Using a Porsche 944 booster

[FredK]

On a recent trip to the Pick A Part I noticed that a pre 85.5 Porsche 944 had a pretty compact brake booster. Now, it's not as compact as a 924 booster, but it seemed like it'd be a good alternative to the E21 320i booster.

Here's a picture of both the 320i booster (left) and the 944 booster (right).



The overall diameter is very similar, with the 944 booster coming in at around .25" wider than the 320i booster, at ~9.5". It is also deeper:


Here's the 320i booster for comparison:


Here's the best part. The input rod is 10mm wide, so all you need to do is trim it by around 1.5" or so, and thread it. Minimal filing will be necessary.


The bolt pattern is the same as the E30 on both sides. I'll be fitting this into a M50 swap in the following weeks.

[drifty340i]

What about the vw golf mk11 booster? are they availible over there in the states? they are very compact and still work well

[FredK]

I'm sure the VW Golf booster is available. I just didn't look for it, because I had forgotten which generation Golf to take it from.

This 944 booster just happened to be at the salvage yard, and it looked good (the car had low mileage). It took a while to extricate, because the jam nut was really stuck to the brake pedal input fork.

[Jbpka06]

What yard were you in?

[FredK]

Self Serve Auto in Freetown. They only have old ass E30s, nothing really worth picking. There is an early body 318 with a good dash (no cracks), but that's about it. They got rid of a lot of BMWs over the winter--I guess they scrapped 'em!

[So Live]

Idk where you guys are at in MA but Larson in Pittsfield has 3 or 4 e30's including a EURO iX sedan.

Let us know how the booster works

[Jbpka06]

Self Serve Auto in Freetown.

I'm going to be going to school down near there, good to know theres a yard down there with some sort of BMWs.

[Mr Deagle]

911 boosters also will work

[So Live]

How do they compare to the 320i ones? I know the 320 one is harder to push than the stock e30 one was. Hows the p-car one?

[FredK]

I'm going to assume it's similar. I just finished painting it last night, and I'm still a little ways from installing the engine.

[Mike B.]

Given that it is a bit thicker and has a somewhat larger diameter (ie. larger area), I would expect the pedal feel to be better than the 320i booster.

[static]

i have a friend with S52 and 320i booster, and he says it's scary to drive cause he cannot even lock up his 205s.
I think my IX booster with M5 master cyl is borderline. Sometimes i wish i had more assist.

[So Live]

Its not a matter of can or cant you lock them up its a matter of can you push the pedal hard enough to lock em. I really wish i could get more assist. Call me what you will.

[static]

That's what i meant tho - he could not even if he tried!

[erik325i]

That's what i meant tho - he could not even if he tried!

Maybe tell him he should go to the gym more often...;)

-Erik