Outstanding video. Great analysis with lucidly said talking points. Thanks for doing the video. I have issues with my 94 Astro van and this video helps me.
Great tips! Heat causes so many problems that lead to having to spend money and not to mention breaking down at the worst possible tyme. Fluid cooler is a great money saver.
Working on my 1970 800A project. Watched this video a couple months ago, did some more research and pricing and I think I’m going with the hydro boost option as well. I have found a couple remote mounted hydroboost kits that mount on frame but it seems the MC still mounts on firewall. Any knowledge on this?
Nice explanation. I have very little real world experience with these systems, and now I have a 06 Hummer H3 in the shop with Hydroboost brakes. This tells me most of what I needed to know. But replacement part prices, jeez. At Rockauto no less, they want 450 dollars for the master cylinder, and 759 dollars for the brake booster unit. That has to be one of the downsides to owning a late model vehicle with this system. But hey, I guess if they are reliable, maybe it's worth it.
I’m converting my 1972 gmc to hydroboost and I was curious on what master cylinder bore to use. I have disc front and a 6.3:1 pedal ratio. My options are 1.125, 1.25, or 1.46 (that last option is off of a 2002 gmc 2500 with a hydroboost). What do you think I should go with?
Replaced it this afternoon on my '91 F-Superduty rollback. They came OE in Ford too. I don't think ford put them in anything smaller than a 450. Good video, thanx.
Loved the video thanks for breaking it down to understandable terms I’m getting ready to do a hydro boost conversion on my sons 79 Terra. Do you have detailed parts list from your conversion
I'm sorry Fred. I just wasn't that organized. I made some parts also, it was kind of a pain. The kits are probably worth it honestly, especially when I accounted for how much I spent in hydraulic lines. But I can say it works great.
Great explanation, thanks for posting. I have this same system on my Bronco and someone asked me "What happens if the pump fails - will you loose power steering and power brakes at the same time?"
Jeff Depaul I don’t blame people for asking. If you’ve never seen the inside of a steering box it’d be easy to wonder. But in both the steering box and hydroboost unit there is always a mechanical connection. The hydraulics just assist. How do you like your hydroboost?
Great Video. (I know, its easy to throw out questions from an arm chair).Will an older design of steering box seals be able to handle that higher pressure?
nighthawkdotcom I’m laughing because they can’t even handle the regular pressure! But in all seriousness i think it should be fine. Not like the 90’s boxes have crazy seal technology. It’s that same Saginaw design. New ones are different obviously.
Excellent video ! Had a question , I was vacuuming the power steering at 15psi to draw out the air from power steering system and was turning and decided to press brake pedal . After that now all pressure goes straight to power steering and there is no pressure on hydro boost. The power steering system gets intense amount of pressure and gets extremely hard when brakes applied. Any feedback is appreciated.
did you have recommendations for master cylinders that work? I have not purchased one, after picking up a couple hydroboost units at my local salvage yard, because of exactly the reason you mentioned - the engagement between the hydro and the cylinder. I only salvaged the hydro units, the master cylinders were previously removed. But both of my hydro units appear to be identical. So... I have heard GM "corvette" style. What worked for you?
I think I kept it all the Diesel K2500 equipment, that way I was sure it all matched up. The only trick was the custom plunger rod which is working but it is a mickey-rigged setup where I cut and welded the end of a pushrod and then sanded it down. But it works. Honestly I think any of the hydroboost systems would work unless you are running some crazy braking system. The astor master cylinder may not work because of the angled bracket those have.
Nice video. When bleeding brakes with a hydroboost system, can you bleed brakes the old fashioned way,by having someone in the cab applying pressure to the brake pedal while the other person cracks open the bleeder valve?
I did a hydroboost swap on my 07 classic Silverado 4x4, changed vacuum booster to hydroboost +master cylinder, changed to heavy power steering pump. I used to have drum brake rearend but switched to disk brake rearend. My pedal is super soft and only get fluids coming out the front not rear brakes. Could it be my ABS module? Or master cylinder?
This is way outside my expertise because I’ve never worked on an ABS car but if you put a gun to my head I’d guess it’s a mismatched master cylinder to the hydroboost. The rod length between the HB and MC is critical. Your sounds too short. Could also be the disk brake conversion. Doubt the ABS would have anything to do with it. Does the 07 have a proportioning valve? Of yes you may need to “reset” it if during the process you had a low pressure situation in your rear brakes. I’m just guessing through. Too many variable for me to narrow it down.
Well I may be a year late, but I'll throw in my 2 cents. That era of Silverado with ABS, those can be unusually weird to bleed, regardless of whether it uses hydroboost or not. What I've found, is I have to use a pressure bleeder. Or a good vacuum bleeder, either way. Start at the back and vacuum until you start getting fresh fluid. Then you will need your bi-directional scan tool. Bleed all four wheels, then use the scanner to activate the ABS/BPMV bleed function. I recommend running it a couple of times, then vacuum/pressure bleed all 4 wheels starting at the back again and moving forward. I had to do that procedure 6 or 7 times to get decent pedal feel, on the last silverado I did, where I changed out the master cylinder and booster. Just remember, bleed once, then bleed the ABS pump, then repeat several times.
I've had vacuum boasters for 40 years, Never had an issue. Not once. Never replaced one either. 2004 tahoe with HB? Worst brake pedal ever. I wish they never tried to reinvent the wheel.. 😡
I have a 92 3500 and someone stole the power steering pump/ pulley so I changed out the power steering pump from a 94 1500. Will that pump work in a hydro boost?
Saw some folks elsewhere saying not to “T” together the returns as the little return on the HB is pretty sensitive and needs its own line back to the tank. Have you T’ed your returns and if so, have you had any issues? Thanks!
I have a 2007 Chevy Express 1500 and the power steering and the brakes make a vibrating when turning or braking. Could this be a power steering pump fault? I’d love your input. Thanks. Great video by the way.
Could be yes. It could be the power steering pump, the power steering box or the hydro boost. I don’t know enough of that specific problem to say for sure.
