Brake booster shortages

[jtschug]

I think the weird booster I have in my 1966 is actually the "small" Midland which was used on earlier drum brake cars ('61-'64).

I know in the last couple years people have been looking for alternatives because of a lack of rebuildable cores. Has that situation improved? If not I think I'm going to start hunting around for the correct size Midland booster for a 1966.

[Alan H. Tast]

I think the weird booster I have in my 1966 is actually the "small" Midland which was used on earlier drum brake cars ('61-'64).

I know in the last couple years people have been looking for alternatives because of a lack of rebuildable cores. Has that situation improved? If not I think I'm going to start hunting around for the correct size Midland booster for a 1966.

Do you have pictures of what you have to confirm what it is?

[jtschug]

You can see it pretty well in this picture

[travellew]

First.. I have no affiliation and I have NOT bought one.. But I found this will I was searching. It looks like a pretty darn good copy. It says "In Stock"..

https://www.classicindustries.com/produ ... 1083b.html

[redthundervert64]

Yours does look like a '61-'64 small Midland booster - I have a rebuilt one in my '64 MY. If replacing your booster with the same style is still an option for you, Bird Nest now sells new reproductions of it (but maybe you're already aware of this). Their website says that they have them in stock.

https://www.parts123.com/parts123/dynde ... uKeY=AACIF

Nick at Vintage Thunderbird Repair gives this booster quite a favorable review.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2hHlXqvuKo

Hope this helps.

[jtschug]

Thanks for the info on the reproduction boosters. That big one is amazingly cheap.

I'm looking to get the bigger Midland booster which is correct for a 1966. Hopefully it won't push my MC so far forward it crashes into the brace. I'm pretty sure I've got clearance to my valve cover for it. This is a little off-topic because my brake system clearly isn't original, I also have Wilwood disc brakes on the rear axle, but I think the factory disc brake booster will help my problem. I've got plenty of brake assist in the first half of pedal travel and the car slows down under normal conditions very well. However, in an emergency braking situation when I want to slow down quickly it seems to run out of boost assist and I've got to push the brake with both feet. It is not possible for me to lock the brakes, which with discs on all four corners, I should be able to do. It gets scary when I'm going down a big hill on the interstate, come around a corner and hit traffic. So, I'm thinking bigger booster, bigger bladder = more boost. Also, while I have bolted on a lot of modifications, I prefer using factory original parts where I can.

[redthundervert64]

I had a question on your Wilwood MC setup, which I've posted in the Modified forum.

https://vintagethunderbirdclub.net/phpB ... 36#p106636

Thanks in advance for any info or advice you can give.