power to manual brakes

[thallium]

I have read many posts on this subject on dc.com and I'm just making sure this is right.  I have a 70 charger that I  want to convert from power brakes to manual brakes. It has original disk brakes up front and drums in the back. If I remove the brake booster. I can get an adapter to fit onto the firewall and just use the original master cylinder and just shorten or get an adjustable push rod. Is this correct?

[Steve P.]

You will need a NON POWER master cylinder.  The plate is used if you use the aluminum MC.  If you use a cast iron master it will bolt right up. You will need a push rod for it as (I THINK), the booster rod is different.

Hopefully someone with  rod experience will chime in.....

[Chryco Psycho]

you will need to get or make  pushrod that bolts to the pedal & reaches into the master cyl

[mauibarber]

I must be missing something here.  Why would anybody want manual brakes?
-Alex

[Steve P.]

I must be missing something here.  Why would anybody want manual brakes?
-Alex

I have answers for this question, but,,, I would like to know why you WOULD NOT WANT  manual brakes??


Answers to your question:

1) Lighter system.  Remove the weight of the BOOSTER and the CAST IRON Master Cylinder.

2) Remove the vacuum hose from manifold.

3) Allows you much more room under the hood around valve cover.

4) Allows you to feel what is going on with your brakes.

5) Is one less possible failure.

6) Just plain looks better..

7) No need to run a vacuum pump when running a big cam.

No sending passengers out through the windshield during a panic stop.

9) No room for PB with a hemi in many cars. The Non-power cylinder can even be adapted over for this.


Hell, you can even buy a 4-stud all aluminum master now!! Has it's own mounting flange like the cast job.

I just can't think of one good reason to have power brakes. Your not towing 20,000 LBS with it!

[mauibarber]

Power brakes are safer and easier to use? 
I just put power brakes on my 57 bel air and I would never go back to manual.  I know I know...totally different car and weighs a hell of a lot more but still.
I use the Bel Air as a daily driver and my wife drives it regularly so safety is a must.
I see your argument against it and I didnt' know that you cant have power brakes with a hemi motor.
-Alex

[Steve P.]

I don't agree with your idea that power brakes are safer. I would say just the opposite. You have more parts that can fail with power brakes. The booster could fail giving you a very stiff pedal. Also the engine could stall and give you a very stiff pedal.. With manual brakes you have less parts to fail and with or without vacuum your brakes are allways the same.

As far as weight, I have to disagree there too. Many manufacturers built 1/2 ton trucks with manual brakes and even have tow packages without a power booster.  The booster is only a helper. It gives your foot a boost. A properly sized and adjusted non-power system will give you just as good of service.

Did you go to disc brakes on the Chevy?? Maybe what was on the Belair was out of adjustment or just never was correctly sized. I don't know 50's Chevies at all..

As far as the Hemi.. Well, you probably could set up a booster with a very wide offset plate. I just would not want to be the guy that has to pull the valve cover to go in and adjust the rockers.. Maybe it could be done with one of the Japanese car power boosters. Many of them are pretty small..

Most serious muscle cars don't run power boosters for all the reasons I posted earlier. Space and lack of vacuum are the biggies...

Steve

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree Steve why have power at all ?

[mauibarber]

I upgraded to power disc on the Bel Air and it drives like a brand new car. 
Are charger owners really having a lot of problems with there power brake booster failing or there engine dieing?
I would like to drive a charger with both power and manual brakes.  I guess in my mind the manual brakes where difficult to use but aparently thats not true.  I also didnt know that they interfered with the space in the engine.

Are you guys who are switching to manual brakes using your cars at the track or strictly cruising the boulevard?
-Alex

[Steve P.]

I don't think there is a problem specific to any vehicles using power brake boosters. With question to Chargers or any other muscle cars, the reason most of us use NON-Power brakes is because we have thousands and thousands of dollars into these cars, not to mention a gazillion hours of labor and we don't want to ADD to chance. Why have it if it CAN cause a problem?? Why take up the extra space?? Why add the extra weight??

Also many of us are running cams that produce a ton of power, but very little vacuum. Low vacuum turns your power brakes into a rock.. Just as an engine stalling.

Some people prefer power brakes. That is fine. I have no problem with that. Some prefer power steering also.. Again, no problem. For me and many others, I prefer to not add the weight, take the space, take the chance and also pay for something I feel unnecessary..

The right NON-POWER brake system on your Belair would also feel like brand new. You would also gain the feel of the brakes. With power the feel is somewhat muffled.

Most of the guys that are using power brakes and steering is due to keeping the car as the factory built them.

You probably have borrowed a vehicle at one time or another that DIDN't have power brakes and never even knew the difference..  Hell, I use to plow with a truck that never had power brakes. And that was commercial plowing!!

I hope I answered your questions well. Any others you know how to raise our ears.. 

[mauibarber]

Thanks for all the info Steve.

Is there anybody on this forum that prefer the power brake setup?  It would be awesome to hear from them too.
-Alex

[71charger_fan]

The term power brakes is a misnomer. GM had it right when it used to say power assist on the brake pedal. Power brakes don't develop more line pressure and don't stop a car any faster. They just take less pedal pressure. The trade off for the reduced pedal pressure, in my opinion, is reduced feel. I have manual disks on my Charger and would not consider going to power. One more possible failure point with no gain in performance.

[dodge freak]

I think I screwed up by getting a new power booster for my brakes. Should have just swap a non-power master cyc. in there. I changed so much from stock but the brakes I never thought about going to manual . Oh well live and lean they say.