[Healeys] Girling Break Servo vs. Lockheed

[Bob Spidell]

If you can do a 'brake job' you can rebuild a servo.  Kits are 
available.  For best results have the hydraulic cylinders re-sleeved 
unless they're spotless.  There are some potential gotchas--like 
trimming the seal in the vacuum cylinder and (possibly) having to 
re-coat the inside of the vacuum cylinder--but, all in all, it's not a 
terribly tricky job and very satisfying.  Search the archives for 
others' comments.  Some parts, like the seals for the air/vacuum valve 
aren't in the kits--at least the ones I've bought--but I think BCS has 
them (they won't necessarily need replacing).

bs



Greg Mandas wrote:
> All,
>
> The 65 BJ8 I purchased last March sat in a barn seizing up for the last 30 years. The good news is, the car is original.  The bad news is, the car is original. The owner did just enough restoration to sell it. That's not to say it was road worthy at the time. He had the brake cylinders redone, but not the servo. I have been driving the car and the brakes function, but without power assist.
>
> My mechanic (for all the things I wont', can't or shouldn't do) suggests replacing the master cylinder with an earlier model with a smaller bore. "It increases brake pressure to where you don't need a servo."
>
> My local British parts guy says I should drop in a Lockheed. "It's safest and by the way you need $100 bracket to make it fit."
>
> I'd like to have the original Girling rebuilt, but both guys tell me it's not a good idea. They don't know of anyone who can do the job right and  independently steered me away from the place I found.
>
> My restoration philosophy is to stay as original as possible unless prohibited by safety, cost or practicality. 
>
> What do y'all think?
>
> Greg
>
> 65 BJ8.
>
> *******************************************************************
> Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net
>
> *******************************************************************