Servo Brakes

Malcolmmer

Malcolmmer

0
Hi All,

Just got back from Wales in the van, ran well but coming down some of the steep hills fully loaded and with the trailer on the back I felt I could do with a bit more stopping power, and I am wondering if a remote servo unit is worth considering and how much difference it would make. When we put the van back on the road two years ago the complete braking system was renewed. Any thoughts.
 
Hope you had a nice trip, any pics:)
Many people have fitted a remote servo and it does indeed make braking easier, but it doesn't improve the overall braking efficiency. You will find the brakes a lot sharper with a servo and easier on the right knee.
 
As Panky says, a servo will only reduce pedal effort and will not increase braking efficiency. Having said that it may allow you to exert more pressure on the pedal thus increasing the effort at the brakes.

Best upgrade would be discs up front. Some on here have done this successfully.
 
I have a servo on mine and does feel much sharper, guess you can get them on quicker for fast stops. However I find it can make them a little snatchie at low speeds. People say it shouldn't work at low pressure but mine does seem to. The other thing is mines a spacevan and I have a feeling they have slightly bigger drums on, the brakes are superb on my van, maybe that could be a simple upgrade if I'm correct
 
Maybe the ratio of the servo is a bit much. Servo's are generally used on discs which basically use brute force to stop you as the friction pad surface area is generally lower than shoes - Commer front brakes are twin leading shoe which have a have their own built in 'servo assist' so a lower ratio servo, say 1.6, may be enough.
 
All PB's from the late 60's on have the same brakes as the spacevan, 10" front and rear. If you have the narrow 10" fronts, then upgrading to the later wide ones is a good step up, but you have to change the stub axles as well. Servo's do seem to help.
 
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