brake servo

Post by **paul.kissick** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:58 pm

Does anyone know if the brake servo of an austin maxi is the same as the marina one? It looks the same to me. Can anyone out there give me any pictures of the pedal boxes fitted on the inside of the car and also in the engine bay?
Do not start silly talk about 'ooh its wrong if you fit this to the car' please please please DONT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT WOSELEY 9 INCH DRUMS!!!!! You know who you are

Any help with the previous would be much appreciated. thanks

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:50 pm

Sounds like a big and complicated conversion to me !!

Post by **dunketh** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:09 pm

I recon you want some of them 9" drums... can't for the life of me remember what vehicle they'd be off of though....

Do not start silly talk about 'ooh its wrong if you fit this to the car'

Anything can fit anything with enough determination.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:29 pm

Paul the best people to ask would be the Marina owners club as they should know.

Post by **paul.kissick** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:49 pm

thanks kevin for the useful info. ;-)

Post by **IslipMinor** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:58 pm

Paul,

Why do you want to put in a pedal box assembly? Wouldn't it be easier, and just as good, to fit a 'remote' servo to the standard Minor brake set-up? Apart from having to re-run the brake line to the rears via the servo, the rest is a simple bolt-on job.

There has been some discussion about using the servo just on the fronts, but this results in a very unbalanced system, putting too much load on the front brakes (not good if they are drums). Also in an emergency, the imbalance could cause a major problem.

Post by **paul.kissick** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:21 pm

A few weeks ago me and my uncle broke up an austin maxi.So there was a few spares e.g brake servo and pedal box. i also have broke a vw polo and took the calipers and few othr pieces of it. I do have a good amount of engineering skill behind me. So i am going to make the brackets and all the other nessescary bits to fit the conversion to the car. Other reason about the pedal box in the minor already its a bit seized. i have seen the servo fitted to the minor before but would just like to see some pictures from the drivers footwell. just too see what way other people went about it. I think some people call it research ;-)
thanks for the input every comment is benificial.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:55 pm

If it fits without too much trouble, just go for it - just take plenty time measuring. I fitted an Escort pedal box a while back, and I had to modify the pedals to fit in minor footwell. It certainly made for a better feel to brakes/clutch though. If you have a brakepipe flaring tool, then making up brake lines is pretty straightforward.
Of course, you could always fit a Wolseley pedal assembly as an alternative.

Pete

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:25 pm

The Polo brakes will be fine - but I would wait and see if a servo is really necessary.

Post by **paul.kissick** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:49 am

I fitted an Escort pedal box a while back, and I had to modify the pedals to fit in minor footwell. It certainly made for a better feel to brakes/clutch though. If you have a brakepipe flaring tool, then making up brake lines is pretty straightforward.

the pedals need slight mod to get them in the footwell. Are you running the standard 1098 gearbox. if so how did you have any probs with the clutch linkage.

my aim for my project is to keep the standard running gear biut upgrade the brakes and suspension. maybe see if i can get a few more ponys out the a series. ;-):-):-)

Post by **dunketh** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:05 am

In my experience you meet the 'handling' barrier before you meet the 'performance' barrier.

Doing the upgrade you're talking about should make the car a lot more fun even with the engine left standard.

Post by **plastic_orange** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:53 am

Quote

the pedals need slight mod to get them in the footwell. Are you running the standard 1098 gearbox. if so how did you have any probs with the clutch linkage.

I wasn't running standard equipment - box had hydraulic clutch.

Pete

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:32 pm

If your existing pedal box is 'a bit seized' - then just spray it with release oil till it's not seized! It's a job to convert the Minor box to hydraulic operation - need to change the release arm which means taking engine (or box) out - nothing wrong with the system of levers. This all seems like a load of work just to use up an old Maxi pedal box! I would fit the Polo discs - and use the Minor master cylinder (extra seal bodged out of course) without a servo, and see how it stops!

Post by **Onne** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:46 pm

Why oh why do you keep saying that removing the top hat seal from the master cylinder is a bodge Roy? If you don't remove it you will have a possibly life threatening fault!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:26 pm

Oh it needs to be removed all right if you don't want the 'holding' pressure! Interesting in Court - "Yes m'Lud, I decided I knew better than Lockheed and so I took out one of the seals from the Master Cylinder". Insurance Co will be well impressed too! You won't catch me doing it!

Post by **bigginger** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:45 pm

I doubt we'll catch you fitting discs either. Me, I'm happy to follow the advice of all the suppliers of the disc kits, who will have had the legality of the parts they supply tested.

Post by **paul.kissick** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:44 pm

I doubt we'll catch you fitting discs either. Me, I'm happy to follow the advice of all the suppliers of the disc kits, who will have had the legality of the parts they supply tested.

_________________

yeah your words are very true. I am not advising anyone too go out and do this kit themselves. If there maybe was a cheaper option than the ford/marina kit. I would have a good look at it. If any ofyou dont understand what you are doing with the brakes or any other part of the car leave it to the profesionals. I on the other hand am going to do a good bit of research on this. thanks for all advice so far this is good for me

Post by **paul.kissick** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:55 pm

In my experience you meet the 'handling' barrier before you meet the 'performance' barrier.

Yes this is very true. getting a big powerful engine into the car might seem an easy thing to do, but if the suspension, brakes and chassis are not uprated then the car will just rip itself apart. As for me i would like to keep the little a series on board as this is the heart behind the minor.
dont get me wrong, do everything your own way if the fella at the local club meet doesn't agree with it,so what its your car. cheers