Thread: Vacuum for Power Brakes!

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Not but one choice on that, going to need an external vac. pump, low vac = minimal power assist. The more the brakes are applied in stop & go traffic the harder the pedal, make sure your emergency is operational you could need it. Your system is functioning correctly, needs the help of a pump there is no way around that, I am not smart just experienced. Or you could change the cam who would want to that lumpy is good and correct.

Not really the "only" choice!

Another way of doing it would be to step up the front caliper size (and rotor if needed) and ditch the vacuum booster altogether!

If that means full manual then yes that would work, however that sure sounds like reinventing the wheel to me. Real slick, trash the booster & mount 350$$, remount the MC & mount, maybe change the pedal length, buy new rotors and mounting hardware. A vac pump is the only logical choice given the current configuration he is working with, think about it.

I did think about it! And using a booster to compensate for a so/so brake system isn't the answer for me! Don't get'em in a bunch.. just another opinion!

I've built a lot of cars for others as well as for myself.... Installing a brake booster is not a good fix for a poorly designed brake system, nor is installing a pump the solution to a low vacuum situation caused by using a cam that is not compatible with that power brake system. Never have seen the need for power brakes on my own stuff, the only brake systems that ever gave me any grief was when a customer insisted on putting the wrong parts on his car.... I much prefer manual brakes with large rotors and 3 or 4 piston calipers over a power system! Lots of places to pinch pennies on a build, but the braking system is certainly not one of them!!!! After many usually futile attempts at explaining proper rotor size and the importance of matching all the brake components to a customer, I would usually let him order whatever he wanted, then settle for an "I told you so" when it didn't work!!!!

Having to add a vacuum pump, increasing the leverage beyond 6:1 on the pedal, and other such things aren't fixes, they're just a patch!