I have the above car with drum drum brakes and want to convert to power brakes. All the kits I see are to convert to disc up front. Is there a supplier that makes a booster that fits with the stock engine? I ordered one kit only to find it did not fit as the booster hit the exhaust manifold. I have called a could suppliers who say with the 312 they do not have anything.
Does anyone know of a supplier or will I need to go disc to get then power brakes?
You may want to look for a rebuildable Kelsey Hayes OE power brake set up. That system uses a bellows booster that is under the dash, so it does not protrude into the engine compartment. I believe that the rebuild kit is available for the unit and used to cost around $100. They are not as powerful as the later style but do add some assist. I have them on two of my cars.
Thanks I'll see if I can find one. I have done the brakes, new cylinders, shoes etc and turned the drums. Still had to stop so I was looking for a power booster, I don't recall my first high school 57 being this had to stop but I was a bit younger.
I unfortunately do not have any pictures. At one time, I upgraded to an aftermarket PB kit...the universal dual diaphragm and Covette style master cylinder. This setup would not clear the Y-Block dual exhaust manifolds. I used a later model, Ford power brake bracket/linkage that mounts between the firewall and booster. This bracket moved the booster up enough to clear the manifold. I later upgraded to Wilwood master and hydraulic booster which cleared even more.
Quote from: gasman826 on 2026-02-12 08:11I unfortunately do not have any pictures. At one time, I upgraded to an aftermarket PB kit...the universal dual diaphragm and Covette style master cylinder. This setup would not clear the Y-Block dual exhaust manifolds. I used a later model, Ford power brake bracket/linkage that mounts between the firewall and booster. This bracket moved the booster up enough to clear the manifold. I later upgraded to Wilwood master and hydraulic booster which cleared even more.
I have looked at building a bracket or to just bite the bullet and put disc's up front.
Perhaps reach out to Tomsclassic on eBay. https://ebay.us/m/ipHe7U
He seems to sell a lot of different boosters.
I can tell you that the stock original PB is just a helper. Not a true modern-like booster and feel.
I have drums all around on the wagon. No power and just make sure my brake are adjusted and I do fine.
Edd, drum brakes typically require less effort than disc brakes, drums are "self assisted" discs are not. My disc brake conversion was very effort heavy, but they never fade. I wound up putting a "Hydro-boost" unit on mine since my FE produces very low vacuum due to the cam. In the process of buying rear brake shoes I noticed that the lining length varied between manufacturers and the correct length for the shoes was not observed in a few. If that length is wrong (on the trailing shoes) the shoes won't "self actuate" as designed perhaps causing a more difficult pedal. My brakes now feel like a very competent modern car.
Lynn
I know the drums not a true "booster" and if I went disk I was looking at the Wilwood conversion.
Take a look at the booster adapter for early Broncos. They tilt the assembly away from the engine. Looks weird but will give room for a big booster and master.
Looks like it tips the wrong way down to the manifold.
had a '69 bronco I put that unit on. pic is top view of bracket. it kicks the booster out towards the drivers fender. gerald
Check out summitracing. I think!, they sell the drum ones, and the disc ones. Thank! I think they get them from LEEDS.
he I go again is there more than one bolt pattern for the master cylinders? I found a booster that puts the unit above the manifold but the firewall to booster pattern is wrong. I pulled the old master cylinder and found only two bolts of the four in it. Do I have some odd ball 57? Other that the bolt to firewall patters off it looks like I have found a booster supplier. Waiting to hear back on the pattern issue, under $300.
The bolts top to bottom measure 1-3/4" and side to side 3-1/2".
Didn't we recently have a thread on the exact same issue?
Found it, I think it's the same problem
https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=10039.msg102188#new
I do recall reading that and it looks like the same issue but with the booster mount. I contacted the seller to see if he has the other bolt pattern or can he make one. The booster it self looks good, clears the 312 exhaust and will let the hood close. If he comes up with the right bolt pattern I'll take pictures as he are others I'm sure would be interested.
tomsclassic ebay had a unit hat fit with minor modification. The bracket to firewall holes need elongated to match the the firewall, simple fix. Next question, with the duel reservoir will I need a proportioning valve?
I have the booster in and plumbed to the original lines on the frame front and rear. Then it was what about the brakes switch and thought about a T in either of the lines at the brake cylinder. Will that work or do I need to find another way,
That booster is how close to the exhaust manifold? Was your car a power brake car to start with?
This was the best I could get I can try again if you need more pictures.
Thank you.
Did you get the booster to work and if so how does it feel? I'm wanting to add booster to my ranchwagon as I've got 4 wheel discs and just a manual master cylinder. It works good, but I'd like to take a little pedal pressure off it.
I've bought the aftermarket kit with the 8' dual booster and have the bell crank assembly. The ratios are really off to be a bolt on to our cars. We've tried the aftermarket booster on these cars before but they were never right feeling due to pedal ratio and the strange ratio on the bellcrank assembly.
I've found a mid seventies f100 bellcrank assembly might be a more suitable ration to work with stock pedal and yet still raise the booster up a little for clearance.
Quote from: suede57ford on 2026-06-24 20:27Did you get the booster to work and if so how does it feel? I'm wanting to add booster to my ranchwagon as I've got 4 wheel discs and just a manual master cylinder. It works good, but I'd like to take a little pedal pressure off it.
I've bought the aftermarket kit with the 8' dual booster and have the bell crank assembly. The ratios are really off to be a bolt on to our cars. We've tried the aftermarket booster on these cars before but they were never right feeling due to pedal ratio and the strange ratio on the bellcrank assembly.
I've found a mid seventies f100 bellcrank assembly might be a more suitable ration to work with stock pedal and yet still raise the booster up a little for clearance.
Yes I got it working and it works great. Mine is drum both ends the booster for the disc's should be easy to find it was drum drum that wasn't. Look up tomsclassic on eBay he had what I needed an makes the brackets to fit the 57. The booster is 7" to clear manifolds on mine.
I seem to recall hearing someplace that you can use a dual diaphram booster for a 1970 Mustang. Kinda makes sense because the big block mustangs did not have a lot of room to spare under the hood.
I bet NAPA, and RockAuto have pictures, and possibly dimensions on their websites.