electric brake booster

[boogiedude]

So I've been fantasizing about having an electric brake booster in the spider. I've seen them on hot rods, and other classic cars and I've always thought to myself "Why wouldn't it work for our cars?"

I've browsed some hot rod forums on this topic and they seem to adapt this type of system to a wide range of cars with a simple vacuum booster much like our own.

Granted, I don't have a lot of wrenching experience, but am I over looking some fatal flaw? Anybody tried this?

Here's a site that several of the hotrod guys use, but i can't seem to get any info out of. This site uses a electric booster with brake fluid to amplify braking somehow http://www.abspowerbrake.com/electrichppage.html

and this one is just a vacuum pump that goes inline i believe http://www.cvrproducts.com/vacuum_pump.html


Any feedback? Ideas? Severe scorning?

[mbouse]

why go thru the trouble? won't increase braking power or solve all of the common issues with our stock brakes.

there's plenty of vacuum "power" to spare, unlike some specialty engines.

[spiderrey]

It has nothing to do with improving the brakes. Some would do this if they wanted to run a carb setup like dcoe,s and needed more room in that area to make them fit. Also, if your running duel carbs, you git less vacume. This would slove both problems.

[mbouse]

i understand that this mod does not improve brake performance, that is why i was asking boogiedude why he wanted to even consider the change. having just changed a booster, seems like a lotta work for zero improvements... and no issues stated

[boogiedude]

according to posts on the hotrod forum i was browsing, it DOES increase braking power. ( http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/electri ... 73131.html ). It appears that the systems that have a built in fluid reservoir are designed to replace your booster and master cylinder. It's basically upping the brake system to the 21st century

[racydave]

It might reduce the pedal effort required, but to improve stopping power would require different calipers and pads. Hot-rods usually have wicked cam-shafts that create poor vacume at idle...

[So Cal Mark]

pretty easy to mount a vacuum pump from a GM car to boost the suckage

[mbouse]

It might reduce the pedal effort required, but to improve stopping power would require different calipers and pads. Hot-rods usually have wicked cam-shafts that create poor vacume at idle...

which, i guess is what i was trying to say in a different way. no amount of booster applied aid to the pedal effort is going to change the braking force applied at the wheel. all it is gonna do is change the amount of foot power needed to gain maximum force at the four corners.

inadequate calipers that frequently bind/fail will still be there. collapsing hoses will still collapse, and 13" rotors will still be 13" in diameter. swapping out the booster won't change any of those factors. so, i ask again.... why do you wanna change to an electric booster boogiedude? is it because it sounds neat, or because you are unsatisfied with your present braking power? or, as spiderrey suggests, is it because you need the room ?

if you make the swap, i have first dibbs on your old booster, ok?

[boogiedude]

My old booster is dead. Hence the search for a replacement.

And maybe there is a communication barrier occuring right now, but increasing vacuum and reducing force at the pedal is increased braking in my book. if it takes two feet to get maximum braking, then reducing the pressure needed is definitely improving stoppablity of the vehicle.

perhaps i misspoke by saying power. my apologies.

[racydave]

It is an interesting concept, let us know what you end up with Dude.

[manoa matt]

Boogiedude I've seen the way you drive, kind of like M. Bouse "drive it like you stole it" I think you just need to slow down. If I ever get that PF turbo brake kit installed you can have my old ferodo brake pads, that might help you stop.

[FatherFiat]

My guess is that a set of larger discs and calipers from (for instance) Vick Auto Sports would make a whole lot more stopping power, and you wouldn't have to worry about blowing out a brake line from the extra pressure created.

FatherFiat