Good brakes

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Godwin

Godwin

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Over the years I've tried to improve the braking of my 60. The rear is still stock with drums. I installed 4Runner calipers initially, later a 4Runner master cylinder. These mods helped but nothing dramatic. This week I swapped in a 80 series booster and that has made a difference. I'm satisfied with this combination and the 80 series booster was a direct swap.
 
Output Shaft said:
So what do you think a 80 booster would do for stock 60 brakes?
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I don't know. If nothing else knowing that an 80 series booster is a viable option if the 60 series booster needs replacing is useful.
 
Interesting. Wonder if the 80 booster makes the difference or if your 60 booster was marginal / old? I'm sure someone here will chime in with the answer.
 
Good tech, Godwin. What year 80? Are they all the same?
 
As an added twist.

When I swapped a diesel into our 60, I noticed my stock 60 brakes seemed quite a bit stronger than with the 2f.

Reason...The Isuzu engine has a alternator driven vacuum pump, which appears to have a higher, and likely, more consistent vacuum than than the 2f's intake vacuum.

Is the 80 booster larger in diameter than the 60 unit?
 
Godwin said:
Over the years I've tried to improve the braking of my 60. The rear is still stock with drums. I installed 4Runner calipers initially, later a 4Runner master cylinder. These mods helped but nothing dramatic. This week I swapped in a 80 series booster and that has made a difference. I'm satisfied with this combination and the 80 series booster was a direct swap.
Click to expand...

I recently changed to the 80 booster and a literal transformation - just about feels. . .dare I say. . .modern? Stops on a dime, relatively speaking, lol.
 
sschruff said:
I recently changed to the 80 booster and a literal transformation - just about feels. . .dare I say. . .modern? Stops on a dime, relatively speaking, lol.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you can really feel when the calipers clamp down.
 
doug720 said:
A

Is the 80 booster larger in diameter than the 60 unit?
Click to expand...

Boosters were same diameter or very, very close. I'll try to measure tomorrow and post the sizes.
 
T100s and 4Runners had bigger boosters and are much easier to find. They, too are a direct bolt in, though make sure you get the in-line booster check valve from the donor since it's not built into the booster.

My booster came from a 1992 4runner, no ABS w/ a 1 inch master.

I would like to reinforce that the booster is the single biggest improvement you will make to these brakes.

Of course I can't leave well enough alone so I upgraded to Tundra brakes while I was at it.
 
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FordFascist said:
T100s and 4Runners had bigger boosters and are much easier to find. They, too are a direct bolt in, though make sure you get the in-line booster check valve from the donor since it's not built into the booster.

My booster came from a 1992 4runner, no ABS w/ a 1 inch master.

I would like to reinforce that the booster is the single biggest improvement you will make to these brakes.

Of course I can't leave well enough alone so I upgraded to Tundra brakes while I was at it.
Click to expand...

T100's and 4Runners had bigger boosters then 80's or equivalent?
 
FordFascist said:
T100s and 4Runners had bigger boosters and are much easier to find. They, too are a direct bolt in, though make sure you get the in-line booster check valve from the donor since it's not built into the booster.

My booster came from a 1992 4runner, no ABS w/ a 1 inch master.

I would like to reinforce that the booster is the single biggest improvement you will make to these brakes.

Of course I can't leave well enough alone so I upgraded to Tundra brakes while I was at it.
Click to expand...
When you say direct bolt in, does it mean simply that? Using all the same fasteners? With out messing with any brake lines? What year FJ60 do you have?
 
Just thinking out loud here...

The brake booster is a big vacuum powered diaphragm that helps apply extra pressure to the master cylinder piston when the pedal is pushed down.

I am wondering if a larger booster actually reduces stopping distance or only reduces the pressure required at the pedal to stop... a panacea for a lazy right leg.

So instead of having to press hard on the brake pedal to stop quickly, you could just firmly press on the pedal instead with a big booster.... but the stopping distance would remain the same.

A booster is only as good as the brakes it is pushing against. I know from experience with really bad brakes that the problem with my stopping distance (or lack of it) didn't have anything to do with how hard I was pushing down on the pedal, but with how crappy my rotors, drums, shoes and pads were.

The problem I've found with FJ60 brakes isn't so much pedal pressure to stop the car, but the friction available at the rotors and drums... Brake fade.

I've found that excessive brake pressure only leads to quicker brake fade. And once the brakes fade, the biggest booster in the world isn't going to help.

In some circumstances, a more powerful brake booster could actually be dangerous, as it can promote quicker brake fade with lighter pedal pressure.

But with just easy around-town braking, a bigger booster would probably be easier on the right leg ..... but I wonder if you'll stop any faster.
 
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Output Shaft said:
Just thinking out loud here...

The brake booster is a big vacuum powered diaphragm that helps apply extra pressure to the master cylinder piston when the pedal is pushed down.

I am wondering if a larger booster actually reduces stopping distance or only reduces the pressure required at the pedal to stop... a panacea for a lazy right leg.

So instead of having to press hard on the brake pedal to stop quickly, you could just firmly press on the pedal instead with a big booster.... but the stopping distance would remain the same.

A booster is only as good as the brakes it is pushing against. I know from experience with really bad brakes that the problem with my stopping distance (or lack of it) didn't have anything to do with how hard I was pushing down on the pedal, but with how crappy my rotors, drums, shoes and pads were.

The problem I've found with FJ60 brakes isn't so much pedal pressure to stop the car, but the friction available at the rotors and drums... Brake fade.

I've found that excessive brake pressure only leads to quicker brake fade. And once the brakes fade, the biggest booster in the world isn't going to help.

In some circumstances, a more powerful brake booster could actually be dangerous, as it can promote quicker brake fade with lighter pedal pressure.

But with just easy around-town braking, a bigger booster would probably be easier on the right leg ..... but I wonder if you'll stop any faster.
Click to expand...

These are kind of my questions as well.
 
But it's awesome that Godwin found a cross replacement for the 60s booster, using the 80s booster. Now we've got a replacement when ours die.
Thanks @Godwin !
 
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