Electronic Brake Booster

[Karl Bebout]

Does anyone have pictures of an installed electronic brake booster in a Cobra?
Is it worth the work and expense?
Did you use the Buick Grand National unit or what?
I'm limited on my rotor size since I prefer my 15" wheels. I have the standard brake set up from ERA with dual piston front "GM" style calipers and inboard Jag rear brakes.
I installed Hawk pads up front that that made some improvement but I'd like more.
Suggestions?
Thanks.

[MKS427]

What issue are you having?
Do you have rubber or steel braided lines going to the calipers. If rubber, I'd start there.
Dual piston masters, or single? If dual, make sure the balance bar isn't bound, that's the problem I couldn't figure out for years.
These cars are so light, it's hard to believe you'd have to go with a power booster.

[spdbrake]

It seems folks are converting from the Buick electric driven hydraboost to more conventional hydraboost (power steering pressure driven)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eMcYT6njmw

But Speedway Motors has an interesting remote elec pump and accumulator kit. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Compa...Drum,9643.html

About 1/2 the size of the Buick or Jeep factory units.

[LMH]

Karl, does your ERA use the two individual Wilwood master cylinders? What size are they?

I'd look into changing those to a different bore size. It can change the feel of the brakes in a big way. Maybe a phone chat with the Wilwood tech staff might lead to some ideas.

Larry

[strictlypersonl]

Originally Posted by LMH

Karl, does your ERA use the two individual Wilwood master cylinders? What size are they?

I'd look into changing those to a different bore size. It can change the feel of the brakes in a big way. Maybe a phone chat with the Wilwood tech staff might lead to some ideas.

Larry

We use 7/8" (front) and 3/4" (rear) master cylinders. While we've never done it at the factory, you could change the masters to 3/4" and 5/8" at the expense of 25% more pedal travel. The other modification you can do (for only about 4% reduction in pedal pressure) is changing the caliper to Stainless Steel Brakes SSB-A185S.

[MKS427]

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

We use 7/8" (front) and 3/4" (rear) master cylinders. While we've never done it at the factory, you could change the masters to 3/4" and 5/8" at the expense of 25% more pedal travel. The other modification you can do (for only about 4% reduction in pedal pressure) is changing the caliper to Stainless Steel Brakes SSB-A185S.

3/4 front and 5/8 rear is what Factory Five supplies for the 6 and 4 piston Wilwoods.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

Does anyone have pictures of an installed electronic brake booster in a Cobra?
Is it worth the work and expense?
Did you use the Buick Grand National unit or what?
I'm limited on my rotor size since I prefer my 15" wheels. I have the standard brake set up from ERA with dual piston front "GM" style calipers and inboard Jag rear brakes.
I installed Hawk pads up front that that made some improvement but I'd like more.
Suggestions?
Thanks.

One option is a remote mounted brake booster, but that only works if you have enough vacuum to make it work. You could, of course, install an electric vacuum pump to generate vacuum if your engine doesn't provide enough.

https://techtalk.mpbrakes.com/booste...vacuum-booster

https://www.mpbrakes.com/pc_product_...7A4048C935ECF0



It's a fair size, so that could be a challenge.



ABS Power Brakes used to offer an electric system, but the latest update on their website is 10 years old, and they don't seem to be available anywhere. I've seen online comments that their booster can only be used with their master cylinder, but I don't understand why you couldn't use it with your MCs. ABS Power Brake, Inc.

ABS Power Brake, Inc.
233 N. Lemon St.
Orange, CA 92866
V. 714 771-6549
F. 714 771-7329
Email: info@abspowerbrake.com

[Bilt@home]

Hi Karl, I changed mine to a vacuum booster and cobra mustang master and had to replace my brake pedal to a stock longer one because with manual brakes they use shorter ones at a lower pivot point to get more leverage, point is you may have too change yours .
Walt

[Karl Bebout]

Thanks for all the replies but I still haven't heard if going with a boosted unit is worth the effort and cost. I'm not concerned about pedal pressure. Does adding PB to my existing set up improve my braking ability significantly?
K.

[MKS427]

Karl,
Check out this thread.

Driver assist for manual brakes.

CompClassics only mentions reduced effort, not increased breaking.

[bobcowan]

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

Thanks for all the replies but I still haven't heard if going with a boosted unit is worth the effort and cost. I'm not concerned about pedal pressure. Does adding PB to my existing set up improve my braking ability significantly?
K.

No, it will not. A booster only decreases pedal effort for the same amount of brake pressure. That's not a bad thing, I kind of like them. But if your goal is to improve brake performance, look elsewhere.

[Karl Bebout]

Thank you Bob. 'xactly what I was looking for. It's pretty impressive what adrenaline can do for muscle strength

[Cobrakeith]

Originally Posted by Karl Bebout

Thank you Bob. 'xactly what I was looking for. It's pretty impressive what adrenaline can do for muscle strength

Yes it is, speaking from experience.

[Karl Bebout]

Keith, I've heard that tires can lock up and smoke when sufficient adrenaline is present.
Even extra exciting to see a Cobra sliding perpendicularly, rapidly approaching my back end

[Cobrakeith]

Even extra exciting to see a Cobra sliding perpendicularly, rapidly approaching my back end[/quote]

LOL you should see it from the other end approaching the back end of YOUR car, very exciting indeed.

[Danr55]

I'm sure we should talk with Stuart for a true first hand comment!

[Karl Bebout]

Airborne!