18 replies to this topic

[minislapper]

A servo has nothing to do with safety, and I'd say a non-servo system tends to be more reliable.

I was merely speaking from the point of view of the insurance company.

[Ethel]

Can't say exactly for the late mini servo but the earlier remote one and the Metro's give around x 2 the brake line pressure for the force applied to the pedal. Servo master cylinders also tend to be larger bore which means less pedal travel to shift a given volume of fluid - important if you've increased the surface area of the pistons at the wheels. A direct acting servo will not detract anything from the brake function if it's inoperative for any reason, it's a fail safe design so servos are no less reliable than non servo set ups in that respect.

If you want to confirm that your servo works find an empty stretch of road and compare braking with and without the vacuum hose connected - I appreciate that requires the car to be on the road.

I'm pretty sure Dan's right about the dual line requirement too. It was certainly a construction requirement just like seat belts, rear fog lights, anti burst door latches etc.

Very likely they'll be some info on the dvla website or google MoT or SVA regulations.

Nearly all mini rear wheel cylinders are 19mm bore. The other size is 14.3mm and they tend to be about twice the price if you can find any for sale.

If you are intent on losing the servo why not have a look at other horizontal cylinders, they'll be a far bigger choice than vertical mini ones though the horizontal setup does scoff some under bonnet space and will be a little less mechanically efficient.

Edited by Ethel, 23 August 2007 - 11:10 PM.

[taffy1967]

I'd say having a servo fitted has got to be legislation related because all Mini models came equipped during August 1988 and that was some 2 years before the Cooper got relaunched with the 1275cc engine. (Okay there was the ERA Mini Turbo from late 1989 too).

Anyway if you don't want you're servo, any chance I could have the little plastic clip thingy that secures the pipe at the back? Mine's been missing for ages and I'm buggered if I can find a replacement.

[Sprocket]

Better to replace the master cylinder base plate with the non servo item as the hole in the servo item is not central and opening it out does not help, they are not expensive.

Best thing I ever did ripping out the servo.