will need the push rod for the power booster as well, they are different between manual and power. Be sure to get a disc/drum prop valve too. You can rebend the brake lines that run down along the frame or use donor lines. And yes, the booster will bolt right up to the firewall. The master cylinder uses the 2 lower studs, and the booster will use all 4 studs.

Zonaman · 04-17-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanw1968

I ditched the drum brakes on the front and went to disc a coupla years ago.
However, it's still manual.

Hugh?

I thought that manual disc brakes were effective only on the smallest vehciles. How was that thing stopping without a booster- or am I misinformed on this?

Blue71LWB · 04-17-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zonaman

Hugh?

I thought that manual disc brakes were effective only on the smallest vehciles. How was that thing stopping without a booster- or am I misinformed on this?

I've got a '71 with factory front disc and manual brakes. I don't tailgate!!

Tx Firefighter · 04-17-2007, 01:06 PM

Power brakes were an option. I drive my 72 truck 100 miles per day with manual brakes. It stops fine.

LOW DOUGH · 04-17-2007, 01:10 PM

Yep my 71 had manual disks and i put on power. It stopped fine.

bryanw1968 · 04-17-2007, 01:49 PM

Oh it stops great, but you gotta earn it.

Yeller68 · 04-17-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryanw1968

Oh it stops great, but you gotta earn it.

That's funny!

krue · 04-17-2007, 02:17 PM

bryanw1968 · 04-17-2007, 03:55 PM

I just talked to a vendor that I usually buy stuff through and he said that a lot more parts. I think it might be time for a junk yard run?

So I need the following:

A new master cylinder as he said mine won't work even though it was made for a disc brake vette.

A proportioning valve.

Bracket for the proportioning valve.

New lines.

New rod.

Brake booster.

There has to be a cheaper/easier way to do this with out spending $400???

I thought once I had actually gotten the rotors on that would be the only expensive part?

Any advice always appreciated.
B

krue · 04-17-2007, 04:09 PM

New lines? You shouldn't need new lines, you shouldn't really need a new m/c iirc.

**53burb** · 04-17-2007, 04:23 PM

sometimes you do need a new M/C...it depends on the bore length of the M/C....shallow or deep...power boosters usually require the M/C to have a shallow bore....

OLDIRON69 · 04-20-2007, 02:14 PM

Are the lines, for instance on a '69 with drum on the front. Will those lines work when doing the swap? Just add a prop. valve and the other necessary bolt on,steering components etc. I was told I need "disc brake lines" like on a '71-72. I know I need the flex lines that go to the calipers. I robbed the brackets for the brake lines off the '71. I guess what I'm asking is will the hard lines be the same/work??

Zonaman · 04-23-2007, 04:57 PM

I used a new booster, master cylinder, & proportioning valve. The original lines from my drum brake setup were kept. Needed adapters to fit them into new prop. valve, that was it. Of course I had to change out the ball joints to accept the '73 types.

krue · 04-23-2007, 05:23 PM

I used adaptors and bought new hoses, but now I'm junking all of that and going with the booster/master cylinder/ prop valves/ lines from an 83. To connect the 72 calipers to the 83 lines I have to use the hoses off a 73 (before they went Metric on the banjo bolt on the calipers).

OLDIRON69 · 04-24-2007, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krue

I used adaptors and bought new hoses, but now I'm junking all of that and going with the booster/master cylinder/ prop valves/ lines from an 83. To connect the 72 calipers to the 83 lines I have to use the hoses off a 73 (before they went Metric on the banjo bolt on the calipers).

What are you gonna do with the adaptors and new hoses?? If your sellin'? I'm intrested.

69_hafton · 04-24-2007, 11:36 AM

I'm adding a vacuum booster to mine right now. Thing I'm trying to find out is if there's a different grommet/boot for the firewall. The manual master cylinder had a boot, but with the master cylinder now in front of the booster, there needs to be a boot or a grommet for the pedal rod to travel through?

The vacuum booster has these brackets to attach it to the firewall. You need a different push rod from the brake pedal to the center of the booster linkage pictured:

04-17-2007, 11:27 AM	#1
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Converting from manual to power brakes.... I ditched the drum brakes on the front and went to disc a coupla years ago. However, it's still manual. What do I need besides the vacuum reservoir to make it happen? Will the reservoir bolt right onto the fire wall where the master cylinder was? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks, B

04-17-2007, 11:34 AM	#2
glock35ipsc Next project: 1970 K10 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colo 80524 Posts: 6,685	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... You will need the push rod for the power booster as well, they are different between manual and power. Be sure to get a disc/drum prop valve too. You can rebend the brake lines that run down along the frame or use donor lines. And yes, the booster will bolt right up to the firewall. The master cylinder uses the 2 lower studs, and the booster will use all 4 studs. __________________ *Bob* 1970 Chevy K10 LWB "Goldie" 350/TH350 *next project!!* 1981 Chevy C10 LWB 355/TH350 - My son's truck LS SWAP FORUM! Tons of LS swap info here! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE GREATEST BOARD ON THE NET! CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ INDEX by KRUE

04-17-2007, 01:06 PM	#5
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... Power brakes were an option. I drive my 72 truck 100 miles per day with manual brakes. It stops fine. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

04-17-2007, 01:10 PM	#6
LOW DOUGH I'M TRUCK CRAZY! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sachse, TEXAS Posts: 1,737	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... Yep my 71 had manual disks and i put on power. It stopped fine.

04-17-2007, 01:49 PM	#7
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... Oh it stops great, but you gotta earn it.

04-17-2007, 02:17 PM	#9
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-17-2007, 03:55 PM	#10
bryanw1968 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Leander, Texas Posts: 850	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... I just talked to a vendor that I usually buy stuff through and he said that a lot more parts. I think it might be time for a junk yard run? So I need the following: A new master cylinder as he said mine won't work even though it was made for a disc brake vette. A proportioning valve. Bracket for the proportioning valve. New lines. New rod. Brake booster. There has to be a cheaper/easier way to do this with out spending $400??? I thought once I had actually gotten the rotors on that would be the only expensive part? Any advice always appreciated. B

04-17-2007, 04:09 PM	#11
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... New lines? You shouldn't need new lines, you shouldn't really need a new m/c iirc. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-17-2007, 04:23 PM	#12
53burb Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Queen Creek, AZ Posts: 1,007	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... sometimes you do need a new M/C...it depends on the bore length of the M/C....shallow or deep...power boosters usually require the M/C to have a shallow bore....

04-20-2007, 02:14 PM	#13
OLDIRON69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ben Wheeler,Texas Posts: 992	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... Are the lines, for instance on a '69 with drum on the front. Will those lines work when doing the swap? Just add a prop. valve and the other necessary bolt on,steering components etc. I was told I need "disc brake lines" like on a '71-72. I know I need the flex lines that go to the calipers. I robbed the brackets for the brake lines off the '71. I guess what I'm asking is will the hard lines be the same/work?? __________________ 05 2500HD 6.0 excab 69 LWB-Gone but not forgotten! 68 Dodge Charger 383/727 69 Dodge Charger-440/4spd

04-23-2007, 04:57 PM	#14
Zonaman Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 519	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... I used a new booster, master cylinder, & proportioning valve. The original lines from my drum brake setup were kept. Needed adapters to fit them into new prop. valve, that was it. Of course I had to change out the ball joints to accept the '73 types. __________________ 69 C-10 LWB, 350, 700r4, 3.73 posi-traction, front disc brakes. Built for the desert- She can take the heat! Vivat Rex Chevus! Last edited by Zonaman; 04-23-2007 at 05:00 PM.

04-23-2007, 05:23 PM	#15
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... I used adaptors and bought new hoses, but now I'm junking all of that and going with the booster/master cylinder/ prop valves/ lines from an 83. To connect the 72 calipers to the 83 lines I have to use the hoses off a 73 (before they went Metric on the banjo bolt on the calipers). __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

04-24-2007, 11:36 AM	#17
69_hafton Sleep-Deprived Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 445	Re: Converting from manual to power brakes.... I'm adding a vacuum booster to mine right now. Thing I'm trying to find out is if there's a different grommet/boot for the firewall. The manual master cylinder had a boot, but with the master cylinder now in front of the booster, there needs to be a boot or a grommet for the pedal rod to travel through? The vacuum booster has these brackets to attach it to the firewall. You need a different push rod from the brake pedal to the center of the booster linkage pictured: Attached Images __________________ 1971 K/10 Long Fleetside 350/350 - 6" Lift 1969 C/10 SWB 292 - Sold It



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