Volvo Community Forum. The Forums of the Volvo Owners Club

Forum Rules Volvo Owners Club About VOC Volvo Gallery Links Volvo History Volvo Press
Go Back   Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > PV, 120 (Amazon), 1800 General

Notices

PV, 120 (Amazon), 1800 General Forum for the Volvo PV, 120 and 1800 cars

Information
  • VOC Members: There is no login facility using your VOC membership number or the details from page 3 of the club magazine. You need to register in the normal way
  • AOL Customers: Make sure you check the 'Remember me' check box otherwise the AOL system may log you out during the session. This is a known issue with AOL.
  • AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net users. Forum owners such as us are finding that AOL, Yahoo and Plus.net are blocking a lot of email generated from forums. This may mean your registration activation and other emails will not get to you, or they may appear in your spam mailbox

Thread Informations

Brakes how bad are they

Views : 1970

Replies : 25

Users Viewing This Thread :  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old Sep 16th, 2021, 20:53   #1
Rustinmotion
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Yesterday 21:50
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: MILTON KEYNES
Default 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
Rustinmotion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 16th, 2021, 22:24   #2
grumpydad
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Mar 17th, 2024 12:29
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: eastsussex
Default

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
grumpydad is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to grumpydad For This Useful Post:
Old Sep 16th, 2021, 23:23   #3
Laird Scooby
Premier Member
 
Laird Scooby's Avatar
 

Last Online: Yesterday 21:57
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Lakenheath
Default

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

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.
__________________
Cheers
Dave

Next Door to Top-Gun with a Honda CR-V & S Type Jag Volvo gone but not forgotten........
Laird Scooby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 17th, 2021, 10:43   #4
packers1712
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Feb 25th, 2024 21:49
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Flitwick
Default

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.
packers1712 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to packers1712 For This Useful Post:
Old Sep 17th, 2021, 12:32   #5
Salop Farmer
Member
 

Last Online: Mar 27th, 2024 23:08
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Oswestry
Default

Purely out of interest has anyone had experience or used one of the £60 remote servo units to be found on eBay?
Salop Farmer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 17th, 2021, 13:17   #6
old fart
Master Member
 

Last Online: Yesterday 15:15
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Droitwich
Default

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!
old fart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 17th, 2021, 14:43   #7
Ron Kwas
Premier Member
 
Ron Kwas's Avatar
 

Last Online: Today 01:38
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Connecticut, USA
Default

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!
Ron Kwas is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Ron Kwas For This Useful Post:
Old Sep 17th, 2021, 14:44   #8
Derek UK
VOC Member
 
Derek UK's Avatar
 

Last Online: Yesterday 17:01
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chatham
Default

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.
Derek UK is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Derek UK For This Useful Post:
Old Sep 17th, 2021, 15:54   #9
Clan
Experienced Member
 
Clan's Avatar
 

Last Online: Yesterday 22:26
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: L/H side
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Kwas View Post
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!
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 .
__________________
My comments are only based on my opinions and vast experience .
Clan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Sep 18th, 2021, 00:11   #10
grumpydad
Senior Member
 

Last Online: Mar 17th, 2024 12:29
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: eastsussex
Default

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/
grumpydad is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to grumpydad For This Useful Post:
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:22.


Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.