Aus/NZ only - Brake servo needed

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K

Karen Gallagher

Guest
G'day all,

I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and now
they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier have any
idea as to what I can use as a substitute.

I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really needed.
Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is three times the
price of the booster, so that's out!

Any ideas, anyone?

Karen
--
"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
Karen Gallagher wrote:

> G'day all,
>
> I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
> incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and
> now they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier
> have any idea as to what I can use as a substitute.
>
> I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really
> needed. Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is
> three times the price of the booster, so that's out!
>
> Any ideas, anyone?
>
> Karen

Best suggestion I can make is to fit a late Series 3 master cylinder,
booster and pedal assembly. You will have to modify the splash guard to
clear the longer assembly if you use the dual master cylinder, and probably
have to change the plumbing as well - as well as the dual cylinder factor,
the threads will be metric.

An alternative is that the brakes may be adequate without the booster if you
fit the six cylinder (wider) front brakes, or if your 2a is an 88, just
upgrade all round to lwb brakes (11" instead of 10").
JD
 
JD wrote:
> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>
>> G'day all,
>>
>> I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
>> incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and
>> now they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier
>> have any idea as to what I can use as a substitute.
>>
>> I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really
>> needed. Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is
>> three times the price of the booster, so that's out!
>>
>> Any ideas, anyone?
>>
>> Karen
>
> Best suggestion I can make is to fit a late Series 3 master cylinder,
> booster and pedal assembly. You will have to modify the splash guard to
> clear the longer assembly if you use the dual master cylinder, and probably
> have to change the plumbing as well - as well as the dual cylinder factor,
> the threads will be metric.
>
> An alternative is that the brakes may be adequate without the booster if you
> fit the six cylinder (wider) front brakes, or if your 2a is an 88, just
> upgrade all round to lwb brakes (11" instead of 10").
> JD
Thanks - but that'll cost more than the job's worth, I fear! It is an 88", btw.

I've just bought a new standard master cylinder, waiting for new reservoirs to
arrive from Beamends before I fit it though to avoid having to bleed everything
too many times! And also just fitted four new pairs of brake shoes & wheel
cylinders of the standard type. Pity I didn't realise earlier that the VH44 is
no longer available, and nor is a service kit. I might be able to get a
specialist to do it though, if they can do it at a reasonable price.

When the clutch slave let go last year, I priced a new slave to getting the old
one sleeved - new one was half the price of a rebuild!


--
Karen.

And thanks to Tam at aus.bicycle for the cool new nick :)

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
In message <[email protected]>
JD <[email protected]> wrote:

> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>
> > G'day all,
> >
> > I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
> > incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and
> > now they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier
> > have any idea as to what I can use as a substitute.
> >
> > I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really
> > needed. Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is
> > three times the price of the booster, so that's out!
> >
> > Any ideas, anyone?
> >
> > Karen
>
> Best suggestion I can make is to fit a late Series 3 master cylinder,
> booster and pedal assembly. You will have to modify the splash guard to
> clear the longer assembly if you use the dual master cylinder, and probably
> have to change the plumbing as well - as well as the dual cylinder factor,
> the threads will be metric.
>
> An alternative is that the brakes may be adequate without the booster if you
> fit the six cylinder (wider) front brakes, or if your 2a is an 88, just
> upgrade all round to lwb brakes (11" instead of 10").
> JD

It's not supplying a servo, that's easy - it's the cost of getting
it to Oz from the UK without it taking 3 months (approx.) to get there!

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive
 
beamendsltd wrote:
> In message <[email protected]>
> JD <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>>
>>> G'day all,
>>>
>>> I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
>>> incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and
>>> now they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier
>>> have any idea as to what I can use as a substitute.
>>>
>>> I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really
>>> needed. Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is
>>> three times the price of the booster, so that's out!
>>>
>>> Any ideas, anyone?
>>>
>>> Karen
>> Best suggestion I can make is to fit a late Series 3 master cylinder,
>> booster and pedal assembly. You will have to modify the splash guard to
>> clear the longer assembly if you use the dual master cylinder, and probably
>> have to change the plumbing as well - as well as the dual cylinder factor,
>> the threads will be metric.
>>
>> An alternative is that the brakes may be adequate without the booster if you
>> fit the six cylinder (wider) front brakes, or if your 2a is an 88, just
>> upgrade all round to lwb brakes (11" instead of 10").
>> JD
>
> It's not supplying a servo, that's easy - it's the cost of getting
> it to Oz from the UK without it taking 3 months (approx.) to get there!
>
> Richard
>

If you have a cheaper freight alternative, Richard, I may well take you up on it
- I am only replacing the booster 'cos I'm replacing everything else in the
brake system - when it comes to brakes a little paranoia is good :)

So I could (hopefully) afford to wait three months for one to arrive from you if
you can offer me sea freight instead of air mail (which is, I presume, what
the GPB178 was.

I'll be in touch off group again if necessary, Richard. And thanks for the
legendary service.

--
Karen.

And thanks to Tam at aus.bicycle for the cool new nick :)

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
Karen Gallagher wrote:

|| G'day all,
||
|| I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near
|| catastrophic incident.

Hope you're OK...

--
Rich
==============================

I don't approve of signatures, so I don't have one.


 
Richard Brookman wrote:
> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>
> || G'day all,
> ||
> || I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near
> || catastrophic incident.
>
> Hope you're OK...
>
Oh yes, apart from needing a fresh pair of knickers. Had to do an emergency stop
on the Pacific Highway, & the old Series pulled very hard to the left - a clear
sign of contaminated brakes.

I got home & pulled the brake drums off - one hub oil seal shot, another two
showed early signs of wheel cylinder failure (rusty fluid inside the cylinder
dust cover) and I'd noted the brake pipes were pretty much due for a change. So
I'm not keeping any part of the old system, the whole lot's being replaced.

I count myself very lucky.

--
Karen.

And thanks to Tam at aus.bicycle for the cool new nick :)

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
In message <[email protected]>
Duracell Bunny <[email protected]> wrote:

> beamendsltd wrote:
> > In message <[email protected]>
> > JD <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> Karen Gallagher wrote:
> >>
> >>> G'day all,
> >>>
> >>> I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
> >>> incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and
> >>> now they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier
> >>> have any idea as to what I can use as a substitute.
> >>>
> >>> I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really
> >>> needed. Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is
> >>> three times the price of the booster, so that's out!
> >>>
> >>> Any ideas, anyone?
> >>>
> >>> Karen
> >> Best suggestion I can make is to fit a late Series 3 master cylinder,
> >> booster and pedal assembly. You will have to modify the splash guard to
> >> clear the longer assembly if you use the dual master cylinder, and probably
> >> have to change the plumbing as well - as well as the dual cylinder factor,
> >> the threads will be metric.
> >>
> >> An alternative is that the brakes may be adequate without the booster if you
> >> fit the six cylinder (wider) front brakes, or if your 2a is an 88, just
> >> upgrade all round to lwb brakes (11" instead of 10").
> >> JD
> >
> > It's not supplying a servo, that's easy - it's the cost of getting
> > it to Oz from the UK without it taking 3 months (approx.) to get there!
> >
> > Richard
> >
>
> If you have a cheaper freight alternative, Richard, I may well take you up on it
> - I am only replacing the booster 'cos I'm replacing everything else in the
> brake system - when it comes to brakes a little paranoia is good :)
>
> So I could (hopefully) afford to wait three months for one to arrive from you if
> you can offer me sea freight instead of air mail (which is, I presume, what
> the GPB178 was.
>
> I'll be in touch off group again if necessary, Richard. And thanks for the
> legendary service.
>

Right - that's an entirely different - £44, still not exactly cheap,
but somewhat better!

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive
 

"Karen Gallagher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> G'day all,
>
> I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near catastrophic
> incident. I installed a Repco VH44 brake booster 20 or so years ago, and
> now they don't seem to be available any longer, nor does my local supplier
> have any idea as to what I can use as a substitute.
>
> I tow a heavy trailer a good deal of the time, so the booster is really
> needed. Richard at Beamends has a solution, but the freight ex the UK is
> three times the price of the booster, so that's out!
>
> Any ideas, anyone?
>
> Karen
> --
> "Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit
> just behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" -
> Jake Stonebender

Have you tried contacting these folk http://www.bpa.com.au/autoproducts.html
I noticed the Holden group seem to rate them for Repco kit
Derek


 
Duracell Bunny wrote:

|| Richard Brookman wrote:
||| Karen Gallagher wrote:
|||
||||| G'day all,
|||||
||||| I'm just replacing all the hydraulics on my S11a after a near
||||| catastrophic incident.
|||
||| Hope you're OK...
|||
|| Oh yes, apart from needing a fresh pair of knickers.

Can't help with the part number there, sorry.

|| Had to do an emergency stop
|| on the Pacific Highway, & the old Series pulled very hard to the
|| left - a clear sign of contaminated brakes.

Glad you're OK though.

--
Rich
==============================

I don't approve of signatures, so I don't have one.


 
On or around Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:29:29 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Duracell Bunny wrote:
>
>|| Oh yes, apart from needing a fresh pair of knickers.
>
>Can't help with the part number there, sorry.
>
>|| Had to do an emergency stop
>|| on the Pacific Highway, & the old Series pulled very hard to the
>|| left - a clear sign of contaminated brakes.
>
>Glad you're OK though.

ditto - you really don't need to replace that servo unit unless it's
suspect, though - your problem was contaminated brakes and or failed seals,
plus brake lines that are a bit iffy. Unless the servo has been
misbehaving, I wouldn't replace it.

Putting LWB 11" drums on the front makes a big difference, if it's not
already got 'em (later SWB series did, I think) - apart from anything else,
the earlier series SWB brakes are single leading shoe, whereas the 11" ones
are twin [I think they all are]

If you really want to replace the servo, then fitting one from a later
series makes sense, provided you can find one, you'll also get dual circuit
with that if it's currently single circuit.


--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"My centre is giving way, my right is in retreat; situation excellent.
I shall attack. - Marshal Foch (1851 - 1929)
 
Austin Shackles wrote:
> On or around Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:29:29 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>> Duracell Bunny wrote:
>>
>> || Oh yes, apart from needing a fresh pair of knickers.
>>
>> Can't help with the part number there, sorry.
>>
>> || Had to do an emergency stop
>> || on the Pacific Highway, & the old Series pulled very hard to the
>> || left - a clear sign of contaminated brakes.
>>
>> Glad you're OK though.
>
> ditto - you really don't need to replace that servo unit unless it's
> suspect, though - your problem was contaminated brakes and or failed seals,
> plus brake lines that are a bit iffy. Unless the servo has been
> misbehaving, I wouldn't replace it.
>
> Putting LWB 11" drums on the front makes a big difference, if it's not
> already got 'em (later SWB series did, I think) - apart from anything else,
> the earlier series SWB brakes are single leading shoe, whereas the 11" ones
> are twin [I think they all are]
>
> If you really want to replace the servo, then fitting one from a later
> series makes sense, provided you can find one, you'll also get dual circuit
> with that if it's currently single circuit.
>
>

I'll check out the BPA people first, then proceed from there - I really would be
happier changing the servo - unlike the ones that were sold in the UK, the Repco
ones do not fail safe - apparently when the hydraulics fail on the VH44 you lose
the brakes & fluid leaks into the vacuum chamber. Having just installed new
standard cylinders this week I'm reluctant to throw away the money I've just spent.

Thanks everyone for all the advice :)

--
Karen

And thanks to Tam at aus.bicycle for the cool new nick :)

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
On Sat, 19 Aug 2006 16:46:46 +0100, Austin Shackles
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Putting LWB 11" drums on the front makes a big difference, if it's not
>already got 'em (later SWB series did, I think) - apart from anything else,
>the earlier series SWB brakes are single leading shoe, whereas the 11" ones
>are twin [I think they all are]

Ive got a servo and LWB brakes on the front of a SWB. Great when they
work, but it still pulls like a bastard when something goes wrong ;).
I think ive got a buggered slave cylinder on mine which makes it try
to jump into a hedge under hard braking. I almost had to change my
trousers when it first did it too. I also got a headache from my
sliding window falling out of the runner and hitting me...



 
EMB wrote:
> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>
>> Any ideas, anyone?
>
> Reconditioned VH44's listed for AU$100 here.
>
> http://www.nepeanclassic.com.au/pages/brake.php
>
>
>
EMB, you're a legend :)

Many thanks

--
Karen

And thanks to Tam at aus.bicycle for the cool new nick :)

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
In message <[email protected]>
Duracell Bunny <[email protected]> wrote:

> Austin Shackles wrote:
> > On or around Sat, 19 Aug 2006 14:29:29 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
> > <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
> >
> >> Duracell Bunny wrote:
> >>
> >> || Oh yes, apart from needing a fresh pair of knickers.
> >>
> >> Can't help with the part number there, sorry.
> >>
> >> || Had to do an emergency stop
> >> || on the Pacific Highway, & the old Series pulled very hard to the
> >> || left - a clear sign of contaminated brakes.
> >>
> >> Glad you're OK though.
> >
> > ditto - you really don't need to replace that servo unit unless it's
> > suspect, though - your problem was contaminated brakes and or failed seals,
> > plus brake lines that are a bit iffy. Unless the servo has been
> > misbehaving, I wouldn't replace it.
> >
> > Putting LWB 11" drums on the front makes a big difference, if it's not
> > already got 'em (later SWB series did, I think) - apart from anything else,
> > the earlier series SWB brakes are single leading shoe, whereas the 11" ones
> > are twin [I think they all are]
> >
> > If you really want to replace the servo, then fitting one from a later
> > series makes sense, provided you can find one, you'll also get dual circuit
> > with that if it's currently single circuit.
> >
> >
>
> I'll check out the BPA people first, then proceed from there - I really would be
> happier changing the servo - unlike the ones that were sold in the UK, the Repco
> ones do not fail safe - apparently when the hydraulics fail on the VH44 you lose
> the brakes & fluid leaks into the vacuum chamber. Having just installed new
> standard cylinders this week I'm reluctant to throw away the money I've just spent.
>
> Thanks everyone for all the advice :)
>

I had a Girling remote servo on Wonda - at least when it failed I
had plenty of warning - when I'd finaly worked out where all the
white smoke was comming from!

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
RISC-OS - Where have all the good guys gone?
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive
 
EMB wrote:
> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>
>> Any ideas, anyone?
>
> Reconditioned VH44's listed for AU$100 here.
>
> http://www.nepeanclassic.com.au/pages/brake.php
>
>
>
By the way, EMB, that turned out to be not the price, but the deposit - actual
price is $450 with no exchange, $350 or so with exchange. Thought I'd wait till
the old one expires, with that price!

--
Karen

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
Duracell Bunny wrote:
> EMB wrote:
>> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>>
>>> Any ideas, anyone?
>>
>> Reconditioned VH44's listed for AU$100 here.
>>
>> http://www.nepeanclassic.com.au/pages/brake.php
>>
>>
>>
> By the way, EMB, that turned out to be not the price, but the deposit -
> actual price is $450 with no exchange, $350 or so with exchange. Thought
> I'd wait till the old one expires, with that price!
>

Holy **** - that's evil. I've just phoned my friendly brake specialist
- he's can supply a "Major rebuild Kit" for a retial price of
NZ$175+GST. If you're interested I'll chase it up further. Seeing as
it's an export job I should be able to leave the GST off the price.


--
EMB
 
EMB wrote:
> Duracell Bunny wrote:
>> EMB wrote:
>>> Karen Gallagher wrote:
>>>
>>>> Any ideas, anyone?
>>>
>>> Reconditioned VH44's listed for AU$100 here.
>>>
>>> http://www.nepeanclassic.com.au/pages/brake.php
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> By the way, EMB, that turned out to be not the price, but the deposit
>> - actual price is $450 with no exchange, $350 or so with exchange.
>> Thought I'd wait till the old one expires, with that price!
>>
>
> Holy **** - that's evil. I've just phoned my friendly brake specialist
> - he's can supply a "Major rebuild Kit" for a retial price of
> NZ$175+GST. If you're interested I'll chase it up further. Seeing as
> it's an export job I should be able to leave the GST off the price.
>
>
I'll bear that in mind, thanks very much. Currently I'm struggling with
installing the new master cylinders, they're in but making up the 1/4" pipes for
the new reservoirs is trying my patience no end. Lots of fiddly bends & hard to
get the threads to start and all the crap of making it all fit.

Lots of sludge in the old brake system, I'm more than a tad embarrassed that I
let it get so bad without noticing it - the 88" only does around 700 miles a
year so service tends to be neglected as a result.


--
Karen

"Sometimes I think I have a Guardian Idiot - a little invisible spirit just
behind my shoulder, looking out for me ... only he's an imbecile" - Jake Stonebender
 
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