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Topics: How To Series, Tips and Info, tech tip, Brake Boosters, Vacuum Booster, Choosing the Right Booster
Do you have a brake pedal that feels hard to press?
You may have a bad booster, booster hose, or check valve. In this 'How To' post, we offer a simple checklist to help you diagnose potential causes of a hard brake pedal.
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Topics: How To Series, Hard Brake Pedal, brake valve, Brake Boosters, brake system hose
We have been asked a number of times if there is such a thing as a manual disk brake conversion kit? The simple answer is yes. The power booster component almost exclusively affects how your brake pedal "feels" to you under foot.
In a situation where your classic car has multiple drivers, some of whom are used to the "foot feel" of power brakes - maybe they spend most of their time driving a newer car or light truck - a power-assisted brake pedal can makes it easier to go between vehicles. The power booster allows you to maintain relative consistency with how much pressure to apply when stopping either of the two vehicles.
You DO NOT NEED to upgrade or convert to a power assisted apply system, however, when making the upgrade to disc from drum brakes. Recently, we got an email from a customer planning on making that drum to disc brake conversion but interested in sticking with a manual set-up.
"Dave" has a '66 GTO he uses as a daily driver and wanted the enhanced performance and stopping ability of disc brakes. But as the sole driver of the car, Dave was comfortable with the pedal effort the manual brakes currently required and wanted to keep that same level of brake feel.
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Topics: How To Series, Disc Brake Conversion Kit, Brake Boosters, Power Assisted Brakes, Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes, Brake System Upgrades
Recently, we wrote about converting manual to power brakes whether your car originally came from the factory with drum or disc brakes. We received several follow up questions from people with drum brakes looking to upgrade to better braking - but trying hard to stay on a budget.
Since the hardware at the wheels and brake lines can remain untouched after converting to a power assisted pedal, we were asked, "Can I just add a booster and new master cylinder to my car?" Essentially the questioners were asking whether the booster master conversion kit or the complete brake conversion kit was their best solution. Of course, like the answer to a lot of questions, it depends!
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Topics: Tips and Info, Disc Brake Conversion Kit, disc brake technology, tech tip, rear disc brake conversion, front disc brake conversion, Brake Boosters, Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes, Better Classic Car Braking
I recently overheard an exchange taking place at a car show about whether or not you could make drum brakes into "power brakes."
"Aren't drum brakes always manual and disc brakes always power?" the one fellow asked.
"That's right, it's why they have disc brake conversion systems," a second fellow chimed in.
"Whoa - not so fast!" I said, as I stopped to jump into their discussion for a second.
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Topics: How To Series, Tips and Info, Master Power Brakes, disc brake technology, tech tip, rear disc brake conversion, front disc brake conversion, Brake Boosters, Drum Brake Upgrade Kit, Disc Brakes vs Drum Brakes
