Early Bronco Vacuum Power Brake Kits

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A Guide to Selecting the Right Vacuum Power Brake Kit for Your Early Bronco

Upgrading your Bronco’s brake system is one of the smartest ways to enhance safety and performance, especially when you’ve added bigger tires, extra weight, or just want better stopping power. A Vacuum Power Brake Kit offers a solid solution for most Early Bronco owners looking to boost their brakes without the complexity or cost of more advanced systems. Here’s a guide to help you pick the right kit from Wild Horses 4x4.

1. Understand Your Driving Needs

Your choice of a brake kit should start with how you drive your Bronco:

• Street and Light Off-Road: For those who stick mostly to the pavement or lighter trails, a Vacuum Power Brake Kit offers plenty of stopping power.

• Heavy Off-Road or Towing: If you’re loading up your Bronco or taking it on more intense trails, vacuum brakes can still handle the job, but you may want to consider upgrading to a Hydroboost Power Brake System to ensure your brake system is tuned for your heavier load.

2. All Kits Use 8-Inch Dual Diaphragm Boosters

At Wild Horses, all our vacuum brake kits come equipped with an 8-inch dual diaphragm booster. This setup provides more braking power than a single diaphragm and is especially beneficial for those running larger tires or carrying extra weight. It offers solid braking performance while maintaining a good pedal feel, making it a great choice for most Broncos.

3. Master Cylinder Options

Picking the right master cylinder is key to optimizing your braking performance. Wild Horses offers three options, each tailored to different needs and preferences:

• Wilwood Tandem Master Cylinder: This is the high-performance option with an eye-catching design for those who want maximum style and performance.

• Alpine Aluminum Master Cylinder: Built for corrosion resistance, a welcome upgrade over rusty cast steel master cylinders.

• Cast Steel Master Cylinder: For cost-conscious Bronco owners, this option delivers consistent performance at a lower price point.

4. Front and Rear Brake Setup

You’ll want to match your Vacuum Power Brake Kit to your Bronco’s front and rear brake setup:

• Disc/Drum Combo: If your Bronco runs front disc and rear drum brakes, this is a common configuration, and our kits are designed to match this setup.
• Four-Wheel Disc Brakes: If you’ve upgraded to four-wheel discs, our systems are ready to handle this. Just make sure to use the correct proportioning valve to accommodate the added fluid capacity of rear disc brake calipers.
• Four-Wheel Drum Brakes: If your Bronco still has four-wheel drum brakes, the increased braking power from a vacuum brake system can lead to drum lockup, especially under heavy braking. We highly recommend upgrading to at least front disc brakes to avoid lockup and to improve your overall braking performance.

5. Vacuum and Engine Compatibility

Vacuum brake systems rely on your engine’s vacuum pressure. If you’re running a higher-performance camshaft that reduces vacuum at idle, you might experience weaker braking performance. In those cases, you may want to add a vacuum reserve canister or a vacuum pump to maintain consistent brake pressure. This will ensure you have the stopping power you need even in low vacuum situations. Upgrading to Hydroboost is also a great option if you have low vacuum.

6. Installation Considerations

Vacuum brake kits are generally easier to install than Hydroboost systems, making them a favorite among Bronco owners who enjoy doing their own wrenching. Wild Horses kits come with everything you need, including the 8-inch dual diaphragm booster, master cylinder, and installation hardware. If you’ve got some mechanical skills, you can likely handle this upgrade yourself.

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Thinking About Upgrading to Hydroboost?

While Vacuum Power Brake Kits are great for most Broncos, some owners eventually upgrade to a Hydroboost system for even greater performance. If you’ve added larger tires (like 35” or more), or you’re tackling heavy off-road trails or towing, Hydroboost gives you more consistent and stronger braking. It uses hydraulic pressure from your power steering pump, which can deliver improved stopping power under load. If you feel like your vacuum brakes are struggling to keep up, Hydroboost might be the next step for you.

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Conclusion

Vacuum Power Brake Kits are an excellent solution for most Early Broncos, providing improved braking performance without the hassle of more complex systems. Whether you’re driving on the street, light trails, or hauling some extra gear, there’s a kit here that’ll get the job done. And if you’re ever ready to take things to the next level, upgrading to Hydroboost is always an option.

If you’re still unsure which kit is best for your Bronco, reach out to the team at Wild Horses 4x4, and we’ll help guide you to the perfect fit.

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