Master Cylinder repairs, urgent
Discussion
Can anyone help. I have a mate who is urgently needing a replacement master cylinder for a Mk3 Cortina servo version. We can't source one and I believe there used to be people who could sleeve them to rebuild them. we need it done by next weekend, as he is using the car to give his sister away at her wedding !!!! Can anyone help with this. Cheers
Can't you use a rebuild kit if the bore is servicable.
Who's the manufacturer of the master cylinder?
If you contact their service department you may get either the reference number for the repair kit, a cross reference to a different vehicle using the same mc, or reference to an alternative mc that will work in its place.
Failing that take the old mc down to a few scrappies and compare the old m/c against the selection in available vehicles and get one with a like dimensions and mountings. It would help to concentrate your search on the same braking manufacturer ie Lucas Girling/ Bendix/ AP/ Teves etc.
I have mixed and matched braking components in vehicles before to get the best combinatuion of braking performance, brake pedal feel and travel.....a Group A Peugeot 205 rally m/c mated to a 5 series BMW pedal box and servo was a particularly exotic choice. A more mundane combination is a Rover 200 mc and servo mated to Jag XJS calipers in my Cobra.
Cheers,
Tony
Who's the manufacturer of the master cylinder?
If you contact their service department you may get either the reference number for the repair kit, a cross reference to a different vehicle using the same mc, or reference to an alternative mc that will work in its place.
Failing that take the old mc down to a few scrappies and compare the old m/c against the selection in available vehicles and get one with a like dimensions and mountings. It would help to concentrate your search on the same braking manufacturer ie Lucas Girling/ Bendix/ AP/ Teves etc.
I have mixed and matched braking components in vehicles before to get the best combinatuion of braking performance, brake pedal feel and travel.....a Group A Peugeot 205 rally m/c mated to a 5 series BMW pedal box and servo was a particularly exotic choice. A more mundane combination is a Rover 200 mc and servo mated to Jag XJS calipers in my Cobra.
Cheers,
Tony
Its a lucas one and the angle of the action for the piston rod from the servo, causes the rod to grind into the bore of the master cylinder, hence the attempt to find someone who can machine out and fit a stainless sleeve. We have been searching for one for a while, but the panic is on now. The Mk 5 fits, but we are struggling to find that.It will need the servo too, to change over and the pipes need metric fittings put on. There is a guy in Essex who has loads of Cortinas, who advises we won't find one, so the hunt is to get it overhauled. I did try to rebuild it with a seal kit, but because of the bore damage, won't seal it.
Stevie, not sure what is so special. I saw in Practical Performance Car that they fitted a landrover Mk3 mastercylinder to the old capri on there. His car is totally original and due a photo shoot in a classic ford mag soon and there will possibly be a purist who would notice the different cylinder. I guess he would be happy with any brakes, but would want to know he doesn't overbrake it with a different type and as usual time is short. I have been given a contact from someone on Seloc who ream out and sleeve master cylinders, so will give them a try on Monday. He has 3 spare master cylinders, so we can post one to them.
Obviously there will be visual differences, but they are quite similar in appearance. I swapped for two reasons
One was the larger brakes I fitted, and the other was the servo was slightly smaller in diamater, giving me more clearance for the engine and coils.
Plus its a more modern unit, and wasnt as scebby looking lol. Apart from re-drilling the servo bracket, all I had to do was weld up a small intermediate actuating rod from pedal to servo. It was much much easier than I expected.
One was the larger brakes I fitted, and the other was the servo was slightly smaller in diamater, giving me more clearance for the engine and coils.
Plus its a more modern unit, and wasnt as scebby looking lol. Apart from re-drilling the servo bracket, all I had to do was weld up a small intermediate actuating rod from pedal to servo. It was much much easier than I expected.
well, we rebuilt one out of three today and have a solid brake pedal and no leaks, so he is on for the wedding.He is going to get one sleeved and rebuilt, so when the car is stripped to a shell and repainted in the autumn, it will have the replacement put on then. The car has no rot, but a bit of surface rust and since he has owned it for 9 yrs has decided on a total rebuild including 4 new old stock doors, new front valence that he has got tucked away. Should look good, as has no rust and is 99% mint at the moment !!!
Tony, will do. He's now fussing about the steering rack, which looks new and the balljoints, which were new and has put another set on. He got a recon rack from Cafco for £25, so guess what I'm doing Friday night, yes, the night before the day !!!! I'm looking forward to Sunday as its the day after the wedding and normal life can carry on..........
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff