Brakes: 2R and up: Power Brakes?

[52DW2R5]

Question for the truck folks here: what route have you gone when upgrading to power-assisted brakes?

I have a dual master in the stock location under the floor, feeding a Turner disc brake kit on the front and an 8.8 Ford rear-end out back. Performance is good, but with the weight of the 302 and AOD trans, I wouldn't mind some leverage.

For the older Volvo and British (all much lighter mass cars), we used the Lockheed-type remote servo and they worked great, almost a 4:1 advantage in force. I'm reading up on the similar xHydrovac units that helped the '50s American cars with floor masters, but wasn't sure how reliable they were?

There are kits like the one pictured from Speedway, Jegs and others, but I just wasn't sure if I'd have enough room for the servo to sit off the frame, yet clear my transmission.

What have truck folks done with our narrow frames? To me the remote servo concept seems most attractive because we have lots of room upfront to mount it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and experiences you may have.

[StudeRich]

Sorry, there are too many Mods on that Truck to come up with any Stock Studebaker improvements or help most of us have used on stock Trucks that fit and actually Help your peculiar situation.

My stock rear frame mounted, Hydrovac has worked for 63 Years with stock Brakes on my 7E13.

[52DW2R5]

Understood, Rich. That's why I'm looking for a non-stock component-suggestion to fit in our tight stock c-frame.

I do appreciate your feedback and your considerable experience.
Others?

[M-Webb]

I have a Hydrovac on my '61 Champ with a 259 motor and was all pretty much stock before I ventured into replacing that motor with a current on-going project. The Hydrovac has worked great and definitely is an improvement. My truck is pretty stock though, original drums front and rear. Not sure why it wouldn't also help with non-stock brakes as long as you tune it and set it up well so the brakes work as needed. It is basically just leveraged added pressure in the line. If you know what you are doing or can get the advice from someone who is a brake wizard, I am sure that can be made to work. FYI, the Hydorvac on the stock trucks goes in the rear under the bed, on the driver's side, not up front.

Warning, if you go that route, make sure it is working properly and not an old unknown one. As fresh rebuilt one from a reputable source is highly recommended. Don't assume an older one you might find is good on the inside just because it looks good on the outside. Otherwise you might find out in a very sudden and bad way like I did. When I first got the truck, we flushed and refreshed/redid ALL of the brakes except for the Hydrovac because it looked factory perfect on the outside. ASSumed it was good - a big mistake. I guess after sitting unused for 25 years or so made it not so good on the inside. As a result, the vacuum sucked brake fluid into the motor making it run like absolute crap until there was nothing left to suck in. Brakes worked well until suddenly going down a steep hill they didn't work at all. Luckily me and the truck survived with no crashing somehow. And the good news was I also figured out why the motor was running like crap and smoking badly. Turns out burning brake fluid in your motor is not a great thing.

But anyway, after the booster was rebuilt, it has worked great ever since.

[medium_jon]

Who rebuilt your HydroVac Mike? When I redid all the brakes on my 3E40, I removed its large HydroVac. I hope to reinstall it after servicing it and getting my engine running properly.

[Skip Lackie]

Jon- I bought a rebuilt E40 Hydrovac from a company outside of St Louis. Can look up the name for you later in the week. They wanted a core as a trade-in, but actually had a couple in stock and shipped right away.

[52DW2R5]

I have a Hydrovac on my '61 Champ with a 259 motor and was all pretty much stock before I ventured into replacing that motor with a current on-going project. The Hydrovac has worked great and definitely is an improvement. My truck is pretty stock though, original drums front and rear. Not sure why it wouldn't also help with non-stock brakes as long as you tune it and set it up well so the brakes work as needed. It is basically just leveraged added pressure in the line. If you know what you are doing or can get the advice from someone who is a brake wizard, I am sure that can be made to work. FYI, the Hydorvac on the stock trucks goes in the rear under the bed, on the driver's side, not up front.

Warning, if you go that route, make sure it is working properly and not an old unknown one. As fresh rebuilt one from a reputable source is highly recommended. Don't assume an older one you might find is good on the inside just because it looks good on the outside. Otherwise you might find out in a very sudden and bad way like I did. When I first got the truck, we flushed and refreshed/redid ALL of the brakes except for the Hydrovac because it looked factory perfect on the outside. ASSumed it was good - a big mistake. I guess after sitting unused for 25 years or so made it not so good on the inside. As a result, the vacuum sucked brake fluid into the motor making it run like absolute crap until there was nothing left to suck in. Brakes worked well until suddenly going down a steep hill they didn't work at all. Luckily me and the truck survived with no crashing somehow. And the good news was I also figured out why the motor was running like crap and smoking badly. Turns out burning brake fluid in your motor is not a great thing.

But anyway, after the booster was rebuilt, it has worked great ever since.

Good advice, yes, and I'm pretty handy with lots of brake systems in my history. Thanks again for the great reply.

Looking now at Power Brakes out of Sacramento - they've got a pretty nifty unit that looks like a Hydrovac, but brand new. Working to get a price later this afternoon.

[52DW2R5]

Well, I spoke to PBS in Sacramento, and we think the PB900 looks very close to the VH44 that I've used on light cars... likely not up to the task.
I will say, though these folks seem to be a nice authority on any and all boosters, remote, or otherwise.

https://powerbrakes.com/aftermarket-boosters-components/vacuum-booster-remote/

[M-Webb]

Yes, they do look like a good source. Were they not able to suggest something that would work? You have a truck, so the size of it shouldn't be a problem. My guess is some version of a Hydrovac should be able to work just like the trucks would have originally. Studebaker used the Hydrovac units in the big trucks for power brakes. So some version or another should be able to work.

I had Power Brake Exchange in San Jose rebuild/re-manufacture my Hydrovac back when I had it done. When I got it back, it looked brand new. It was restored as well not just rebuilt functionally. Although it did look pretty good already when I gave it to them to begin with. Looks like they are still in business but I think may only do rebuilds with a core, not sales without a workable unit to start with, although they might have some of some sort for outright sale that they can get cores and sell enough of to make it worth it. If you can figure out what might work for you and at least get a core from somewhere, maybe they can rebuild it for you.

[Skip Lackie]

Who rebuilt your HydroVac Mike? When I redid all the brakes on my 3E40, I removed its large HydroVac. I hope to reinstall it after servicing it and getting my engine running properly.

Precision Rebuilders in St Clair, MO did the one for my 4E40. They had several in stock and shipped right away. I got core credit when I sent them my old one. 636-629-1444. Beautiful job, worked and looked like new.

[M-Webb]

Jon, sorry, didn't catch your post until just now with Skip responding to it. But as above, it was Power Brake Exchange in San Jose. Even though they are only about 1.5hrs drive away from me, I still just shipped it back and forth, didn't feel like spending the 6 hours total driving time and fighting traffic on 2 trips over it. So just shipping it back and forth to yourself would be basically the same. But unlike Skip's option, they just rebuilt my actual unit, did not have any extras already to go for just a core exchange, at that time at least anyway. But they also did it pretty fast, didn't take long, and they did an excellent job, it looked great and has worked fine for the last 10+ years since. I don't recall the price, but it was 10+ years ago anyway, and I don't think it it was anything unexpected.

[52DW2R5]

Yes, they do look like a good source. Were they not able to suggest something that would work? You have a truck, so the size of it shouldn't be a problem. My guess is some version of a Hydrovac should be able to work just like the trucks would have originally. Studebaker used the Hydrovac units in the big trucks for power brakes. So some version or another should be able to work.

I had Power Brake Exchange in San Jose rebuild/re-manufacture my Hydrovac back when I had it done. When I got it back, it looked brand new. It was restored as well not just rebuilt functionally. Although it did look pretty good already when I gave it to them to begin with. Looks like they are still in business but I think may only do rebuilds with a core, not sales without a workable unit to start with, although they might have some of some sort for outright sale that they can get cores and sell enough of to make it worth it. If you can figure out what might work for you and at least get a core from somewhere, maybe they can rebuild it for you.

Their booster specialist is out of office on vacation this week. I'll follow up next week.

[medium_jon]

Thanks Skip Lackie and M-Webb for the rebuild sources. If I ever get this truck running again, and thus have a vacuum source, that’s on my agenda to get rebuilt.