Manual or Power Brakes

[Fuelie74]

In the process of removing the hydoboost from my car I am trying to decide whether to go back to vacuum assist power breaks or just switching over to manual breaks.

Cost wise it should be about the same. I would have to buy a new brake booster to stay power. I have a 73 parts car with manual brakes so I have everything sitting there already to a very clean cheap conversion.

My problem is I haven't ever really drove a car with manual breaks before so I have no clue if that is something I will actually like. Yeah I know it may sound funny, but I am only 27. My car will probably never see a track. It is a cruiser that sees about 50% short distance cruise time and 50% long trim 300 miles in a day cruising. A amount of the roads it sees are twisty WI back roads.

I would love to hear some opinions on this one.

 

[MYBAD79]

Brake performance will be the same, it's just a lot more effort pushing the pedal. It's going to be difficult when you switch cars... when I drive my C6 after driving my '93 Mustang I always hit the brakes waaayy too hard.... the other way around I almost crashed the Mustang the other day because I got used to the C6 brakes ...
You already have all the parts for the manual brake conversion so at least you don't loose money if you don't like the manual brakes.... I'd give it a try, many don't like the vacuum assist pedal "feel" or "mushy pedal"...

You don't like the Hydroboost ???

 

[Fuelie74]

I really liked hydroboost at first, but now that I got my brakes working right they are way to touchy for me. I can definetly see why some people like it and some don't, but its not for me.

 

[DWncchs]

If you do go with manual make sure your master cylinder is in fact a manual master cylinder,there are many manual brake cars running around with a power master cylinder on them and its very hard to get the car to stop.

 

[Stroker-427]

Why not to keep your hydraboost and then to reduce the fluid pressure?

If you have the stock pump, you only need to replace the spring in the valve with a softer one!

A nice byproduct can be a less assisted steering system!

 

[enkeivette]

Would you rather buy a new front clip later or a brake booster now? I guess if you're out in the country it would be ok, but out in the city my brakes have saved my ass more than once.

 

[Fuelie74]

Would you rather buy a new front clip later or a brake booster now? I guess if you're out in the country it would be ok, but out in the city my brakes have saved my ass more than once.

Well that is why I am asking the question. It has nothing to do with not wanting to buy a booster.

Are you saying that I should go with vacuum booster or saying I should keep my hydroboost?

 

[pcf_mark]

How much idle vacuum do you have?

 

[enkeivette]

Would you rather buy a new front clip later or a brake booster now? I guess if you're out in the country it would be ok, but out in the city my brakes have saved my ass more than once.

Well that is why I am asking the question. It has nothing to do with not wanting to buy a booster.

Are you saying that I should go with vacuum booster or saying I should keep my hydroboost?

I've driven trucks with the hydroboost, and I don't like it. I never fell into the fad. Fortunately for me, because I ended up having to ditch my PS pump when I installed the blower. I run a cheap reserve can and with 7" of idle vacuum my booster still works fine. Leave it in gear and you have more vacuum that you'd ever need.

If I were you I'd upgrade the vacuum brakes to your liking and sell that hydroboost on CF or EBay. You should be able to sell it for roughly what you bought it for.


I've driven a Mustang with manual brakes... no thank you. I don't like having to plan out my stopping 300 feet ahead in city traffic.

 

[mrvette]

Why not to keep your hydraboost and then to reduce the fluid pressure?

If you have the stock pump, you only need to replace the spring in the valve with a softer one!

A nice byproduct can be a less assisted steering system!

THAT is something I seem to totally inadvertently stumbled on through the years and long list of mods.....first was the serpentine conversion to '88 vette style...and putting the stock '72 valving in back of the '88 pump....not until much later I learned from JimL82, Jim Shea that it was reduced pressure for a Grand Am later rack and HB brakes....so that is what makes MY car seem to ME anyway...less 'over assisted' than what other guys complain about with these conversions....

Keep in mind, this is SO subjective and another most important variable is the the TIRES.....

:noworry:

 

[vette427sbc]

I've driven a Mustang with manual brakes... no thank you. I don't like having to plan out my stopping 300 feet ahead in city traffic.

Something was wrong with that mustang then, because manual brakes dont stop any faster or slower than power assisted.
My vette has manual brakes and I love it. It just takes a little more effort to stop. Same thing as power steering- manual steering cars dont turn slower, it just takes more effort to turn the wheel.
Manual brakes and steering are fine for me, and Im no hulk either.

 

[MYBAD79]

I've driven a Mustang with manual brakes... no thank you. I don't like having to plan out my stopping 300 feet ahead in city traffic.

My Mustang has vacuum assisted brakes but there's not much assist as far as I can tell... feels like manual brakes.... btw, just today on my way home I had to slam on the brakes at a red light... no problem to stop the car just takes a lot more effort.

 

[SmokinBBC]

Had a SB 70 vette with power and now a BB 70 with manual. The power was ok. I like the manual too....no problems stopping from any speed. Once you get used to it, no big deal.

Had to make a hard stop from about 70mph to avoid hitting a dog....using the leg force you need will just become second nature after you get used to it.

 

[enkeivette]

I've driven a Mustang with manual brakes... no thank you. I don't like having to plan out my stopping 300 feet ahead in city traffic.

Something was wrong with that mustang then, because manual brakes dont stop any faster or slower than power assisted.
My vette has manual brakes and I love it. It just takes a little more effort to stop. Same thing as power steering- manual steering cars dont turn slower, it just takes more effort to turn the wheel.
Manual brakes and steering are fine for me, and Im no hulk either.

It had 4 wheel drums too. :shocking:

 

[DWncchs]

I've driven a Mustang with manual brakes... no thank you. I don't like having to plan out my stopping 300 feet ahead in city traffic.

Something was wrong with that mustang then, because manual brakes dont stop any faster or slower than power assisted.
My vette has manual brakes and I love it. It just takes a little more effort to stop. Same thing as power steering- manual steering cars dont turn slower, it just takes more effort to turn the wheel.
Manual brakes and steering are fine for me, and Im no hulk either.

It had 4 wheel drums too. :shocking:

That was an old one !!!

 

[big_G]

Had a SB 70 vette with power and now a BB 70 with manual. The power was ok. I like the manual too....no problems stopping from any speed. Once you get used to it, no big deal.

Had to make a hard stop from about 70mph to avoid hitting a dog....using the leg force you need will just become second nature after you get used to it.

I can't believe this comes up so often. I have 3 C-3's with manual brakes. I can lock the wheels anytime, anywhere. If you can't your brakes, (or your legs) need work. If you want a little more stopping power, use a more aggressive brake pad.

 

[GTR1999]

I have both manual and PB vette and like both. Same with steering.

I never found one better then other I guess I'm used to them by now 33 years later. Keep the bearings and rotors under 002, use DOT 3 BF, and you should be able to lock them up without a problem if you have to.I run organic pads on the street cars, no issues.

Sorry I've never used a hydro-boost in a vette, never bought into them to be honest. We have an 07 GM van with HB and don't like the feel myself. I actually bled the brakes thinking I had an issue, then brought it back to the dealer and was told that is the way they are.

My personal opinion toss out the vendor catalogs and setup the car as they were. Add HP to engine and beef up the drivetrain to where you want it but leave all those gimmicks,gadgets,etc in the catalog. Yeah I know, I also don't like the retrofit rack steering:hissyfit:

 

[mrvette]

I've driven a Mustang with manual brakes... no thank you. I don't like having to plan out my stopping 300 feet ahead in city traffic.

Something was wrong with that mustang then, because manual brakes dont stop any faster or slower than power assisted.
My vette has manual brakes and I love it. It just takes a little more effort to stop. Same thing as power steering- manual steering cars dont turn slower, it just takes more effort to turn the wheel.
Manual brakes and steering are fine for me, and Im no hulk either.

It had 4 wheel drums too. :shocking:

That was an old one !!!

I really hate to say this, BUT, I bet I have owned as many or more 4 wheel drum brake cars than the vast majority on this forum....

but bird got us all beat, he has a model T Ferd...and so it's got MECHANICAL brakes....ala Fred Flintstone....:hissyfit::hissyfit:

 

[mrvette]

I have both manual and PB vette and like both. Same with steering.

I never found one better then other I guess I'm used to them by now 33 years later. Keep the bearings and rotors under 002, use DOT 3 BF, and you should be able to lock them up without a problem if you have to.I run organic pads on the street cars, no issues.

Sorry I've never used a hydro-boost in a vette, never bought into them to be honest. We have an 07 GM van with HB and don't like the feel myself. I actually bled the brakes thinking I had an issue, then brought it back to the dealer and was told that is the way they are.

My personal opinion toss out the vendor catalogs and setup the car as they were. Add HP to engine and beef up the drivetrain to where you want it but leave all those gimmicks,gadgets,etc in the catalog. Yeah I know, I also don't like the retrofit rack steering:hissyfit:

I dunno, I found that with more modern 17" tires/wheels, that the addition of the rack and HB was a HUGE improvement to MY car....IMO...

if nothing else 2.7 turns L-L on the steering is mucho better than a busdriver's ratio....

:friends:

 

[GTR1999]

I have both manual and PB vette and like both. Same with steering.

I never found one better then other I guess I'm used to them by now 33 years later. Keep the bearings and rotors under 002, use DOT 3 BF, and you should be able to lock them up without a problem if you have to.I run organic pads on the street cars, no issues.

Sorry I've never used a hydro-boost in a vette, never bought into them to be honest. We have an 07 GM van with HB and don't like the feel myself. I actually bled the brakes thinking I had an issue, then brought it back to the dealer and was told that is the way they are.

My personal opinion toss out the vendor catalogs and setup the car as they were. Add HP to engine and beef up the drivetrain to where you want it but leave all those gimmicks,gadgets,etc in the catalog. Yeah I know, I also don't like the retrofit rack steering:hissyfit:

I dunno, I found that with more modern 17" tires/wheels, that the addition of the rack and HB was a HUGE improvement to MY car....IMO...

if nothing else 2.7 turns L-L on the steering is mucho better than a busdriver's ratio....

:friends:

Hey Gene, Well I still run the 15" wheels and no problem. I guess I'm getting thick headed but I never plan on using either the Hb or Rack setups. To each his own I guess as long as they're not parts from:chinese: