How common were brake boosters?

[dmjlambert]

I am reading on Wikipedia about our trucks and researching disc brakes. "Braking controls included front self-adjusting disc brakes with rear finned drum brakes and optional four-wheel hydraulic Hydra-Boost or Vacuum-Boost power assist."

The footnotes point to factory brochures. And this other source of brochures. The brochure for 1973 says "Brake power assist is standard on all models except Series C10 where it's available." 1971 brochure says standard is "single piston floating caliper front disc brakes (power assist standard on 20 and 30 series)."

I'm wondering if those who have a lot of experience taking apart 71 and up C10 trucks to get disc brake parts can tell was the average truck from the early years (perhaps 71-76) manual disc brakes? Can you give a rough percentage of the ones that had the power assist option (boosters)?

[randy500]

I think more than 50% of half ton v8 trucks had power brakes.
6 cyl, i dont see many with power brakes.

I didnt know power brakes were standard on C20 but i have observed that i have never seen one without.

[palallin]

A datum: my '67 C-10 SWB had PB (but not PS) from the factory.

Another datum: my '60 K-10 LWB does not have PB (but it does have PS, go figure). I don't feel any need for PB, either.

[Steeveedee]

That would explain why I don't see power brakes listed on my SPID. 3/4T truck.

[FirstOwner69]

My 1969 3/4 ton CST did not have power brakes from the factory. When I bought the truck, my offer required the addition of power brakes. So, at least in 1969, the 3/4 ton 2WDs did not come with power brakes.

[randy500]

The op is asking about 71 and up trucks. Everybody knows the older ones are strippers mostly

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by randy500

The op is asking about 71 and up trucks. Everybody knows the older ones are strippers mostly

True, but I was responding to Steeveedee's post regarding 1970s. I don't believe they had power brakes on the C20s as standard equipment either... I'm willing to learn though.

[randy500]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

True, but I was responding to Steeveedee's post regarding 1970s. I don't believe they had power brakes on the C20s as standard equipment either... I'm willing to learn though.

Just because steevedee posts stuff the op didnt ask for doesnt mean you should too.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by randy500

Just because steevedee posts stuff the op didnt ask for doesnt mean you should too.

I fully understand and agree with you, but I'm also concerned that folks reading this in the future may draw the wrong conclusion about the earlier trucks.

[dmjlambert]

I think it's OK to talk about all drum trucks as well. In the 70's somebody explained to me that with drum brakes you can have manual or power type, and if you have disc brakes you must have power brakes because a human foot can't supply enough pressure on the pedal to supply the extra pressure required to operate disc brakes. So, I've gone a few years with that understanding, which I recently found out is incorrect. All the other cars I have owned have had manual drum brakes or power brakes.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by randy500

The op is asking about 71 and up trucks. Everybody knows the older ones are strippers mostly

I've been reading this and trying to figure out what "older ones are strippers mostly" means. Do older strippers use a pole? Hey wait a minute, that's not a pole, it is an axle. I'm so confused... :-)