My ’96 2500 2wd has a vacuum power brake booster and I’d like to change it over to a hydroboost unit that works off the power steering pump. Has anyone done the conversion, is it worth the trouble and expense? (I’ve already swapped out the bigger wheel cylinders from a Chevy 1-ton, and they did help.)

I understand the 1997 model year started using the hydroboost instead of vacuum booster, so I assume I can just get the booster, the master cylinder, the PS pump, and all the lines from a 97 for a straight bolt on swap, correct?

My 01 which is also a 2500 has much better braking, and the only difference I can tell is that it has the hydroboost instead of the vacuum booster. Thanks for any ideas.

 

Your '01 MAY also have rear disk brakes, depending on exactly when it was built. If so, that might explain the difference. I assume you've tried bleeding the brakes, adjusting the rears properly, etc?

 

No it's an early '01 with rear drums. What I mean by better braking is less pedal effort, quicker stops, and a more solid, secure feel. I think the brakes on the ’96 are working OK, I was just looking for a way to improve their performance, short of spending $2000 on a high performance brake kit. Maybe I shoul look into rear disk brakes?

 

Swapping to disk brakes might be a good idea. I would first try to drive at least one truck with rear disks, or at a minimum, ask some people with those trucks how they brake compared to trucks they've driven with rear drums.

It may be that there's not much difference in feel, I dunno.

 

Get the '97 unit with all the hoses and the pump reservoir\housing with two return lines.

Also need the pressure regulator fitting with larger orifice - the part the pressure hose fits into.

P\s pump is otherwise identical.

Several changes in '98 are problematical between RWAL and 4WAL units, incl switch to Euro-type pipes\fittings.