Hi all, At the moment my van is equipped with front disk brakes but without a servo (and with the corresponding non servo master cylinder). I've lived with it but honestly the braking performance are not the best. So I was looking at ways to improve that. One option is to go aftermarket abd get brakes with an increase of pots (red9 fosseway...). But it's at least £800. A bit steep. The other option is to install a servo. The original ones are crazy expensive (near £300) . As far as I can see the cheaper Brazilian ones are not available anywhere. And the master cylinder for RHD are nowhere to to be found as well. Anyone know if you can find second hand sets? Or if there's any other options out there? Thanks, Jb
As a first step, I'd make sure the brakes you've got are in good shape, particularly the rear drums. Everyone neglects them, and they may not be doing much. Bay brakes working properly are fine, as good as any modern vehicle. Without a servo, they just need a good shove on the pedal. Don't forget adding a servo just reduces the pedal effort: the brakes are the same. Have a search on here for fitting a remote servo as a possibility. A bit pricey for dual-circuit, but you can mount the servo where you like. Someone - forget who - did a how-to about a year ago, which seemed to work pretty well.
Ive got front CSP disks and properly adjusted rear drums - ran for several years without a remote servo and the braking performance was adequate despite the lack of pedal feedback and a wooden feeling when braking. Visited Graham Lyle of Midland E arly Bay and they were able to do a drive in drive out same day service where I had a remote servo installed. The difference was fairly dramatic as the pedal now feels much more progressive and inspires more confidence when approaching junctions and flowing roundabouts. Agreed the brakes remain mechanically the same and braking performance remains unchanged however the effort required to apply and utilise the braking potential is vastly improved due to the increased progressive nature of the pedal. Its basically made the braking an analog system opposed to a digital one. And I am much happier after a long drive with the servo as my legs dont tire at all. The price was very reasonable too and significantly less than a set of disks as posted above. Second favourite alteration at the minute behind my Gene Berg shifter
Kind of my point. But better explained. If I step on the brakes real hard I'll stop. But in the current state miss agaric cannot really drive the van.
Keep the one you've got. The cylinder on the remote servo does the work as a slave to the existing master cylinder. @earlylatebay 's rather splendid servo thesis here... http://thelatebay.com/index.php?thr...now-with-improved-grammar.69840/#post-1293802
Yep think mine came as a kit from carbuilder solutions - dual remote servo with carb takeoff to get the vacuum assistance Although they seem to be out of stock at the min everywhere ive looked https://www.carbuildersolutions.com/uk/compact-dual-circuit-remote-brake-servo
Sort the brakes you have now and drive your bus more. This will cause several improvements. 1. You will stop driving in a style that relies on modern brakes.. the brakes on the bus are already good enough to lock the rears in a good hard stop. Just leave a bigger gap, drive reasonably assertively in your slightly larger vehicle. Think white van man even if you cant do it... 2. Your brakes will bed in fully. 3. The workout will increase your strength to match the bus.
It is true that car builder solutions are the cheapest way of doing this. There is a guy who supplies a full kit but it works out quite a bit more expensive.
