Moparts
Anyone made their own hydro booster kit?
Posted By: 69charger440_6pa
Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/09/09 06:02 PM
I have wanted to add a hydro-boost brake booster for some time now, but I really dont want to pay the 700-900 for a kit. Has anyone done their own? You can pick up rebuilt boosters for about $120 and possibly just have to fab up a braket or to.
So has anyone done this?
Posted By: PAINT IT BLACK
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/09/09 08:34 PM
Ouch. I was thinking of going the hydro route with my current Bee build, but I never looked into the cost. I am running an electric pump in my Cuda and it set me back a total of around $300. For less than half or a third of the price, why would you do anything else? Mine is very quiet and works flawlessly.
Maybe the hydro way has some benefits I am unaware of?
I guess if you are starting from scratch, the price difference isn't so bad (no booster), and might be worth it considering the brakes wouldn't depend on the electrical system. Either way you have a pump or two of good brakes if the system fails...
Posted By: 69charger440_6pa
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 02:14 AM
bump
Posted By: SNK-EYZ
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 04:58 AM
There's a guy I work with that's talking about going to a Hydro-Boost setup on his 81 Trans Am.
Although it's a GM, he's saying the hydro-boost off of a late model Ram (diesel) is the right part number for the conversion.
I'll see what other info he can tell me and post it.
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 07:14 AM
are vehicles coming from the factory with hydroboost now?
after converting my dakota from power to manual brakes, I think an appropriately sized master cylinder on a manual set-up is perfect. never before have I had the feedback I needed on just how much brake effort I am giving. with pwoer brakes, you can't feel the system at all, no matter how hard your stopping, the pedal isn't harder to press. on a manual system, the harder you want tostop, the more the pedal will "push back" for you, which allows you to really feel just how much pressure you're putting on the brakes
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 09:39 AM
Forgive my age on the subject...
What is a hydro-boost?
Posted By: FuryUs
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 10:28 AM
Hudro boost uses hydraulic pressure from the power steering pump for power brake assist instead of a vacuum booster.
Diesels come from the factory, and I think some GM SUVs also, with hydro boost.
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 03:28 PM
Quote:
are vehicles coming from the factory with hydroboost now?
'88 and up Chevy C3500's have hydraboost, gas or diesel.
Alot of thier other SUV's and what not do too. My '02 1500HD has it and I've seen it on a '04 Tahoe as well..
Posted By: Jerry
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 04:11 PM
mustangs use it as well.
Posted By: 6T6Cuda
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 04:24 PM
my 84 caprice station wagon had it. I thought it was odd...
You use to see them everywhere, but with the high price of scrap steel, i bet most of them have been crushed...
Posted By: BDS871Cuda
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 04:26 PM
Go the easy way and put in the electric pump.
The Saturn Vue has a small and quiet pump
all the way back to 2002. Junk yard might even
have them for less than 1/2 of $350.
Posted By: 69charger440_6pa
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 04:47 PM
Quote:
Go the easy way and put in the electric pump.
The Saturn Vue has a small and quiet pump
all the way back to 2002. Junk yard might even
have them for less than 1/2 of $350.
not a bad idea, but I dont have a vacuume booster so that wouldnt work for me. Plus I want the hydro assist because it works better than the vacuume booster. Wonder if I could use that electric pump as a crank case evac 
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 04:51 PM
Should not be hard...just get a wrecking yard or rebuilt booster unit, and a suitable power steering pump (a second return line on it is handy).
Modify the firewall mounts for the hydroboost, and use a master cylinder that will bolt to it.
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 08:05 PM
So you can't really use this hydro-boost on a vehicle that has a Vacuum booster because the cam is really lopey, runs 2 canisters AND had vacuum headlights.....right?
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 08:11 PM
Hydroboost is great for cars with big cams...just as long as you have power steering
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 08:23 PM
I guess I need to see some pictures, schematics, and installation components/procedures better educate myself on this
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 08:26 PM
Quote:
I guess I need to see some pictures, schematics, and installation components/procedures better educate myself on this
Next time you are in Torrance, you can check out my truck. 
Basically, power steering pump to hydroboost, hydroboost to steering box. return line from each back to power steering pump. hydroboost mounts to firewall same as a brake booster would basically. 
Posted By: BergmanAutoCraft
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 08:41 PM
The old Cadillac pump that Steve is referring to was used by Volvo as well, but has not been available for years. The newer aftermarket pumps are much louder, and do not seem to have the same vacuum ability.
If you have 4 wheel disc, chances are you will need higher line pressures, which hydroboost was designed for. It is silent, and uses the power steering pump to generate pressure to operate the unit.
Posted By: RokketRide
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/10/09 09:07 PM
Quote:
I guess I need to see some pictures, schematics, and installation components/procedures better educate myself on this
Posted By: PAINT IT BLACK
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/11/09 04:09 AM
Quote:
The old Cadillac pump that Steve is referring to was used by Volvo as well, but has not been available for years. The newer aftermarket pumps are much louder, and do not seem to have the same vacuum ability.
If you have 4 wheel disc, chances are you will need higher line pressures, which hydroboost was designed for. It is silent, and uses the power steering pump to generate pressure to operate the unit.
I should have given credit where it was due. Peter turned me on to that Caddy pump. My problem with that one is that I didn't mount it with insulators and it vibrated loudly. So I just bought the SSBC pump and used it. I sold the Caddy pump for what I bought it for on ebay for $65. I'm sure it would have worked fine, though the SSBC kit is more attractive if you care about that. The ssbc is VERY quiet btw. I am getting 24" of vacuum before it cuts off I think, so there is NO problem with functionality.
I haven't done the rear disk swap on my car yet, so I can't attest to the effectiveness there yet. I'll know this summer.
After some thought, I think I will still go with hydro boost myself on the next build just to do something different... plus I am swapping from manual brakes, so there really isn't that much of a price difference between the two. The biggest benefit to hydro would be the space saving aspect. I am running a crappy red top Optima so I can fit my electric pump on my battery tray since I didn't want to drill holes in my car (the tray is a repop and I can remove it to have it repainted if I go another direction in the future). With the hydro boost, its up on the firewall, out of the way...
I don't think you can lose either way.
Posted By: Pyper70
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/11/09 08:57 AM
Quote:
Quote:
I guess I need to see some pictures, schematics, and installation components/procedures better educate myself on this
Next time you are in Torrance, you can check out my truck.
Basically, power steering pump to hydroboost, hydroboost to steering box. return line from each back to power steering pump. hydroboost mounts to firewall same as a brake booster would basically.
I will take you up on that Oz...Wish I still had my Six to go and play with yours....
Posted By: BergmanAutoCraft
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/11/09 01:16 PM
Good to hear the SSBC piece is quiet. It must be an updated design, as the older ones where really loud.
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/11/09 05:01 PM
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I guess I need to see some pictures, schematics, and installation components/procedures better educate myself on this
Next time you are in Torrance, you can check out my truck.
Basically, power steering pump to hydroboost, hydroboost to steering box. return line from each back to power steering pump. hydroboost mounts to firewall same as a brake booster would basically.
I will take you up on that Oz...Wish I still had my Six to go and play with yours....
I don't have mine any longer either..so don't feel too bad 
Building up the other car now...once it's done I will build another hemi-6 powered Oz Valiant though 
Posted By: TheRamMan
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/11/09 11:55 PM
I AM WORKING ON A KIT ..IF YOU DONOT HAVE A SUPREME PUMP ( DESIGNED FOR THIS) you can be let down..DONT THINK YOUR GOONA RUN SOME LINES OFF YOUR OLD 1968 PUMP AND WALLA MASSIVE POWER ASSIST
Posted By: OzHemi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/11/09 11:57 PM
Quote:
I AM WORKING ON A KIT ..IF YOU DONOT HAVE A SUPREME PUMP ( DESIGNED FOR THIS) you can be let down..DONT THINK YOUR GOONA RUN SOME LINES OFF YOUR OLD 1968 PUMP AND WALLA MASSIVE POWER ASSIST
THERE IS NO NEED TO YELL 
Caps lock....know it, use it, live it.
Posted By: Jerry
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/12/09 01:26 AM
there is a guy making kits for mopars
hydratech
Posted By: Blue69Charger
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/12/09 02:08 AM
I made my own hydroboost kit for my 69 charger. I used a booster off a astro van. It was in excellent shape for $50. I think it was a '98 or a '01, but its been a while so I don't remember. I used a early 90's C3500 master cylinder with a 1" bore. They used an identical looking master cylinder in the dodge rams of similar years but the dodge master cylinders had metric fittings and the chevrolet had english threads. You will have to machine the bracket or make a spacer. If not you will have to modify the hole in your firewall to get the proper alignment. I used a aftermarket clevis and threaded the shaft on the hydroboost. I got the tool to remove the nut on the hydroboost from factory five racing for about $20. I used russell hoses and fittings. Overall I think I spent about $250 for the raw materials and parts. I don't have any drawings or notes anymore, but you can try checking with Ira. He and I were working on our conversions at the same time. The reason I installed it was because I have 4 wheel disc and little vacuum. It works great and can easily lock the wheels.
Edit: I found my old post that give more information on the conversion.
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...rue#Post2750102
Posted By: RTSE4ME
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 02/12/09 02:12 AM
Quote:
I have wanted to add a hydro-boost brake booster for some time now, but I really dont want to pay the 700-900 for a kit. Has anyone done their own? You can pick up rebuilt boosters for about $120 and possibly just have to fab up a braket or to.
So has anyone done this?
I have the Hydratech kit on my Challenger with a AndyFs Viper front brake kit. When I bought my kit it was less than $500 and the customer service was great. I think you have to purchase through his dealers now since he could not keep up with all the orders and tech support.
The only draw back to hydroboost is pedal feel is not very good.....hard to modulate the brakes. My car stops very well and one has to be careful so not to put your head thru the windshield
Posted By: Dartman75
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 04/05/09 12:09 AM
Found some other resources out there for this.
I've picked up a 95 Astro unit including the 1-1/4" master cylinder and am in the process of figuring out my own setup thanks to the trail blazing spirit of those that have figure out all the tough details.
I have a 75 Dart originally equipped with vac power brakes. Originaly disc/drub and now converted to disc disc thanks to Dr Diff's cobra conversion. Seems to be the best way for me to get some good power assist to help make the car stop as it should.
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6728392http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=202888http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/hydroboost-plumbing-93106.htmlhttp://classicbroncos.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-92316.htmlhttp://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/270505-toyota-vs-gm-master-cylinders.htmlI know this is some other A-body owner out there that has made the conversion and I'd sure like to know your approach to mounting the thing and which master cylinder you went with.
Greg
Posted By: 1964Polara
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 12/15/13 06:11 PM
I could get a complete Hydroboost Power Brake Unit from a 1984 Caprice with mounting brackets it looks like if the studs could bolt to a B-Body Mopar firewall. Anyone tried?
With a MC from same car it should work with a B Body Disc Brake, or going wrong direction?
Posted By: 1964Polara
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 12/17/13 11:18 PM
Bump
Posted By: dogdays
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 12/18/13 05:08 PM
The Hydraboost in my '93Sub worked for nearly 200K miles, then failed. I bought a rebuilt one from Advance. Glad I wasn't starting from scratch because the unit and the core charge were BOTH in the neighborhood of $160. Which means if I didn't walk through the door with the old onel, the rebuilt would have cost over $300.
They're made by Bendix.
In my Suburban, the brake feel was excellent. It was very progressive, not like the "on-off switch" feeling of late '60s Mopars.
R.
Posted By: bambi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 12/18/13 07:21 PM
It's been a few years, but I researched this heavily. A guy on Ebay was selling rebuilt Hydro boosters in a kit which included the mounting bracket and all fasteners. I can't remember if he was selling the adjustable plunger rod. Seems like I had to find that on my own. I bought a new aluminum master cyl. (I think 15/16") (or it might have been over 1") There are kits you can buy for close to $1000, or you can make your own. There are plenty of sites on the web to show you how to do it cheaply. I never found a "high output" power steering pump for a Mopar. I haven't installed mine yet. I may try to use a late model Jeep power steering pump. I was going to put it on my 67 Coronet, but am now going to put it on my Challenger. Seems that every Ford hydro unit had the mounting flanges straight up and down. I don't know how you would mount them easily. GM has horizontal mounting flanges, making it much simpler. The set I have looks very nice, factory brand new looking. It even has the firewall mount pre-attatched to the booster body. Very complete, even with the rubber boot for the rod, nylock nuts and ALL assorted hardware needed. It did NOT come with pump, hoses or Master cyl. Or instructions. Lol, I just looked at the kit to refresh my memory. Sorry. I can't remember the Ebay vendors name. It was a fraction of the price of all those popular pre made "kits" on the market. Only a couple of hundred bucks.
Posted By: bambi
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 12/18/13 07:26 PM
Quote:
So you can't really use this hydro-boost on a vehicle that has a Vacuum booster because the cam is really lopey, runs 2 canisters AND had vacuum headlights.....right?
Hydro Boost SOLVES low vacuum brake problems caused by big cams. You are using power steering fluid to run your brake system assist INSTEAD of vacuum. You actually remove your vacuum booster and mount the Hydro Boost directly to the firewall. It can give you much needed valve cover clearance.
Posted By: astjp2
Re: Anyone made their own hydro booster kit? - 12/18/13 09:24 PM
The pump you want is a mid 80's to late 90's GM 3500 series diesel, it is a Saginaw pump with 2 return lines on the reservoir. Mounts the same as any other sag pump. You also don't need a high output pump, the brakes done use much volume. Tim