I have a 67 camaro with state of the art four wheel power drum brakes. I even have the smooth drums. Needless to say I am switching to front disks.

The engine has limited vacuum and I am looking for any info about benefits of vacuum assisted as opposed to not. Other than how hard I have to press the pedal. I would much rather have the engine performing than making vacuum for the brakes.

Also, is the rod from the pedal to the master cylinder the same lenght for power and manual brakes?

Any help will be appreciated.
SPK

 

I wouldn't recommend going back to manual brakes. If nothing else, get an electric vacuum pump for the brake booster. I drove a '69 manual 4-way drum car once and I was scared when I went to stop. I had to downshift otherwise I was just going to die. My '67 has power 4-way drum and it's a huge difference.

 

slo,
check out this site , everything i have read on these are positive. engine vacuum is not a problem. gm uses this system on its heavier series trucks and late model mustang cobras use them to. i plan on upgradeding to this system eventually.

http://www.hydroboost.com

 

My buddy has a 68 with FWD (front wheel disk not four wheel drive) He has manual front disk because he doesn't the engine to "waste" vacuum. The pump seems to be too exphensive for me, at this time. esp at Hydroboost. I'm not saying that hydro. isn't worth the money, just that it's even more expensive.

 

you cant "waste" vacuum with power brakes. in fact you cant waste it with anything. if the system is closed to the atmosphere other than the carb inlet, the vacuum will be the same no matter how many vacuum accessories you have. get power brakes, and then get a vacuum canister from summit (if you need it, I had a huge cam one time and never needed one)

 

Freak , so you are saying that the vacuum canister in my power brake set up should hold vacuum? The one O have now, well I can suck air through it all day. DO you think I have a bad (PB) cannister?

SPK

 

actualy the brake booster should hold vacuum, you can see an example of this when you turn the car off and pump the brakes. if you do it on a new car, youll notice that you can pump the brakes a couple of times then they start geting hard to pump. thats becaue there is some vacuum left in the booster, and pumping uses it up, till it no longer assists you.

but I was talking about a vacuum resevoir canister summit sells that goes between the booster and the engine. they basicaly store vauum from when the eingine is producing lots of it, and that allows you to keep good brake assist at all times.

you might not need one though. I never have, if your booster is holding vacuum I wouldnt think you would need it either. but i thought i would mention it incase you do.


not sure about the booster you have, where are you sucking the air through?

 

Thanks, Freak. What what I have learned from you that my canister is shot. I am ordering this kit http://www.mpbrakes.com/db1741pe.htm any issues with this kit. It is the cheapest I've seen and I don't do any streeet racing, well, almost none and when I do it's only in fun. I'm looking for brakes that are good but don't have to be the best.

 

dont assume that the brake booster is shot, because like I said, I dont really know how you are "testing" it. where the hose goes into the booster itslef is usualy a little valve that lets the air out but not in, so it will hold vacuum. if it isnt working then you might still have a good booster, but a bad valve. though I dont know if you can get just the valve.

as for the kit, i have no experience with any full brake upgrade kits so I dunno if that is any good. looks pretty complete though

 

If I take the vac. hose of the manifols/carb and suck through it, it holds no vacuum.

What do ya' think/recommend?

 

That sounds like my car, except mine has power drum brakes and it's still terrifying to try to stop.