2:04 am
May 4, 2004
Offline
Brake discussions resulting from Rob's feeler post in the For Sale forum got me thinking about my brakes. I'd still like to get back to a simpler brake solution than the Vanco hydroboost. I tried the Navajo brake booster/master cylinder from Off Again and that didn't work out too well for me.
What I've currently got is the hydroboost using a Corvette master cylinder rather than the C30 truck m/c. I've been real happy with the Corvette m/c.
The Navajo booster has the same bolt pattern as the Corvette master, the pushrod is just a little too long to let it bolt up. I've got some thin washers that are about the right thickness that I could put between the booster and m/c. There's not really any seal between this booster and the m/c. Would it hurt to have a little gap between the two? Should I fab up a thin spacer, sort of a steel gasket? Or is the pushrod in the Navajo booster adjustable?
10:12 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline I should learn to just leave things alone if they're not broken.
I made a spacer to fit the Corvette m/c to the Navajo vacuum booster, removed the hydroboost & installed the Navajo booster. The results were dismal - I had almost no brakes. It wasn't air in the lines since I never cracked open any brake lines.
I reinstalled the hydroboost and once again have great brakes. I just don't think I'm going to come up with a better or even close to equal solution.
If anyone has any ideas I'd be glad to hear them. I'd really like to get back to a vacuum boosted brake system. My set-up is a TJ with 1998 Ford Explorer dual piston front calipers & rear single piston calipers. The brake booster is the Vanco hydroboost using a '70's Corvette master cylinder. I'm using a Wilwood adjustable proportioning valve on the rear line and 2 lb residual pressure valves on both the front and rear lines.
Things I've tried:
1) Factory TJ booster & master. Results were a very soft brake peddle with very little braking when the peddle was near the floor.
2) Factory TJ booster with Dodge 3500 master cylinder. Results were a very firm brake peddle with very little travel. For general driving this wasn't too bad, but in 4-low going downhill I, and particularly Teddi, could not press the brake peddle hard enough to stop.
3) Navajo brake booster & master. This master is similar to the Corvette master but has a smaller bore. Results were the same as #1 above.
4) Navajo booster & Corvette master. Results were similar to #1 but maybe a tad better. Not nearly good enough though.
5) Vanco hydroboost with Chevy C30 master. Results were very good braking but a pretty hard peddle with little travel.
6) Vanco hydroboost with Corvette master. Results were excellent braking and a pretty good peddle feel and travel.
You might be asking why I'm not happy with #6. Generally speaking I am. What I don't like is that the brakes and steering are tied into the same hydraulic system and they do affect each other somewhat. I also don't like the whine from the high-flow power steering pump needed for this configuration, particularly when braking.
11:21 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I'm no help at all except to maybe suggest a change to a manual transmission to eleviate all the braking problems.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
2:56 am
Is there room to stick in an extra PS pump somewhere? It may require some fabrication to build a bracket, but you could separate the systems and go back to a regular pump.
1:54 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline "Bender" wrote: Is there room to stick in an extra PS pump somewhere? It may require some fabrication to build a bracket, but you could separate the systems and go back to a regular pump.
I thought about this too, but there's not much room under the hood anymore.
1:56 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline "JohnDF" wrote: I'm no help at all except to maybe suggest a change to a manual transmission to eleviate all the braking problems.
I'd rather stick with the auto trans and hydroboost.
2:53 pm
"FAM" wrote: [quote="Bender"]Is there room to stick in an extra PS pump somewhere? It may require some fabrication to build a bracket, but you could separate the systems and go back to a regular pump.
I thought about this too, but there's not much room under the hood anymore.
John squeezed in a york. A power steering pump is a lot smaller. The belt and the plumbing would be tricky.
2:58 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline "FAM" wrote: [quote="JohnDF"]I'm no help at all except to maybe suggest a change to a manual transmission to eleviate all the braking problems.
I'd rather stick with the auto trans and hydroboost.
Aww...c'mon...I'll teach you how to drive a stick...you'll never miss the auto and you'll love the brakes.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
3:43 pm
January 7, 2003
Offline Your problem is the Jeep. Get rid of the Jeep and get an Early Bronco. 😀 All the guys with the EB's that did the conversion from either Hydratech or scrounging through the junkyard for the Astro van setup just raved about the brakes and having to watch out when you first try them because they will put your face into the windshield.
Sorry to hear you have had so many problems with yours. I know I have stated in years past that people have found the Vanco setup inferior to the Hyrdatech. I know that Vanco has made some changes to their system since then.
1 Guest(s)
