I do not know if anyone has done this yet but hydro boost brakes from a LincolnMK7 might be a neat way to get power brakes without the hassel of a booster.Looks like it would be a pretty straight forward swap.I think I will look into this while I am doing my Granada disc. swap this winter.Hydro-boost does not rely on vacum as a source of power therefore it is consistent and preditable as long as the engine is running.Plus the hydraulic booster greatly enhances 4 wheel disc.brakes.Any '84-'86 Cont./MKVII/LSC without ABS is what to look for.If you have a high lift cam and want power assist brakes this may be the ticket.Anyone ever looked into this before? Comments/Sugestions?
I learned something new again! (Dangit, I gotta stop that, it's getting to be a habit) I've never heard of the hydro-boost braking system before. Sounds interesting, until you have to stop the car if it dies! I'm definitely interested. Good Luck, Preston
I have hydraboost on my station wagon. It runs off of the power steering pump/system. Not sure if you could ge a system to adapt to a Maverick.
you can still use hydroboost if the engine is not running, just like not having power brakes. interesting though, keep us informed about your progress!
Look at my sig. The Lincoln brake system is not hydroboost in the usual sense. It is a totally electric pump driven system under 2400 psi internal pressure. The pump draws close to 30 amps current, requires a power relay and control circuit module, heavy wiring, larger battery and alternator as good backup insurence. It uses a storage device called an Accumulator to store fluid volume and pressure for about 5 applications of the brakes before the pump runs to replace the operating fluid and pressure. The master is quite large, expensive to repair or replace. Using an old unit may or maynot be fruitful but you can always try. IMO I would not do the change knowing all that I know about this system. There is a lot more to it in it's original application. The name of the system is TEVES, a German creation. The Lincolns use a 100 amp alternator and close to 1000 cca battery to service all the fancy options the cars have like air suspension that also uses a hi current drawing air compressor etc. Good luck, it might work for you if you put enough work into it. I have a 90 shop manuel and full set of factory drawings if you need any info help. Lincolnsonline moderator.
You are right about your '90 MarkVII. You have to use the erlier '84 to '86 system only! This was a basic non electric no ABS system.Only two lines to hook up from P.S. pump.Use same pump from donor car.These systems were engineerd by C. Bruce Gambardella while working for Bendix.Ford knew that this was state of art tech. (in '84)that they used it on there top of the line Lincolns.They have been on diesels for many years - where there is no vacum at all.There are TONS of Lincolns in salvege yards and I am sure I could find every thing I need for under $100. I will post more as I look futher into this.I do know that it is a near bolt in on fox body stangs.Any way I am just thinking (ouch)about it right now.Thanks for your thoughts.Maybe a man. stering,4 w disc.,Big cam...........There I go again.........
Dave, This conversion sounds interesting. If it worked it would save a hell of a lot of space...the first thing I can thing that might be a problem is incorrect pressure from the power steering pump for the Mav power steering. If you decide to pursue this, please keep us informed!
Well....this idea was just too interesting for me to pass up. I started looking into it and found out that it was just the solution I was looking for. I added rear disc brakes in the fall of '03 and ever since then my vacuum booster was pretty ineffective. As it turns out, this is a common problem with 4 wheel disc brake cars and, in fact, Ford's solution to this was Hydroboost. Even better: The Monarch/Granada/Versailles used Hydroboost when they had the optional 4 wheel discs. This is nice because those cars are closely related to the Mav/Comet and use an essentially identical power steering setup... Anyway, my Maverick now has a functional Hydroboost system in place of the vacuum booster! Instead of posting a giant message, I have created a tech article about it on my site: http://www.maverickcomet.com/TechArticles/Hydroboost/Hydroboost1.asp I seem to have misplaced a few of the pics I took during the install..I will have to add them to the article when I find them. I do have a few though so you can see what it looks like, along with a 'before' pic. My thinking as far as people using this system to add power brakes instead of the factory system? I doubt it. I am a little crazier than most however and so far I am happy with the results. So..to answer the question..."yes, you can fit a Hydroboost in a Maverick."
Mark I am glad to see that you used the hydro-boost.I forgot that some Granadas used it too.As time and money pemits I will probly do the same.
You are the innovator Mark. Nice work. You now need to put a Mustang ll front end under it to get rid of those pesky shock towers and make you life so much easier.
Thanks for the positive feedback, guys! I actually finished up most of this around the first of the year, but I wanted to finish putting together the article before posted about it. There is actually something else I found out about the Monarch/Granada/Versailles cars equipped with Hydroboost..they also had an optional skid control of some kind. I don't have much info on how it works, but I think it requires a different Hydroboost unit or some other interface between it and the brakes...and I think I better leave well enough alone for now since I have this working. I seem to remember reading that those early anti-lock systems didn't work all that well either... Anyway, I have spent enough money for awhile. I should probably figure out how to make my electronic fuel gauge work properly instead so I don't run out of gas on the way home from this year's Roundup. Coming soon: article on how I created a tilt steering column.
Dennis, you are so right. That would probably be the best thing I could do to bring the Mav into the 21st century. I have always been intimidated by the fact that I only have access to a MIG welder and since the MII upgrade involves important structural stuff I fear that it is not a powerful enough welder to do the job right. For now the TCP coilover kit will have to suffice.
