BJ8 brake servo options

[carlivar]

I am reviving a '66 BJ8 which has not been on the road in over 15 years. I am going through all the hydraulics.

What are my options with the brake servo? Rebuild jobs and replacement units are expensive. Even the rebuild kit itself is pretty high and the job looks very complicated (I am just an average mechanic at best). It is the original unit and almost certainly gummed up, judging by the other hydraulic cylinders.

I am looking to make my car a weekend driver for now with very little in the cosmetics department. Cosmetics will come later. For now I just want to get it back on the road.

Is bypassing the servo and going with manual brakes an option? Anyone done this and if so what's the braking performance like? I would eventually put the servo back in of course, but just wondering for simplicity's sake for now.

Thanks!

 

[tahoe healey]

I believe you can just disconect and cork the tubes. It works on a vacuum and with out that it is like regular breaks. I did it to test something a number of years ago. I really have to step hard on the breaks.
TH

 

[carlivar]

Isn't there still a part of the servo that is a hydraulic cylinder? Seems like that would need to function (and thus be clean and working) even without the vacuum-assist, but I could be wrong...

 

[GregW]

Hi Carl,
There are three things to consider when bypassing the servo. Moss has a diagram of the brake plumbing HERE for the BJ8. You'd need to basically have #62 & #63 as one pipe from the master cylinder (MC) to the 5-way brass fitting. The servo-Healeys use a different MC which has a wider bore, you'd need to switch to a non-servo MC or you'll be building some good muscles in your right leg. Third thing is to plug the vacuum on the engine side.

I bought a new servo from Tom's Import Toys , price was much lower than a Girling unit.

 

[dougie]

Hey Carl,

I agree with Greg. Give Tom a call, he's a great guy and very helpful. I installed the same type of servo he sells on my '65 BJ8 about 10 years ago, never a problem. Good luck on your project.

Dougie

 

[carlivar]

Thanks, looks like Tom has a pretty good price. With rebuild kit $92 at Moss, the labor time just to rebuild the original servo (no matter who does it) is equal to what he wants.