Is anyone running hydro boost?

[eric67m]

I was just learning a little bit about the hydroboost system. I was wondering if anybody is using it on their trucks, either factory installed or retrofitted. How do you like them. I understand they can be a little touchy, grabby. If you were to run it on a truck with 4 wheel disk brakes would you only need a proportioning valve on the rear wheels to stop them from locking up first (just like any brake system). I was thinking about doing this swap while everything is apart and I will be needing to change boosters as I am going from 1/2 ton all drums to 3/4 ton with all disks.

[rcbildr]

I have hydro boost on my diesel rigs..83 chevy shortbed and 85 chevy suburban. I like it a lot. I didn't notice any difference in stopping when I went to larger tires on my Suburban. The Burbs brakes are a little grabby until they warm up a bit and its really noticeable when its wet out. My only complaint is it's hard to keep the belt tension set right...it seems to get loose over time.

I like it so much my girlfriend and I are thinking about trying to retrofit it on my girlfriend's 54 chevy 1-ton dually project.

[eric67m]

I see that there is a guy on craigslist that has a set up, master cylinder, booster, lines, rebuilt pump for $100. I dont know what they generally go for or what I could pick all of that up at a wrecking yard for. I just have basically no money in my parts fund until the end of the month. Im just thinking and just might go this way.

Hey, I see you are just up the road a way. I live above the old prision farm.

[ghettoluxury]

I have hydro-boost with 4 wheel discs on my 82 3/4 ton and didn't change the prop valve. Have not had a problem with the rear locking up. Let me tell you that this is an awsome setup and I would pay the 200 for a used hydro-boost agian.

[Dooley]

I have had 1 or more trucks with hydroboost continually since 1977. Both gas and diesel powered. I think it is a great system. Never any problems with them.

[jgdually83]

hydroboost is awesome works great. i would take it over vacuum anyday

[2badgn]

I have an 84 GMC 3500 2wd with Hydroboost and its great. In 25 years, I only had to change the MC once. Great stopping power but u have to ocassionally tighten the Power Steering belt.

Alot of older muscle cars and cars w/turbos convert to Hydroboost bc vacuum brakes cannot hold as much boost.

[thirdstreettito]

My 84 K10 Diesel has hydro.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

My '86 Was a Diesel converted to gas and its got the hydro boost set up. I like it seems like it works pretty good no major issues yet. Might lift the truck a little and go like 33"s so I will see how it does then.

[Devil'S Ride]

For a hundred bucks, get it and don't ever look back. I have the full system on my 83 and if I stand on the skids it WILL plant your forehead into the windshield, with 44's. Like mentioned above, I have to occassionally tighten the P/S belt, but for tires this big, I couldn't ask for more stopping power. very rarely I also tow my 20' camp trailer (1981, the old heavy kind) and I don't have electric brake controller, and I can run down the hills here with no problem, around town stopping is great.

I would highly recommend that you upgrade to the hydroboost if you are able!!

[Yukon Jack]

I bought a 1989 1 ton and swapped in it's engine and hydroboost setup - I went from manual drums to hydroboosted drums and it is wonderful! Getting ready to swap in a Dana 60 so the disks up front are going to be a great improvement of course.

Here is a link to my website where I detail the install on my 69 K20.

[Matt Man]

i have hydro on my 86 dually and for a vehicle this size this thing stops very quickly never had a problem with it so far.

[Wildstreak]

I was just wondering this myself, whats a good aftermarket hydro boost to use. I thought about just getting one like a stock gm replacement, but what other companies offer good hydro boost setups?

[LANDC]

I used one out of an astro van from pick and pull. Its a Vanco one, the same one used in the packaged deals you can buy. Let me tell you, I can put my 'Cruiser that is on 44's on its nose.

[Dieselwrencher]

I also like the hydraboost over the vacuum systems. Especially when you are towing, or for a gas engine, get crazy and put a big cam in your ride.

[edge]

i need to look into the Hydraboost for a K10, see what it takes to. the big tires and good stopping comments here are what i need around where i live! thanks.

[Firebirdjones]

I run the hydroboost on 2 vehicles, one factory and the other was a retrofit.

My 79 1 ton cam with it originally and it has worked flawless since new.

My chevelle has too much cam to support a vacuum system so I converted that to hydroboost.

I can't remember if I bought that from Master Power Brakes, or Muscle Car Brakes. But those are 2 places you could look around for a retrofit system.

Never had any power steering belt issues as mentioned in some posts above.

[msgross]

Musclerodz put one in the 68 K-20 that he just built... use the search feature and you can find the thread on it...

[Wildstreak]

I tried searching but couldn't find that thread.

I have a hydroboost setup on an old 80's truck sitting that I wanna steal. I was just trying to figure out the installation process.

[Wildstreak]

found it

[240 Jordy]

Originally Posted by Wildstreak

found it

Share it?



please! . . . LOL!

[Wildstreak]

If you go up a few posts Yukon Jack has a link to a great write up with pictures(which is great for me because Im a very visual person)

Yukon you said in that previous post that you you ran the hydro boost on drums. I have a 67-68 4x4 with the drum front and rear, I was wondering how that worked, dont you need a different m/c or is it different for hydro?

[Yukon Jack]

I didn't use a proportioning valve and it worked just fine with drums all around. I recently swapped in a Dana 60 up front which got me disks. I added an adjustable proportioning valve and really dig the stopping power I have now.

[6600DURAMAX]

Here are a couple pics of my setup. I pieced mine together online using piratejack.com for the m/c and prop. valve and it is a ebay hydroboost unit. I needed it because of my cam size and I could never get the vacumn canister to work correctly

Would have been pretty cheap if for not the hoses

[Dieselwrencher]

Nice set up! I even installed GM truck hydraboost on my corvette.