Suburban w/Rockwells. Is hydroboost best?

[pickuptrck]

I want to up the brake pressure to my rockwells for better than stock stopping power. The truck is an '88 Suburban with Rockwells & Michelin 53s.

I was thinking of using the stock hydroboost system found on gm 6.2L diesels simply becuase it's the exact same truck/firewall, which should make it a bolt-in & I've read they move from 1200-2000PSI to the cylinders. I can't find any numbers for the vaccuum assist, but I'm sure it has to be a lot lower. I will have hydro-assist steering in at around the same time, so the PS pump will be an uprated version, his should help the hydroboost out even further.

Considering junk yard availability (with a MC rebuild kit) or a reman from NAPA/autozone for around $300 is there a better option? I know they're on the 6.2's but I've also heard the 1 ton class trucks had them; any ideas what years? Did the hydro & vaccuum use the same MC, or is there an upgrade?

Thanks.

[gilraine]

my 84 c30 has hydroboost on it... 350 T400 drw combo...

[abig84]

yeah all the diesals i ever seen had them. i just bought a 82 k30 with a 350 and it has it also

[millerxc]

I have a sub with rocks and 44" tractor tires and pinion brakes with vacumn booster , plenty of brakes even with a bbc with a good sized cam.

[pickuptrck]

My concern is I'm not running pinion brakes, I have the 6 stock huge drums for now. I've heard pinion brakes stop pretty good on their own, but at the expense of high pinion bearing wear. Without my diffs welded I've also heard that stopping can be quite unsafe in any amount of road slickness b/c one wheel stops, the other freewheels b/c of the open diffs.

What line pressure should I be looking for in a healthy stock system? If mine's up to par, I may just leave it be.

[max underdrive]

You will need a master cylinder that is matched to the size of the wheel cylinders- probably something off a 1.5 or 2 ton chev. Pay close attention to the depth of the pushrod hole in the master cylinder you intend to use- it has to match your old mc. An experienced parts man can help you if you give him the info (been there- done that). A vacuum system will work fine if you don't go crazy on the cam.

[pickuptrck]

I'm not planning on doing much at all (if anything) with the cam. The block will be rebuilt for a turbo & a 6PSI is all I plan to put into it since I already have most of the parts to do it.