Brakes, vacuum booster vs. hydroboost system?

[GOT-Torque]

Do all diesels use a hydroboost system just because the engine doesn't provide the vacuum necessary to run a vacuum booster for the brakes? Or is there a better reason?



My excursion is now vacuum boosted, and wondering which way to go for the swap. I could spend the money to swap in a hydroboost system and still need vacuum for the HVAC, etc.



Or, I could find a decent enough vacuum pump to run the setup I've got. I think ford used a mech belt driven vacuum pump on the 7. 3 diesels (not positive if they had a booster or not). The newer fords have an electric pump for running HVAC and use a hydroboost for the brakes (on the diesels).



Ideas? or Opinions?

 

[HGreen]

My 89 Ford 7. 3 had a belt driven vacuum pump for brakes and accessories. My 85 Suburban had small vacuum pump for accessories and hydroboost for the brakes. I had an Airstream with Hydra-Vac brakes and needed more vacuum than the Suburban produced for quick recovery. I found that 4 cyclinder GM cars had an electric vacuum pump for the brakes and accessories, I scored one a a local junk yard, worked great, pulled a decent vacuum quickly and was the ideal supplement to the Suburban. If you are looking to convert to a Cummins, I would go with the hydraboost for the brakes and either a belt driven vacuum pump like used on the Jake Brake or the electric (if you can find one) for the accessories.

 

[MMcCallie]

My main problem with hydroboost is that my steering is substandard, can be really hard to turn in low speed maneuvering. If i use the brakes at the same time, it will lock up my steering.

 

[NYCEGUY01]

Depending on where its set at simply adjusting up the idle a couple hundred rpm will do wonders. Im using the stock dodge p/s pump and it seems to work my steering and brakes great. Although after all my tinkering with the pump etc. . mine wont idle less than 950-1000 no matter what.

 

[TBowles]

Idleing 750-800 and running stock p/s pump with stock GM hydroboost and p/s gearbox and the system works perfect.

 

[crawler]

GOT Torque.



The 6BT and 6BT ISB Cummins have a shared vacuum pump/power steering pump. Therefore the truck will have adequate vacuum for the braking system.



No need to convert to hydraboost.



(Unless you're putting an ISBE in the EX)



~Wes~

 

[GOT-Torque]

I know my 2001 dodge is like that (shared power steering pump/vacuum pump) but the engine I've got for the Ex is out of an 04 dodge. It's a HPCR engine, no vacuum pump anymore.



I've decided to swap in a hydroboost out of a diesel excursion and use an electronic vacuum pump out of diesel excursion as well. Salvage yard prices weren't as bad as I first figured.

 

[MMcCallie]

If i were to do my Excursion again, i think i would avoid hydroboost. It has given me so many problems and i can still barely turn the wheels. It is at its worst when i slow down and try to turn in somewhere. That's when i need both brakes and steering to be at their best but they both suffer instead.

When pulling into a parking spot i brake to slow down while white knuckling both arms to crank the wheels. It sucks. Guess i'll try the pump mod again but i'm making so much steering pump pressure that i've got a serious leak. Pump was almost empty today, i heard it whining and knew to check it.

To do it again i would use the Cummins vacuum pump (mated to the power steering pump) and simply run a hose to the vacuum booster for brakes, and put a "T" in the line for the HVAC. I have manual hubs. For my setup i simply ran a tiny hose with a fitting that cost less than $1 from the Cummins vacuum pump to the little HVAC line. Vents change faster and harder than ever with the 7. 3 electric vacuum pump and accumulator, which by the way can develop leaks as did mine.

 

[Shadrach]

Has anyone put a hydroboost from a '97 or newer Dodge on a first gen? Shadrach

 

[BWJensen]

I found that 4 cyclinder GM cars had an electric vacuum pump for the brakes and accessories,

Can you narrow down the field a little? Years, model?



MADDOG

 

[JPihl]

I've got a '75 F-250 Crew Cab that I put a 12V into. I started out w/ the stock Ford single diaphragm booster and the brakes were not great even though all the components were in good condition. I tried different pads, different size bore master cylinders and even a double diaphragm booster without significant improvement in my braking ablility. At this point I started looking at hydro-boost systems and considered cobbling together a system on my own. Then I discovered Hydratech. They specialize in retrofitting hydro-boost system to almost any vehicle imaginable. Paul there has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to hydo-boost. My system cost me $695 but it was worth every penny - my brakes are incredible! The difference in assist provided by vacuum vs. hydraulic is incredible. My vote goes to hydro-boost, esp. if you pull a trailer.



Jeff

 

[WM-300]

I've got a '75 F-250 Crew Cab that I put a 12V into. I started out w/ the stock Ford single diaphragm booster and the brakes were not great even though all the components were in good condition. I tried different pads, different size bore master cylinders and even a double diaphragm booster without significant improvement in my braking ablility. At this point I started looking at hydro-boost systems and considered cobbling together a system on my own. Then I discovered Hydratech. They specialize in retrofitting hydro-boost system to almost any vehicle imaginable. Paul there has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things related to hydo-boost. My system cost me $695 but it was worth every penny - my brakes are incredible! The difference in assist provided by vacuum vs. hydraulic is incredible. My vote goes to hydro-boost, esp. if you pull a trailer.



Jeff

I too have had the same experience with Paul Clark at Hydratech. Paul will go to any extreem to help a person get the right system for their application. I use their Hydroboost on my Cummins/Power Wagon & M37's. There is no comparison between vacuum booster and Hydroboost. I just ordered another Hydroboost today from Paul.



WM-300

 

[Mopar_Tim]

does the vacuum/power steering setup from a late model 24 valve bolt up to a first gen? or can it be made to work? i have already got all the hydro boost stuff from a 2001 and i never even thought about the power steering pump ... ... . i bought it on a whim off ebay, got it real cheep