Is it worth fitting a servo

[Baldrick]

Hi all

More questions I'm afraid...

I'm potentially looking at a '72 westie with a type 1 1600 engine. I like the idea of having a servo as I like the ability to stop when necessary! I've had a quote of £2000 to retro fit one and I wonder what others experiences are. It seems like an awful lot of dosh...

Thanks

 

[uber cool]

They are worth fitting and do improve the brakes, however I've driven bays for 7 years and had no problems without one.

£2000, just for a servo is over priced. You can buy the servo from CE for £195( see link). new master cylinder approx £80. then an afternoon to fit, dependent upon your skills etc.


If it was £2000 for discs and servo fitted that would be ok.

http://creative-engineering.com/ind...ategory_id=63&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

 

[Baldrick]

If it was £2000 for discs and servo fitted that would be ok.

Yes, new disks and callipers plus anything else that needed renewing. I think new master cylinder as well.

 

[uber cool]

ok, the £2k is a little more justified now, however a 72 westy should already have discs being on 112 PCD rims? |So why not just fit a servo to the existing brakes

 

[Baldrick]

My lack of technical savvy might be becoming apparent!

The '72 does have disks, but I believe that the suggestion was that these would be changed for bigger disks hence the new callipers.

 

[BigG]

72s not only have disks but also come with servos (as do the 71 models) my servo didnt work but the brakes worked fine without however when I finally got round to replacing it the improvement was amazing, basically for less effort you get more braking.

Check this westy properly and it should still have its original discs and servo and if they are working well they should be good enough to stop a standard 1600. if any of these components need replacing you should be able to get original equipment for far less than 2 Gs.

 

[Loxy]

72s not only have disks but also come with servos (as do the 71 models) my servo didnt work but the brakes worked fine without however when I finally got round to replacing it the improvement was amazing, basically for less effort you get more braking.

Check this westy properly and it should still have its original discs and servo and if they are working well they should be good enough to stop a standard 1600. if any of these components need replacing you should be able to get original equipment for far less than 2 Gs.

Some not all 72s came with servos

 

[BigG]

72s not only have disks but also come with servos (as do the 71 models) my servo didnt work but the brakes worked fine without however when I finally got round to replacing it the improvement was amazing, basically for less effort you get more braking.

Check this westy properly and it should still have its original discs and servo and if they are working well they should be good enough to stop a standard 1600. if any of these components need replacing you should be able to get original equipment for far less than 2 Gs.

Some not all 72s came with servos

Oops, thought they were standard, tipex time :mrgreen:

The replacement I got for mine was from a late bay and needed just a little mod to fit and cost £75 second hand.

 

[uber cool]

My lack of technical savvy might be becoming apparent!

The '72 does have disks, but I believe that the suggestion was that these would be changed for bigger disks hence the new callipers.

Yes biiger discs and servos are great, but unless your fitting a big motor standard well serviced brakes will be fine.

if you think its a 1972 vehicle, so its 37 years old, so its had 37 years worth of drivers happy with its stopping abilities. So why change?

Sometimes we can convince ourselves to spend money when not required.
if you go for the 72 westy it will have disc brakes and if not recently serviced you could fit new hoses, new pads and discs for less than £300 and then a servo fitted another £300.

Also you want be able to fit bigger discs and calipers without fitting larger wheels ie 15", so there is more costs.

I have fitted late bay discs brakes to my 68 bay, hence saving £££ on the off the shelf minimum £1000 price tag disc set ups.

I also dont have a servo fitted.

If you are not planning to modify the van then well serviced stock brakes will be fine.

I have a 911 engine on the garage floor, if and when this goes in I will look at improved brakes and a servo, nut I wont be spending £2k on them!

Spend the £2k on a better base model with no rust.

 

[faux]

If you have discs with no servo the master cylinder will be larger and will work fine with a servo. I had a quote to fit and supply a servo on my bus by race shack. I think the price was £500. I didn't bother in the end and have just fitted csp discs and they are fine.

It is unusual not to have a servo on a 72 but if not the mc will be designed to work with the discs, you just need to put more effort into your right foot. :mrgreen: