how do you fit a brake servo

Post by **tag60** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:57 pm

Hi all
Hope some one can help me by pointing me in the right direction
Have just got hold of a second hand Lockheed brake servo unit but no fitting instruction
was thinking of fitting servo in front engine bay and will also be fitting marina discs at same time
would like servo to work front and rear brakes but I need to know where do i run the 2 pipes to on the vehicle
also which one goes where

thank david

Post by **DavidCragie** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:39 pm

Hi David
I am about to do the same thing, although I am only going to site the servo in the front nearside engine bay floor, and get my mate to plumb it up, as he's got all the right threaded gizmos, lots of pipe and a big lift. Also I am going to replace all the flexys just in case.

If you are going to fit discs to the front I am told you need a remote reservoir for the master cylinder, because they use more fluid, ESM do them about 28 quid. This makes topping up easier as you don't need to keep getting under the floor with all the hairy bits. (I am keeping the original drums on the front, but am still going to fit one of these while the system is drained).

The pipe from the master cylinder banjo needs to be renewed (or lengthened) and connected to the servo inlet, then the outlet goes to a new tee (3 way Mini) junction. One side is connected to the existing four way junction for the front brakes/switch, and a new pipe is required to run from the other side of the tee back to the rear flexi pipe on the back axle. The 'drilled' banjo nut on the master cylinder has to be replaced with a blank nut as you don't need the pipe connection (to the rear flexi) any longer.

Hope you get on OK

Dave

Post by **tag60** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:19 pm

many thanks for the info david just what i needed
hope it all went well for you?
best regards david

Post by **DavidCragie** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:07 pm

Well the servo fitted in great front nearside engine bay floor, and plumbed into the inlet manifold, and the new remote header tank is fitted to the offside edge of the battery box. I have also araldited up the breather hole in the master cylinder, ready for the remote tank to be plumbed in. She's going in next Saturday for the pipes to be renewed, so I'll let you know the results in a couple of weeks!

Dave

Post by **wibble_puppy** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:13 pm

DavidCragie wrote:I have also araldited up the breather hole in the master cylinder

David I soooo don't want to sound discouraging, but

Post by **les** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:48 pm

I presume it's just automatically relocated at the remote end. Left open gravity would force the fluid out of the cap.

Post by **IslipMinor** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:06 pm

Les,

The kit whould come with a blanking plug for the top of the master cylinder. You shouldn't have to Araldite the existing filler cap.

Post by **DavidCragie** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:14 am

I got the kit from DSN Classics, I can't remember the make, but it says in the instructions to 'Block the breather hole [in the master cylinder] with a self tapping screw or araldite'. I too was quite surprised not to get a nice nylon filler plug, but there you go......the bag was heat sealed and nothing missing.

Dave

P.S. I think it is an ESM kit looks the same, and the same number of bits (ESM FBK901)

Post by **DavidCragie** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:31 pm

Update:
I got an unvented filler cap now to fit the new master cylinder. I guess that when it comes to brakes you can't cut corners and any job is worth doing properly. (I suppose that this is the problem when you buy bits off the web without seeing the parts first). Thanks for the advice all, and thanks to Jon at JML for the part.

Can't wait for the updated brakes, I should be taking delivery of the modification Saturday week.

Dave

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:00 pm

Errr - a servo does NOT 'update' the brakes - and if you are keeping the drums at the front they won't work any better than before, just the pedal pressure will be less. But it's not heavy in the first place if the standard drum brakes are in good working order!

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:25 pm

It will "update" them, but it won't "uprate" them, surely?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:47 pm

Well - servos were around back in the 60s too - but point taken!

Post by **DavidCragie** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:50 am

Uprating the brakes is not my intention as they work fine, rather a reduction in the pedal pressure required, to bring it closer to my Peugeot diesel which has really light brakes...

Post by **millerman** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:01 pm

DavidC

Were you able to get the un-vented cap as a spare part or did it come with the kit after you, presumably, requested it.

I have my own remote brake fluid reservoir so the correct cap would prove much safer

Post by **DavidCragie** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:18 am

Hi Millerman
I was contacted by Jonathon at JLH Minors 01926 817890 and bought the correct part off him.
Dave