How hard would it be to add a brake booster to my 78 Sedan? Would it involve having to get a new master brake cylinder as well for a longer shaft?
I'm debating pulling the booster off the Bobcat at the salvage yard and putting it on.
One thing that has had me a little bit weary is that my dad's 71 Chevy Silverado has a brake booster and it feels like the brakes are really tight, having me push down somewhat hard on the pedal to get it to slow down. Would it be the same if I added the booster to the Pinto?
I had a 78 wagon with power steering and power brakes, now I have a 78 sedan with the same motor and trans, but no p/s or p/b, as far as comparison goes, I thought the power brakes felt too soft and required too little effort. After driving several without power brakes, I'd lean too hard on the pedal in the s/w and lock 'em up. Maybe someone else has conversion advice, personally I prefer non power brakes. If you do the conversion with parts from a junkyard, it's hard to test the booster and master, so keep that in mind. And you will need to run a vacuum hose to the brake booster.
The vacuum hose wouldn't be a problem. The cylinder wouldn't be either, as long as I could continue using my current one. Since it is only a couple of years old, I trust it more than a yard unit. I would never use a yard item when it comes to something as vital as the brake cylinder.
If you have access to a donor car it can be done. You'll need to change the bracket
on the inside where the booster bolts on as it uses 4 bolts, as the none power uses
only 2. You also have to change the pedal as it locates different to get the right leverage
for the brakes to work properly. I believe you can also access these parts from a Must II.
I went the other way on mine.
BILL
i have a 75 mustang ii with front disc, power brakes and powers steering if your intrested in the parts let me know!!!
thanks
ill have all parts plus hardware
I have a 78 with pwr. str., pwr. brakes and A/C. Fred :)
I'll keep you guys updated. I'm still debating the subject.
I have a nearly perfect pedal for the power brakes.I say nearly perfect cause it could have a flaw I didn't see.Can email pics.
The pedal wouldn't be a problem to get, I can pull that off the Bobcat wagon at the yard with the brake booster. Together it would add up to $10. Whether or not I like a stiffer and more sensitive pedal is the question. I don't know how stiff the pedal gets on a Pinto with power brakes.
It is not that stiff but the brakes do lock up easly if you hit them hard. I do like the brakes on my bobcat more than my 05 ford with anti-lock system But i have never driven a pinto with out the booster