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Brakes without vac assist

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 3:50 pm
by jdwertz
Trying to weigh some braking options for my build. Due to recent ABS failures it is way more expensive to fix my ABS then replace it with something else (old vac assist).

However, I have seen a few builds where folks have ditched the vac assist for Wilwood masters. How does this affect the pedal feel and braking?

Re: Brakes without vac assist

Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2014 9:49 pm
by tirediron
not sure in a street car, but in a lightened race car there is no issues.
been using a 7/8 bore wildwood master with stock 88+ brakes in a 2300lb car. reasonable pedal travel with good feel and only somewhat increased effort compared to vac assist.

Re: Brakes without vac assist

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:44 am
by jdwertz
tirediron wrote:not sure in a street car, but in a lightened race car there is no issues.
been using a 7/8 bore wildwood master with stock 88+ brakes in a 2300lb car. reasonable pedal travel with good feel and only somewhat increased effort compared to vac assist.


Do you have it mounted remotely or fitted where the servo was on the firewall?

Re: Brakes without vac assist

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:04 am
by tirediron
made a bracket out of flat stock to bolt to the firewall and welded a pushrod together. it's definitely not astheticly pleasing, but it works. the master i am using is a single resevoir also. clearly not DOT approved, but fine in my application.

my buddy is using the same master in his 93 9000 and it works well in that car also. sheds quite a bit of weight when you ditch the electronic booster and abs block.

Re: Brakes without vac assist

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:24 am
by jdwertz
Yes that sucker weighs a ton, opens up some engine bay space too.

How do you handle the reservoir for the clutch master? I imagine a small reservoir mounted to the firewall would suffice.

Re: Brakes without vac assist

Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 1:00 pm
by tirediron
drilled and tapped a hole in the master and threaded in a nipple for the clutch line.

or you can run a separate resevoir like you said. one out of a ford ranger would work nice and be easy to find.