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is a power brake master cylinder OK to use without power ?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by beaulieu, Mar 23, 2008.

  1. beaulieu
    Joined: Mar 24, 2007
    Posts: 362

    beaulieu
    Member
    from So Cal

    Hi....

    is the master cylinder the same for a power booster set-up vs non power ?

    I wanted to put a duel master cylinder set-up on my car and most of the ones you see are for a power set-up

    I just wanted to use something that was an easy replacement from autozone , Kragen etc

    Beaulieu
     
  2. Mr 42
    Joined: Mar 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,215

    Mr 42
    Member
    from Sweden

    yes you can use the Power booster type, without the powerbooster.

    Its the diameter of the master cylinder that is important.

    of course the powerbooster help boosting the power, but if you have a 1 inch original, replace it with an 1 inch.
     
  3. Ruff T
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 31

    Ruff T
    BANNED
    from NJ

    A power master cylinder is different from a manual master cylinder. I went through this on my 64 Impala. Look at where the rod will press into the bore. On a power master cylinder, there is a small indent for the ball from the booster to press on. A manual master cylinder has a deeper indent for the rod from the pedal. Either will work but it is not really safe.It is best to get the correct part. You want to be safe when it comes to brakes. I used a mid 70's Corvette manual master cylinder with a 1 inch bore on my 64 Impala when I converted to front disc brakes.
     
  4. DIRTYT
    Joined: Oct 22, 2003
    Posts: 3,264

    DIRTYT
    Member
    from Warren,MI

    just get something from a late 60's chevelle or camaro. you can get them drum/drum or disk/drum. on a few of my old x-frame chevys i used a drum/drum from a non power 68 chevelle
     
  5. phat rat
    Joined: Mar 18, 2001
    Posts: 5,043

    phat rat
    Member

    Pay attention to what Ruff T wrote as he's right on the money about the difference between power and manual masters
     
  6. ray-jay
    Joined: Feb 23, 2008
    Posts: 200

    ray-jay
    Member
    from Buford GA

    I always went with a smaller dia MC when changing from power to manual. This gives you a lot lower pedal effort.
     
  7. Ebbsspeed
    Joined: Nov 11, 2005
    Posts: 6,448

    Ebbsspeed
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    This would be true if you are changing from one to the other on the same car, since the brake master cylinder pushrods are sometimes a different length and therefore would be an issue. However, if you're just looking for a master cylinder to use on a project, chances are that you will be building your own linkage, etc. So the only real concerns would be the bore diameter of the cylinder, and whether or not you need to have a cylinder with a residual pressure valve.
     
  8. One more thing to watch out for. Does your pedal rod require a hole bored into the piston instead of just a dimple? Some pedals are guided by that hole.
    Bore differences--example--75 Chevy 1/2 ton. Manual brake 1" bore, power brake 1 1/8" bore.
     
  9. phat rat
    Joined: Mar 18, 2001
    Posts: 5,043

    phat rat
    Member

    You need to compare them as you apparently are not aware of the difference in the way the pushrod sits in a manual master. If you try and use a power master on a manual set-up you better be making provisions for the rod being kept in place. The power master has a very shallow dimple in the piston while the manual piston has a deep hole which keeps the rod in place instead of falling out.
     

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