Self Draining Brake Master Cylinder

[A Sherratt]

I have a single circuit braking system on my '68 P1800.

Having recommissioned her after a lengthy period of inactivity including the fitting of a new brake master cylinder I now have a further braking issue that your advice would be gratefully appreciated on.

I have full braking pressure and there are no apparent leaks on any of the wheel cylinder/pistons, however, the car is losing brake fluid even when parked up. There is also an occasional puff of white smoke out of the exhaust.

Having spoke to another P1800 owner, he suggests that this may be the Brake servo unit sucking fluid into itself and depositing it in the suction feed from the engine, which also causes the occasional puff of white smoke.

Before I splash out on a new servo unit I would appreciate others opinions??

And if my fellow P1800 owner is correct then I will buy him a pint when I see him!!

Adrian

[loon]

you have been told corectly im affaid
just recently had the same problem have a look on the dreaded ebay
as there is a company doing them at a good price


hope this helps

LOON

[mike gilbert]

A controversial answer I know but when I had this problem in the past, in my more penniless days, I just bought a connector from Automec (pennies) for the brake pipes and connected together the inlet and outlet brake pipes from the servo, thereby by-passing it untill I could afford the £170 or whatever it was then for a new servo.
I could tell a slight difference in the pedal pressure required for a while (but not much) and after about 30 miles I got used to it. The car also passed an MOT like that, which is not too surprising as the servo doens't make the brakes better, just easier to use.
Can't remember if I ever did get the new servo fitted or just gave it to the next owner.
What i will say though is do something quick because I found out my servo had sucked up all my brake fluid on the M40. I had total brake loss and it was not pleasant. Apparently the servo can suck the fluid out in tiny amounts for a while and then whoosh the lot goes in a few minutes as the hole in the diaphram gets bigger.

[A Sherratt]

Thanks guys.

Theres a guy on fleabay selling a servo repair kit for thirty odd pounds. Has anybody used this kit??

Adrian

[222s]

Originally Posted by mike gilbert

A controversial answer I know but when I had this problem in the past, in my more penniless days, I just bought a connector from Automec (pennies) for the brake pipes and connected together the inlet and outlet brake pipes from the servo, thereby by-passing it untill I could afford the £170 or whatever it was then for a new servo.
I could tell a slight difference in the pedal pressure required for a while (but not much) and after about 30 miles I got used to it. The car also passed an MOT like that, which is not too surprising as the servo doens't make the brakes better, just easier to use.
Can't remember if I ever did get the new servo fitted or just gave it to the next owner.

My Amazon was like that when my father bought it, except that there wasn't a servo at all!! The bracket, and all pipework was there, complete with the brake lines joined as you describe above.... Passed the MOT like that for years at many different test stations. However the brake lines are now 'conventional' as the old ones didn't take kindly to removal when the inner wing top was repaired a few years ago

I've never owned a car with a servo, so the pedal pressure doesn't bother me, & the only side effect is that when I drive a modern car, the first time I touch the brakes I end up standing it on its nose

Originally Posted by A Sherratt

Thanks guys.

Theres a guy on fleabay selling a servo repair kit for thirty odd pounds. Has anybody used this kit??

Adrian

Yes, don't bother. Reconditioning the Girling is a waste of time. The Girling was chronically unreliable even when new. I wouldn't trust my life to one.

Buy a Lockheed or run it without

[amazondean]

Totaly agree. The girling could kill you. If i was you i would sell the girling on ebay for £60 and buy a lockheed for £100 and have peace of mind.