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fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:10 pm
by Jay18
im just wondering if i fitted a brake servo to my sj410 where would i get my vacuum source from? without modifying the inlet manifold...

i know i have to make the hole in the bulkhead bigger so i can bolt the servo to the bulkhead but where do i get a vacuum from...

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:28 pm
by ScottieJ
Spanish santana inlet manifolds have a vac takeoff as they have servos fitted. I have a feeling the port is on most 410 manifolds but has a bung in, I'm not sure you'll be able to get the bung out very easily though.

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:28 pm
by Jay18
ahh right so i need a santana inlet or try to get the bung out hmm...

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:36 pm
by Edweird
WHY WOULD YOU FIT SERVO BRAKES!?!?! YOU MADMAN!!!

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:53 pm
by Jay18
to hopefully help braking be a bit easier, or would it make it easier just to lock the brakes up more than being better for stopping?

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:06 pm
by Pugsley
Common misconception that servo's increase the power of the brakes - they don't. They are fitted to reduce the amount of effort required by the foot for a given braking effort.

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:52 pm
by Jay18
thats what i mean, the pedal is very hard lol..

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:36 pm
by Edweird
SJs are too light and the front brakes too big to want a servo. If it was running on 72 inch tyres with a 12 foot lift I'd say it was a good idea.

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:48 pm
by ScottieJ
Edweird wrote:SJs are too light and the front brakes too big to want a servo. If it was running on 72 inch tyres with a 12 foot lift I'd say it was a good idea.
Have you driven an sj with servo'd brakes? It's a worthwhile upgrade in my opinion, santanas came with servos from the factory as did most (all?) samurais.

Its a hell of a lot easier to get my sj to stop running 33s since I fitted a bigger master cylinder and servo, I used to literally have to try and put my foot through the floor to stop in a hurry when I had the old 410 master cylinder.

Re: fitting a brake servo to a sj410?

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:06 pm
by Edweird
Well the 72s were an exaggeration, but for me I find the brakes are really good just the way they are. Fair enough you have to actually press the pedal rather than blow on it to lock up but I have locked up once on dry tarmac when a kid ran across the road. I also find servo brakes to be very jerky, as in an all or nothing sort of situation. My brothers '04 Megane and Mum's Vectra B are perfect examples. The Renault stands on its nose as soon as you think about braking and the Vectra has a very sensitive pedal. I can stop much more smoothly and in a more controlled way in my SJ because it's easy to gradually apply or release the brakes. The Discovery's brakes however, are alright. That said I don't mind the power steering in that either. Probably because of the 2 tons it's got to deal with.

I'm bias I know, but I think that PAS and servo brakes are unnecessary in most cars and extra things to go wrong. If you've got big wheels and tyres on standard brakes then a servo is probably a good idea but Jay looks like he's running standard-ish sized ones.