Overview

If you're thinking about upgrading your classic car's braking system, let me introduce you to the Bosch iBooster. This electromechanical brake booster is honestly one of the best upgrades you can make, and here's why it works so well for our beloved vintage rides. Electromechanical brake booster work by measuring the pedal travel to sub-millimeter accuracy and apply a matching force to the master cylinder using an electric motor.

The beauty of the iBooster lies in its versatility. Bosch made these units for various car manufacturers (Tesla, Volvo, Honda, Volkswagen, Audi, Renault, Porsche, to name a few), so they come in different configurations with different bolt patterns and push rod setups. This means you've got a pretty good chance of finding one that'll bolt right up to your classic, whether you're working on a vintage European sports car or an American muscle car. It saves you from having to fabricate custom mounts or make major modifications.

Now, here's where things get really interesting. Traditional brake boosters are slaves to your engine's vacuum system, and let's be honest – vacuum systems in older cars aren't exactly known for their reliability. Over the years, vacuum lines crack, connections loosen, and you end up with sketchy braking performance. The iBooster throws all that out the window by using an electric motor instead. No vacuum dependency means consistent braking power regardless of what your engine is doing. And don't worry about electrical failures – the system is designed so that even if the electronics die, you still have a direct mechanical connection between your brake pedal and master cylinder. The booster also features a capacitor that provides power for a few seconds, allowing you to stop with booster support even if the battery dies.

One thing I really appreciate about the iBooster is how well it plays with your car's original master cylinder. Classic cars typically have smaller bore master cylinders, and the iBooster is designed to work with these just fine. You might need a custom adapter plate or some spacers to get everything lined up properly, but that's pretty straightforward – you can have these laser-cut from aluminum or steel without much hassle. Check out the adapter plates section for some examples of what these look like.

Source your iBooster from a Tesla. Pure electric vehicles use regenerative braking for most of their stopping power, which means the traditional friction brake system barely gets used. When you pull an iBooster out of a Tesla, it's often in fantastic condition with minimal wear. These units have been babied their entire lives because the regenerative system does most of the work. You can find them on eBay or at salvage yards, many of which offer shipping. I sourced mine from calimotive.com.

The best part? Tesla has been cranking out vehicles with iBoosters for years now. This means there's going to be a steady supply of used units hitting the market for decades to come. You won't have to worry about these becoming rare or impossible to find like so many other classic car parts.

At the end of the day, swapping in an iBooster is one of those modifications that just makes sense. You get modern, reliable braking performance without sacrificing the character of your classic car. The installation is usually straightforward, the parts are readily available, and you'll have peace of mind knowing your braking system won't let you down when you need it most.