Thread: Brake booster or No brake booster - What to run ?

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I'm fitting out a '32 Roadster with 13" 6 spot fronts and 11" 4 spot rear brakes and need some advice on brake boosters. An under dash 90 deg brake setup will be used, so space for a large booster may be a problem.

I was originally looking at fitting a 7" booster with 1" master cylinder, but I have been told by a couple of builders to scrap the booster as it is not required and run just a 1" master cylinder.

The advice being given is the 1" master cylinder only will give me plenty of braking because the brake rotors and calipers are so large plus the car is lite.

Can I get some ideas on which way to head.
Tony.

I've ran any number of cars without a booster with no problems... I do use the twin cylinders with the balance bar, though. Sure is handy to tune in the brake bias, especially with some monster calipers like you are using!!!!!

No booster on my full-fendered, steel, big-block A-bone - or on my '34 fenderless lowboy. Both stop just fine.

I have one on my soon to be finished roadster, but if I was to do it over again, wouldn't waste the space nor the $$. None of my past cars have had one.

I prefer to run without, better pedal feel imo.

Tony, something else you need to consider is the reservoir capacity of the master cylinder you choose, due to the large 6 piston calipers and the dual 4 pistons on the rear, you have a 20 piston braking system. With so many pistons in all the calipers, as the pads wear down and the pistons are pushed out to compensate, more fluid from the reservoir is now in the calipers. With the wrong m/cylinder, fluid in the reservoir can get low before you know it. I would talk to one of the specialty brake companies for advice on the proper master cylinder. If your calipers are aftermarket, I would start there. The braking system can mean the difference in life or death, I wouldn't want to guess wrong there.

Thanks for the informative replies guys.

Mike52, Thanks for the suggestions.
It was recommended to run a Corvette 1" m/cylinder on a Kugel under dash 90 deg brake setup, which I was told had the reservoir capacity to suit my calipers. They are Willwood rotors and calipers F&B so I will give them a call next week and see what they suggest.

I'm also a bit worried if the wife ever gets to have a drive that the brake pedal will be too heavy for her without a booster.

I have the 90 degree Kugel unit under my dash w/ the CPP 1" MC (connections on both sides) & run a 7" dual booster. Works great!
4 piston Wilwood on front w/ Ford drums on back.

Steves32.
How did the 7" booster fit under your dash, was it a tight fit ?.
Do you have any pictures of your 90 deg assembly and it fitted under the dash ?.

Thanks.