Hydroboost followup questions

[Bears63]

I don't have ideas or anything, just wanted to bump and make a bit of a comment. You mentioned light steering before, I can say that with my '78 K30 with HB that it has the lightest steering of any vehicle I have ever owned. After driving my car a while I get in the ol' beast and it tends to wander all over a bit at first just from it being so sensitive. I find it quite funny considering it's basically a tank on 4 wheels

[BR3W CITY]

Here's another "side" thought. I've considered lightening my crossmember and going to rack n pinion steering. RnP uses slightly different pressure levels (which my 2006 pump was made for). I wonder how my current setup would feel with the RnP?

[earl84]

Originally Posted by Bears63

I don't have ideas or anything, just wanted to bump and make a bit of a comment. You mentioned light steering before, I can say that with my '78 K30 with HB that it has the lightest steering of any vehicle I have ever owned. After driving my car a while I get in the ol' beast and it tends to wander all over a bit at first just from it being so sensitive. I find it quite funny considering it's basically a tank on 4 wheels

You ought to take a look at the valve I mentioned in a previous post. I found it dangerous to be driving down the highway with the steering so sensitive. It worked well, but brought to light the "Morning Sickness" of the old PS gearbox I mentioned.

[earl84]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Here's another "side" thought. I've considered lightening my crossmember and going to rack n pinion steering. RnP uses slightly different pressure levels (which my 2006 pump was made for). I wonder how my current setup would feel with the RnP?

More work and expense than I want to do. But might look at it if I do another truck.

[BigDan3131]

They don't sell them on the jegs website but summit has them.

Link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-260-3278/reviews/
Link: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wil-260-3279/reviews/

All I know is that they work and yes the CPP website sucks.

Digging around I found this useful info on the hydro boost and bleeding tech: http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/oper...ssist-systems/

This page talks about the steering being too sensitive: http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/...ower-steering/

[BR3W CITY]

[earl84]

back by my truck now. Trying one thing at a time to post results. Put on a straight fitting on the return of the HB to PS pump, will test drive later and report back.

[earl84]

The straight through stock return fitting didn't do anything for the slow pedal return or the intermittent dragging brakes. Ordered some residual valves, a new HB unit, a rebuild kit for the old one, and will be working on this next week after it warms up a bit more. Too many things going at once right now.
Next up will be to rebuild the current HB setup and checking the effect. If that doesn't work, it's all out changing the HB unit, adding the residual valves, new master cylinder. Stay tuned, or don't, just putting results here hoping maybe it will help someone one day.

[earl84]

Plan changed a little bit, but bottom line is, I no longer have dragging brakes. Yeehaw!
I installed the new HB unit, new master cylinder, no residual valves due to too much plumbing for me at the present time, wanted to get it done and I will be gone for 6 weeks. I don't know if it was the HB unit or the master cylinder causing the issue, but I only wanted to work on it once, so changed them both at the same time.
On a related side note, I also changed out my PS gearbox for a reman unit to cure the "morning sickness" I wrote about earlier. It cured the problem, but now the restricted orifice PS pressure fitting may limit too much, steering is a little stiff, but does feel good at highway speeds. Going to drive it like this for a while and see if things loosen up a bit before doing anything about it.

On another side note, somewhere during my move to Colorado, my home made pressure brake bleeder got lost. I ordered a Motive Products bleeder, and it worked well. Made a dang mess, but part of that was learning how to use it. I also helped a friend bleed the brakes on his '67 Camaro he is rebuilding. Did the job on both, but it made a mess both times.

[BR3W CITY]

Glad to hear you get her straight.

Yet another person moves to Colorado lol.
I've known 15 people that moved there in the last year or so, and I stop out that way multiple times each year if possible.

Insane rurality out there. I ended up on the side of an old (like 1800's) grape vineyard terraced into a mountain. I have never felt more disconnected besides Alaska...yet drive 2hrs and you can be in Tourist central.

Plus it blends with my lifestyle nicely.

[earl84]

It suits my lifestyle well, also. Love the outdoors, took up snowboarding, looking forward to long weekend hiking/camping, very laid back vibe. I don't do the legalized marijuana thing, but IMHO, it's a good idea, and definitely no worse than alcohol. YMMV, and I have no desire to debate it here.

Cheers all, and maybe this will help someone down the road, I learned a lot during this little adventure.