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Hydroboost

TURBO1

Super Cool Member
I was thinking & curious why the Grand National, GNX & all Turbo Regals have a Hydroboost & Powermaster brake systems, yet the TTA has neither. Does anybody know why that is? Would it have anything to do with the TTA, having the 1LE brake package? Again, just curious :eam:
 
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Not real sure but think the reason is the Buicks have drum rear brakes and require a hydroboost system.
 
Only the 84 and 85 GNs had the Hydroboost system. After that they used the Powermaster system. The Hydroboost system was pretty nice in my 84: the harder you pressed, the stronger it held.
 
My opinion is that GM had the setup from the deisel cars so it was easey to do with the fear of no vacuum with the turbo. The f body never had been designed with the hydro boost therefore the reliance on the booster check valve. I don't think the hydroboost would fit anyway. The engine produces plenty of vacuum when you let off the throttle for the power brake booster.
I have had the vacuum hose to the brake booster blow off at the dragstrip. got my attention on the top end at 110 plus but still made the short turn out, just had to push harder on the peddle :)

Glenn
 
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Only the 84 and 85 GNs had the Hydroboost system. After that they used the Powermaster system. The Hydroboost system was pretty nice in my 84: the harder you pressed, the stronger it held.

The Powermaster has been a real problem in the past on GN's and lots of guys, including me, have replaced it with vacuum. Unfortunately vacuum doesn't hold very well at the line, and supposedly not as good as the Powermaster (PM). So, alot of work was done by some of the GN fanatics to make the PM more reliable, so some guys have stuck with it.

A few guys have also retrofitted the Hydraboost to the 86-87's, and I think somebody makes a kit to do that. I was thinking of doing that conversion myself on my GN.
 
Not real sure but think the reason is the Buicks have drum rear brakes and require a hydroboost system.

False. It was proven that the LC2 powertrain could produce enough vacuum to suffice. After two years of warranty work on many GN's, they decided to pursue the vacuum. Had nothing to do with disc versus drums.
 
The Powermaster has been a real problem in the past on GN's and lots of guys, including me, have replaced it with vacuum. Unfortunately vacuum doesn't hold very well at the line, and supposedly not as good as the Powermaster (PM). So, alot of work was done by some of the GN fanatics to make the PM more reliable, so some guys have stuck with it.

A few guys have also retrofitted the Hydraboost to the 86-87's, and I think somebody makes a kit to do that. I was thinking of doing that conversion myself on my GN.

My dads Gn with vacuum brakes can hold 15 PSI. Might want to make sure your brake components are functioning properly.
 
I can footbrake my GN with vaccume brakes beyond what the tires can hold off the line. I have lifted a tire off the foot brake.
 
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