Leaky old brakes.

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   I just replaced the master, and the right front wheel cylinders on my Ambo. 
The wheel cylinder was leaking although it was only visible after I removed the dust covers. I suspected it because I already renewed the left, and there was a brake imbalance.

The master was leaking, there was fluid in the bellows in the cabin. Lucky I caught it before it killed us.

There are two bleed nipples on top of the servo. Felt like they hadn't been undone for a loooong time. 
The servo pistons... worry me. Brake components deteriorate because owners don't change the fluid regularly - should be two years max - and things corrode internally. I've no way of looking inside.

Silly question........ If it fails, will I still have brakes? Just a heavy pedal? Or no brakes at all?

Ivor   

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990V8 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/07/2016 Location: Gloucestershire Status: Offline Points: 788	Post Options Post Reply Quote 990V8 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Leaky old brakes. Posted: Apr/28/2017 at 4:02am
	I just replaced the master, and the right front wheel cylinders on my Ambo. The wheel cylinder was leaking although it was only visible after I removed the dust covers. I suspected it because I already renewed the left, and there was a brake imbalance. The master was leaking, there was fluid in the bellows in the cabin. Lucky I caught it before it killed us. There are two bleed nipples on top of the servo. Felt like they hadn't been undone for a loooong time. The servo pistons... worry me. Brake components deteriorate because owners don't change the fluid regularly - should be two years max - and things corrode internally. I've no way of looking inside. Silly question........ If it fails, will I still have brakes? Just a heavy pedal? Or no brakes at all? Ivor
	63 Canadian Ambo 990 V8 327 74 LandRover Lightweight V8 SIII Shopping Trolley

Buzzman72 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/15/2009 Location: Southern IN Status: Offline Points: 2725	Post Options Post Reply Quote Buzzman72 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/28/2017 at 6:02am
	The unit you're calling a servo is commonly called a Hydrovac here in the "colonies." Hydrovac units are more commonly found on trucks, and there are places over here that rebuild them. Not sure whether the average wrench man could rebuild his own, because I've never done one myself. But parts are available. http://stovebolt.com/techtips/bendix/erickson/ Bleeding the Hydrovac on truck systems can sometimes be a headache, I'm told. BUT it's enough of a common thing that there are online tutorials, such as this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keChCevuKk8 Edited by Buzzman72 - Apr/28/2017 at 6:08am
	Buzzman72...void where prohibited, your mileage may vary, objects in mirror may be closer than they appear, and alcohol may intensify any side effects.

990V8 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/07/2016 Location: Gloucestershire Status: Offline Points: 788	Post Options Post Reply Quote 990V8 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Apr/28/2017 at 2:13pm
	Mmmm, interesting you should say they're hard to bleed. It took me a long time to get a pedal. It was on the floor. Now, despite driving backwards for about 30 applications to wind up the adjuster, the pedal is quite low, lower than it was before I started, but hard. It doesn't feel like there's air in there. And it stops well and straight. I used a one-way bottle to bleed, pressing the pedal, then a Mityvac. I'll look at those links, thankyou. Ivor edit - that Youtube link has gone, but this one with the same url is OK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keChCevuKk8 Edited by 990V8 - Apr/28/2017 at 2:24pm
	63 Canadian Ambo 990 V8 327 74 LandRover Lightweight V8 SIII Shopping Trolley

farna Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Moderator Lost Dealership Project Joined: Jul/08/2007 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 19676	Post Options Post Reply Quote farna Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: May/01/2017 at 5:34am
	That IS NOT a Hydrovac! It's a remote power booster. Common on right hand drive cars due to changes in firewall from left hand (well, common when the car was designed as a left hand drive). You can still get them, common in some Australian cars, probably Brit as well, but not sure on the Brits. Hot rod shops have them. Not real cheap... http://www.mpbrakes.com/universal-single-diaphragm-remote-mount-brake-booster-bs1010k https://travelallparts.com/Brake_Booster/p17622?gclid=CKWgy83jydMCFQsQgQodWwYKQA The single MC works like a clutch master. The booster can be mounted anywhere, some hot rodders even mount them in the trunk. You just have to route the lines to the wheels from the MC on the booster.
	Frank Swygert