Brakes how bad are they
 

Hi everyone
Had a 122 40 years ago and just recently picked up a 222 wagon, I have a 74 Alfa so used to driving old non ABS cars but the brakes on the Volvo seem a lot worse, they have recently been serviced, pedal is firm and it pulls up square but it’s not instant and takes a hell of a lot of leg muscle
The car has had the servo assist removed
My question is do I have a problem or am I expecting too much of a 56 year old car

Hi
I think you have answered your own question

The car has had the servo assist removed
why ?
it was fitted with one to make the brake peddle not so hard to push

Find and fit a servo and all will be normal again. :thumbs_up:

The servo had a boost ratio of 1.9:1 on yours i believe, in other words, for every one pound of pressure you push the brake pedal down with your foot, 1.9lbs of pressure is fed into the master cylinder :

https://www.skandix.de/en/documents/...tions/3000118/

Some instructions there and i daresay you can find the servo (aka booster) on skandix too although likely to be £OUCH! compared to a secondhand unit from a helpful forum member or similar.

Rustinmotion,

Hi I have a late 1970 121 with direct acting servo and I'm only in Flitwick so you are welcome to have a go in mine for comparison!
As previously mentioned if the booster/servo has been removed from a car that was intended to have one from standard the effort required when pressing the pedal to achieve satisfactory retardation will feel comparatively excessive.

Just as a side note and its not meant as anything other than information, when a car is fitted with ABS this will in no way improve the cars brake efficiency it is merely an additional safety aid and doesn't improve brake performance.

Doug.

Purely out of interest has anyone had experience or used one of the £60 remote servo units to be found on eBay?

We've got a 122s, which has never had a servo, and a 220, from which I removed the servo as it had been standing for 12 years or so, and the brakes are equally efficient, though do need a good shove. My wife drives the estate as her only car, and hasn't complained about the brakes, so they can't be that bad!

RiM:

Welcome to this Forum!

I think you should get the brakes working properly before complaining about their inadequacy because you are comparing them to assisted brakes...

...and Doug has it absolutely right...ABS does ZERO in changing the force required for a given braking action, or feeling during normal brake application!

Cheers from Connecticut!

A full kit from Brookhouse cost £216. Sounds a lot but does have the mounting bracket (not the same as the original Girling one) hose and premade length of brake pipe. There are cheaper "Lockheed" servos out there but try not to buy one of the Chinese clone versions.

i don't know about other cars but with volvo equipped with ABS , on max brake pressure in emergency braking , the pedal holds your highest pressure until you let off the pedal as your leg cannot sustain max braking force for more than a few seconds , like a ratchet mechanism .This is built into the direct acting servo behind the pedal .

Hi

Purely out of interest has anyone had experience or used one of the £60 remote servo units to be found on eBay?

I must ask should you be playing with your brakes
you could kill some one or your self

the volvo has dual circuit brakes and you want to fit a servo for a single circuit system

look hear its from the USA but will give you a start

https://www.onallcylinders.com/2021/...t-distinction/