What are the guys with street driven solid roller and big hydraulic roller cams doing about brakes? With only 11" of vacuum from the GM847 cam I can't even get ABS action on wet roads with Powerslot rotors, Hawk pads and stainless steel brake lines. I doubt the C5 brake upgrade would help much since I still won't have much vacuum. How do vacuum canisters work if you don't have any vacuum to begin with? And what about electric or engine driven vacuum pumps? Is anyone using one of those on an LT1?

 

i was reading on some "electric car" websites about vacuum pumps........they need them for power brakes because the electric engines produce no vacuum.
i think they hook up a "thomas" 12v vacuum pump which is about $160ish i found

but i wonder if this would work
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.as...tname=electric


i read something about newer diesel engines also having an electric vacuum pump, but i dont know if that was for sure.


according to this guy http://www.hotrodsusa.com/FAQ.htm you should just install the properly sized master cylinder.

heres a pump on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33566

 

Good question, I'm wondering the same. I was thinking about maybe swaping cams, but posts like this one from atljar has me concerned...
Cam pulls 11 inches or so of vacuum. Power brakes werent as good as they were before cam change. I compensated for that with tuning so that the car idles at 1500-1600 when slowing down so that the brakes work fine. Once it comes to complete stop, it idles down to 875.

http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...5&pagenumber=1

My big EX cam 236/242 doesn't seem to have any of these issues.

 

when i installed my cam i lost a bunch of vac as well. I upgraded to stainless steel braided brake lines which require less vac to brake. it help me out a lot but i still think more vac is needed for the brakes.

 

You can install a vacuum reserve canister to help out with that. We put one on my friends Camaro after he had a 383 with a huge cam put in, and the problem went away. I think crane makes it. We picked it up at our local speed shop.

Paul

 

In all four corners or just the front? Got any part numbers for those braided brake lines?


I remember long time ago the Vacum Cans were popular with big cam carburator engines... dont know if they had to rev the engine to acumulate some vacum in the can or what. Vacum pumps sound ideal though.


Marvin

 

I looked into an electric pump and adual master cylinder. The vacuum canister is the cheapest way to go right now. I drove by Summit racing last night and picked up a vacuum canister made by Crane. I'll try it and see how it goes.

 

Grease,

How did the vacuum canister work out for you?

Brandon

 

I don't get it..my brakes are great.

 

Ya my brakes suck. Make sure to downshift, lol.

The Solid roller and XE grinds tend to be much better for brakes b/c of the lobe designs. My buddies 248/256 SR cam pulled WAY more vacuum than mine.

 

My brakes aren't that bad.

 

Mine too. I thought I'd have an issue, but so far it's non-existent.

 

I don't have a problem with my brakes. Comp 224/236 blower cam and the Vortech S trim I see about 8-10 inches at idle and the brakes work fine. Idle is at 1k rpm.

 

The solids are going to be slower initially coming of the seat, so they're going to act like a smaller cam at idle.

I run a SR and it's a little lumpy but idles real smooth. Never have a problem with brakes either but a vacuum can could help the situation if you are.

-Mindgame

 

I run a SSBC electric vacuum pump for my brakes.....my huge solid roller cam isnt vacuum friendly. I got it for $250 from jegs