Brakes: hydrovac

[hudsonbill]

i have a 1958 packard and it has a hydrovac in it..
i had it rebuilt...and it does not work...
i put dot 5 brake fluid in it..would that make a difference?
is ther a replacement for the hydrovac?
nebr66@cox.net

[5brown1]

I don't know if the brake fluid has anything to do with it. Have you contacted the rebuilder regarding warranty.
Studebaker Int. has new and rebuilt. I bought a new one for the speedster and am to receive a $100 refund when I return the used unit.

[SN-60]

To: hudsonbill,----Send Me a PM for more info on this.

[Noxnabaker]

The higher dot-number = the higher temperature the brake-fluid can take before it starts boiling.
& be sure you do NOT use synthetic brake-fluid in a system that had mineral fluid in, if you wanna do that then you need to change every little bit first! ...meaning pipes, hoses & cyliders!
I have a friend who's working in a garage & there's a young guy working who didn't believe it...

[StudeDave57]

I wish I could remember what was put into Cleo's system when her brakes were done. Like all Packards that got power brakes- she's got a HydroVac. I really need to rescue her from that garage (storage) in San Diego- or move back down there- I miss those fins!!!

I can hardly wait to begin Nelly's brake-job...
She's also got a HydroVac~
and about a MILE of brake lines!!!

It's gonna be fun fun fun.

[PackardV8]

i have a 1958 packard and it has a hydrovac in it..i had it rebuilt...and it does not work...i put dot 5 brake fluid in it..would that make a difference? is ther a replacement for the hydrovac? nebr66@cox.net

There's nothing inherently wrong with the Hydrovac system. They were used by every US manufacturer on several million light trucks and cars in the '50s and early '60s. That yours does not work is the fault of the rebuilder or the installer. Take it back to them and have them make it work.

jack vines

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

You say that you put brake fluid "in the Hydrovac".
Aren't you supposed to use neats foot oil in the Hydrovac ?
Brake fluid in the master cylinder.

[studegary]

You say that you put brake fluid "in the Hydrovac".
Aren't you supposed to use neats foot oil in the Hydrovac ?
Brake fluid in the master cylinder.

That statement bothered me also.

[hudsonbill]

i put in 1 oz.. of neats foot oil in the hydrovac..

[63 R2 Hawk]

A word of caution: Make absolutely certain you do not have any DOT 5 fluid being sucked past the cylinder seal and into the vac side of the Hydrovac. Silicon based brake fluid can destroy a perfectly good engine (or motor, or whatever). Hydrovacs are known to suck all the brake fluid into the intake.

[stall]

Jack is right they work fine if properly maintained. On my Speedster the Hydrovac grabbed badly; i read the manual and put a small amount of Neats-foot oil in it and the problem went away. BTQ, the place yu put the oil in is really a lousy location, you have to pull the battery and its on the bottom of the housing. I used a street elbow and permanent stand pipe to add the neatsfoot now.
My car uses only DOT-7 fluid, no brake problems for 12 years.

Hope this helps, Good Luck, Murray

There's nothing inherently wrong with the Hydrovac system. They were used by every US manufacturer on several million light trucks and cars in the '50s and early '60s. That yours does not work is the fault of the rebuilder or the installer. Take it back to them and have them make it work.

jack vines

[hudsonbill]

I sent it back to the rebuilder ////

[Guest]

"Booster Dewey" did a great job with my '63 Avanti's unit.
Power Brake Booster Exchange, Inc. 4335 SE 63rd Ave. Portland, OR 97206 (503) 238-8882

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

Booster Dewey only does firewall mounted brake boosters - not Hydrovacs. Last I knew, though, Brake Systems Inc. in Portland, OR could rebuild Hydrovacs.