Hello all......just wondering the difference in stopping if I go to manual breaks. The car is a 69 442,weights 3700lbs w/o me in it,and has power front disc breaks,but vacuum is at10",@750rpm's.Car has no power accessories except for the breaks.Will stopping become difficult.If I need to get the valve covers off it's might be a problem with the booster there.I have roller rockers.The car had A/C but that was removed a long time ago,now I just have to replace the heater core box with one for a non a/c car and I'll have clearance on the other side.

 

the difference between manual vs power brakes is a big misnomer. It has ZERO to do with improving your stopping power- it only assists in how easy it is to fully activate the brakes.

A lot of people compare manual brakes to the brakes on a power brake car with the engine turned off- but its not the same.

with manual brakes (w/o a booster) the mc pushrod goes into the upper hole in the brake pedal- instead of the lower hole required for power booster cars- this changes the leverage geometry which makes it considerably easier to stop than a car with power brakes w/ the engine not running.

I have had manual brakes on my last few cars because i prefer the feel and I hated dealing with the extra junk in the engine bay.

I have manual disk/drum brakes in my 66 and it works great.
I run a 1 1/8 deep bore MC and a generic disk/drum proportioning valve.
I have a Solid pedal, not too hard (although my wife did complain about it the first time she drove it). I have no trouble pushing it hard enough to lock up the brakes at will.

-Ben

 

Hey i have a pretty big street cam also and just consider this,I would suggest a vacuum reserve can from any parts house and just install it right etc.

 

Actually the car stops pretty good,I was more concerned about eliminating the booster and if there would be a problem stopping.I can't remember ever having a car with manual breaks.Eliminating the booster would make it much easier to get the valve cover off, if I need to.Sounds like manual disc/drum break will work fine.....And I did use a vacuum reserve,and it did work pretty good. Thanks fellows.