I just had the worst day ever! It's my birthday and I was supposed to be in out St Patricks day parade. Untill something happend to my brakes on the way there!!!

I Installed a hydroboost unit with braided lines and a NEW Tuff stuff pump. Everything worked fine until I backed out of my driveway, put it in drive and the brakes were locked up. Now every time I turn the wheel the petal goes down and the brakes lock up. I have to wait like 10 seconds before I can move again. The pump makes a whining sound and its hard to turn the wheel just standing still. Pressing on the brakes standing still the petal jumps up and down.

Could the pump have gone bad? Or is there something wrong with the hydroboost?

I'm going to get a 6 an fitting and bypass the brakes first and see if the pump stops whining.

(UPDATE) I bypassed the Hydroboost unit and the whining stopped. Looks like it may be the brake unit????
Please help!

Not sure if this helps but, I've been looking at hydroboost setups and each of them say you must remove the flow restrictors on your PS pump to adequately feed the hydrobooster. You feed the hydrobooster first, then to the steering box. Did you get a dual return setup PS housing? If not and you used a T-fitting, it's recommended that you run the hydroboost return direct, and near the PS pump, you T for the return on the steering box. There are some folks experiencing problems with the return from the steering box backing up the return from the hydroboost...
Re-checking your flow directions and using an inline power steering filter on the joined return line should help you troubleshoot the problem.



Good luck!

I did all you mentioned. Check out my update on the first post. I'm not sure about the flow restrictor. The pump is a Brand new TuffStuff pump. There supposed to be pretty good. Remember this happened ALL OF A SUDDEN. 10 min before that I went to get milk and it was fine.....

Found something else. I removed the outlet AN fitting on the Hydroboost and the little O-ring was broken. That same fitting was leaking 2 weeks ago. I tightened it up real good then. It wasn't leaking yesterday though???

Whose hydroboost are you using and how long have you been using it? Sounds like there's air in the fluid. May be getting in from the broken O ring or, if a newly installed system, you may need to put the front end up and work the air out by cranking the steering wheel lock to lock and then working the brake on short runs in the driveway/parking lot. What type fluid are you using?

I have a tuff stuff ps pump/resovoir and it works great. Didn't have to remove anything. We did add a 2nd return line port on the resovoir with an an fitting and eliminated the T fitting in the return line altogether. Helped the flow alot.

Last, but not least, do NOT use braided line on the high pressure side unless you're absolutely sure it's pressure rated. Ask me how I know.:sad:

Whose hydroboost are you using and how long have you been using it? Sounds like there's air in the fluid. May be getting in from the broken O ring or, if a newly installed system, you may need to put the front end up and work the air out by cranking the steering wheel lock to lock and then working the brake on short runs in the driveway/parking lot. What type fluid are you using?

I have a tuff stuff ps pump/resovoir and it works great. Didn't have to remove anything. We did add a 2nd return line port on the resovoir with an an fitting and eliminated the T fitting in the return line altogether. Helped the flow alot.

Last, but not least, do NOT use braided line on the high pressure side unless you're absolutely sure it's pressure rated. Ask me how I know.:sad:

The unit I'm using is from a guy on Ebay called NOVI I think. I talked on the phone back and fourth a few times and did my research. Sounded pretty good at the time. I can't post pics here. Look at the unit on this thread. http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=504168&posted=1#post504168 .

I replaced the fitting with the correct one Paul at Hydratech uses this morning. I have the same thing. I bleed it on jack stands again turning back and fourth. Pressing the brake and all seemed fine for 5 min. Then the pedal started going to the floor again , whining from the pump when I turn the wheel. This didn't even happen when I FIRST installed it and everything was full of air.


I am using the high pressure braided line and don't have any leaks anywhere.

The unit I'm using is from a guy on Ebay called NOVI I think. I talked on the phone back and fourth a few times and did my research. Sounded pretty good at the time. I can't post pics here. Look at the unit on this thread. http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?p=504168&posted=1#post504168 .

I replaced the fitting with the correct one Paul at Hydratech uses this morning. I have the same thing. I bleed it on jack stands again turning back and fourth. Pressing the brake and all seemed fine for 5 min. Then the pedal started going to the floor again , whining from the pump when I turn the wheel. This didn't even happen when I FIRST installed it and everything was full of air.


I am using the high pressure braided line and don't have any leaks anywhere.


What kind of fluid are you using for the hydroboost? Are you sure the brakes are bled good?

What kind of fluid are you using for the hydroboost? Are you sure the brakes are bled good?

Fluid is from GM and also a PS additive. I forgot the name, small bottle?? It was recommended by a few. I just swapped out the Hydroboost this morning and put the 8" booster in. I have brakes now (not great) and the steering is fine. The lines are bled good. I emailed Paul at Hydratech. Still waiting for a response.

We've got a Hydratech Hydroboost and when it was first installed, ATF was used instead of ps fluid. It behaved just like you describe. The problem was the fluid got whipped into a foam by the impellor and there was no way to get the air bubbles out. Drained the system and put Royal Purple synthetic ps fluid - straight - no additives - and it's worked great ever since.

Paul should be able to fix you up, no problem. I thought I heard, though, that they/he quit taking customer service calls from anyone but one of their dealers. :confused:

We've got a Hydratech Hydroboost and when it was first installed, ATF was used instead of ps fluid. It behaved just like you describe. The problem was the fluid got whipped into a foam by the impellor and there was no way to get the air bubbles out. Drained the system and put Royal Purple synthetic ps fluid - straight - no additives - and it's worked great ever since.

Paul should be able to fix you up, no problem. I thought I heard, though, that they/he quit taking customer service calls from anyone but one of their dealers. :confused:


I hope he calls me. I'm fine the way I am now, but would like the hydroboost to work right. My luck....I went to remove the rod with the ball on it for the pedal and the part on the hydroboost that crimps it on cracked...I can't win. I hope that could be replaced.

I hope he calls me. I'm fine the way I am now, but would like the hydroboost to work right. My luck....I went to remove the rod with the ball on it for the pedal and the part on the hydroboost that crimps it on cracked...I can't win. I hope that could be replaced.


any luck?