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Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 5:59 pm
by Bitsilly
Further to this thread from September:
http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?f=5& ... es#p255492
I am revisiting my brakes.

Mini Spares told me that a servo master cylinder won't fit under the mk1 bonnet hinge.

However as the car is going to be quite quick but also heavy, and driven by my wife, so I have decided to fit a servo.

Has anyone else done this on a mk1, and if so how? Does the servo have to be a remote one?


As usual, thanks!

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 6:20 pm
by Bitsilly
However, I see the mini spares site sells a Cooper servo for a Mk1??
It is out of stock so MAYBE they were talking about another servo master?
Slowly losing my marbles here!

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 7:28 pm
by Spider
I'm not sure what Mini Spares were referring to there ??

You'd normally use the same Master Cylinder - if you have Discs up front, it's a good idea to use a Cooper S Master as it has a bigger Reservoir - together with a remote Servo. If you aren't looking for period parts, there's many firms who offer these types of Servos, be aware though there is many cheap servos on the market these days, which seem OK, but there's no kits available for them.

These guys seem to have a good name

https://www.powertrackbrakes.co.uk/brakes.html

or CBS have a couple

https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/compact-r ... r-assister

Just be careful of the Servo ratio, on a Mini, you don't need a lot, the Cooper S one is 1.9:.

If the ratio is too high, you'll loose too much feel and it could be tricky to drive.

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 8:08 pm
by GraemeC
I presume they mean you can’t fit a late model inline servo.

A remote one will fit fine and you can out it where you like (within reason), but most would use the proper Cooper S brackets on fix it into the inner wing

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 8:35 pm
by Bitsilly
So would this fit with a Mk1 bonnet hinge?
https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... 0to%20shop

Or this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Servo- ... 1438.l2649

I would just prefer to use standard Mini stuff rather than a remote one.

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 9:18 pm
by GraemeC
Yes, both will fit.

They are standard Mini stuff - remote servo was factory fit on cars with a servo up to about the 90’s when the in-line servo came in.

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2021 9:46 pm
by Bitsilly
Most excellent!
Cheers

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 10:35 am
by olddave
A couple of pm's sent :ugeek:

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 10:42 am
by dodge44
This had been covered on here before quite recently with a few location options illustrated:

http://mk1-forum.net/viewtopic.php?p=232884#p232884

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 10:47 am
by whistler
There's 4 possible locations to fit a remote servo. I've used 2 of them and seen the other 2.
1. Inner wing where Cooper S one is fitted.
2. Under the wheel arch with a remote air filter poking through the inner wing into engine bay.
3. Under passenger dash, up against bulkhead.
4. Extra wide bulkhead box (as for weber carbs) and fitted there.

I've used 1 and 3.

If this is for your electrification you'll need an electric vacuum pump methinks.

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2021 11:43 am
by Bitsilly
Thanks all,
and yes I have already bought a vacuum pump.

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:58 pm
by InnoCooperExport
If you can't find the AP servo, you can also get the Alfa Romeo one for the 105 series Coupe as made by Bonaldi/Benditalia. They're not cheap, I think you'd be better off with a slightly later Lockheed unit such as: http://minispares.com/product/Classic/B ... 0to%20shop

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 6:44 am
by 998fan
Bitsilly wrote: Fri Feb 05, 2021 11:43 am Thanks all,
and yes I have already bought a vacuum pump.
Slightly off track, what sort of vacuum pump have you bought?

Re: Mk1 brakes - has anyone fitted a servo?

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2021 3:59 pm
by Bitsilly
I went for a cheaper version of the rotary vane pump popular in the States at the mo.
There are much cheaper ones out there but as I have dynamatted the whole car I thought the quieter rotary vane one would be better.