brake booster

[824slugger]

Hello guys and gals .Just bought a 1961 GMC truck and am super happy about it too! First thing I have started looking for is a brake booster to aid in stopping this monster. As it sits now it has front/rear drums,4wd,GMC 305 V-6, 4 speed. would like to know if there is a web site or any info for buying the booster. I am located in southern PA.Thanks in advance for any info or comments.:ohmy:

[donrm]

Member Donrm, I bought a power brake booster at a swap meet. The guy told me it came off a 1976 Chevy Caprice. Got the portioning valve with it for $10. It fit just fine. I can't remember if I shortened the brake rod or if I lengthened it. At any rate it works great. I did have power brakes to begin with, but it abled me to go with disc brakes. I already had switched to a 2 1/2" drop spindle to fit a 1974 GM truck. Hope this helps you. Don Maurath
1966 GMC 8' fleetside Cinti Ohio

[Fartman22]

There was a brand-new one on ebay still in the box midland makes them.You can go to there website thats what i have on my truck works great.

[824slugger]

Thanks. When I posted this I had just pulled into the driveway. I didn't look over the system but when I pulled the reservoir cap the rear brakes had no fluid! Guess what-they leak. I am looking forward to learning all about this truck and getting help from this forum. Thanks again.

[turbobill]

30 years ago I removed a power brake booster and related parts from a '65 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD truck and installed everything on my '65 Chevy 1/2 ton 4WD.

In addition to the booster, there is a bracket that mounts it to the firewall in this application. The booster is spaced about 2 inches off the firewall. I don't remember now if I also swapped pushrods or not. Some GM power brake set ups also use a bracket mounted to the non power brake pushrod hole on the pedal to activate the brake light switch as the lower pedal height would have the brake lights on all the time.

If needed, I can look as I have the '65 truck still and a '66 truck just like it without power brakes. Later, I added a dual reservoir master cylinder and combination valve for the extra safety. That allowed me to use a left front brake hose from a '67 to '69 4WD Chevy/GMC. The original 60-66 4WD left front brake hose was the 3 way "T" for the brake system and was no longer available anywhere.

[GMCNUT]

From 1955 through 1962 GMC used the midland booster which mounts to the inner fender; this allows the use of your stock master cyl with the least modification to your truck. Midland boosters are on Ebay frequently. I may even have an extra one somewhere if you decide to keep it stock

[GMCNUT]

Here is a photo of how the factory would have installed power brakes on a 1960-62 GMC. This is the correct Midland booster I referenced earlier.

[824slugger]

Thanks everyone.I will look for a little while for it on EBAY but if I don't have any luck GMCNUT are you willing to part with yours for a fee if you still have it? Thanks again.

[GMCNUT]

Thanks everyone.I will look for a little while for it on EBAY but if I don't have any luck GMCNUT are you willing to part with yours for a fee if you still have it? Thanks again.

I just got another Midland booster a few days ago and it has a fender bracket on it, but not the exact correct bracket for a 60-66 truck - these boosters were used on other makes and models so this booster looks nice and someone painted it Blue of all things, but it does have a bracket if you are not picky about the bracket being the exact correct GMC one....this one will work anyway. 150.00