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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Power brakes?

Has anyone ever considered power brake on thier MGB or has it already been done? With my conversion to serpentine barkes I am having isues with finding a way to get the revers rotation to the water pump. this requires a pulley of some sort on each side of the water pump. I am wondering why not make tha pully DO something?!? I am thinking just install a Ford power break motor and give my brake a substantial boost??

Again, love to hear your guys opinion as I am not a brake expert by any means..
Larry Embrey

Most later MGs had vacuum assisted brake servos. Is the power brake motor are you talking about a vacuum motor for a diesel or is it a hydraulic pump like a power steering pump?
George B.

George,
I believe newer american cars have some sort of pump that is driven off the engine much like the power steering. I will have to look into a bit more..
Larry Embrey

Larry-

On my serpentine front cover 215 I used the pulley for the air conditioning compressor to provide the reverse rotation. That is a worthwhile way to make the pulley "do something".

The engine is a Buick 215, front cover is from a 1994 4.2 Rover. Car is a 1966 MGB. It had a bit of an interference problem with the steering rack, what year car are you building?
Jim

Larry, FYI The residual power brake system was invented by Smokey Yunick to save weight. I think this is what you are talking about, the power steering residual fluid output is transfer to the a brake converter which is located in the same place as the bosster and acts as a booster thus creating power brakes without a booster, and saving weight in the race car. One pump does both functions. When pedal is applied the fluid pressure aids in the applied pressure to the brakes.
Bill Guzman

Jim, this is on my already running 302 car. I am converting to serpentine water pump to shorten the motor and fit a swaybar and puller fan.. check the Oct 2002 page of my V8 pages, link in my sig..

Bill, maybe I am just not thinking straight but I could swear that my mazda and my wifes camry along with many 70's american cars had power brakes with a pump of some sort just like a steering pump.. I will have to look at my vehicles tomorrow..
Larry Embrey

70s American autos used vacuum from the intake manifold. Even my 1992 Ford Pickup with fuel injection is the same. My 1996 Mark VIII (thought it might be different) has a vacuum booster (I just happen to have the shop manual in my computer). But now the Army's HMMWV uses "power" from the power steering pump.

Wayne
Wayne Pearson

Looked under some hoods -- all late-90s cars: mercedes, wife's bmw & ford explorer all have vacuum servos. (Get this: the label on the mercedes servo tells me that the manufacturer was Lucas!)

Larry, the thing that surprises me about your question is that your blue B would have had power brakes to begin with. Did you rip that out and put in a different pedal box or something?
David

No I am just brian farting. My car does have the booster, ijust had a wild idea that some cars had an actual pump. I may rebuild my booster this year just to make sure it is good as I think I have a small vac leak in it.

Larry
Larry Embrey

Larry, if your brake booster has a leak ,it will affect the running of your motor. To test it, run the engine for a few minutes, switch off & then apply the brakes. You should be able to hear a "hiss" sound for a least 2 applications. Fixing the booster is straight foreward. Buy an overhaul kit. I would think Moss would sell them, or maybe they have an exchange deal.
Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

Larry, I recall Audi 5000 Tubos from the mid 80's having a hydraulic pump on the one back side of the power steering pump. This was used to power the Brakes. There was an hydraulic accumulator as well. Many Diesels also used a similar system. Unfortunately this means one more thing to mount on the front of the motor but as you say you are changing the pulley system.......
Hope this helps.
Mike
Mike

My power brake system defiantly has a leak. My car will idle well until I step on the brake and then it stumbles, sometimes even dieing if cold.
George Champion

This thread was discussed between 19/10/2002 and 22/10/2002

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