Recomendations for someone that rebuilds brake boosters

A-Snake

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I'm 'recommissioning' a MKI after a nearly 30 year sleep. Going thru the hydraulics but have never rebuilt a brake servo. (This is the 5" one) So I think I'd like to find someone versed in the subject to do it for me. Any recommendations? I'm located in the KC, MO area.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, but I have to ask...why? :D

I spent two years trying to get my 7" to work properly after having it rebuilt by a recommend guy. Sent it back and fourth several times due to piston sticking. Switched to a 5" from same guy and then pumped my engine full of brake fluid trying to pressure bleed it after install.

Sent it back and bought a Lockheed and have never looked back. Modern booster for modern times. I also have over 400 HP and don't want to be screwing with the brakes.

Here is the story - http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=76636
 
I spent a year trying to get my 7" to work properly after having it rebuilt by a recommend guy. Sent it back and fourth several times due to piston sticking. Switched to a 5" from same guy and then pumped my engine full of brake fluid trying to pressure bleed it after install.

Sent it back and bought a Lockheed and have never looked back. Modern booster for modern times. I also have over 400 HP and don't want to be screwing with the brakes.

Thank you again for the insight!
Has anyone had a good experience with refurbishing a 5" booster?
 
I would recommend Bill Martin at the Rootes Group Depot 650-364-1965 or contact him by email at tigerfixer @yahoo.com. He rebuilt my booster and it works flawlessly with Dale's big disk brakes both front and rear..the Lockheed is a nice unit but it doesn't look original if you know what I mean.

Moondoggie
 
BRAKE BOOSTER

After experiencing similar problems as Duke describes, one sugesstion is to buy the booster bypass from Cat warehouse and replace the Tiger master cylinder with one from an Alpine series II. If the pedal still feels too hard replace the rear wheel cylinders with Alpine II cylinders. ( Look in the CAT Tech tips manual) Tiger Tom Ehrhart has probably rebuilt more boosters than any one alive, and written many Tech tips on what not to do. I'm not sure as to what degree of retirement is in he may still do boosters !
 
What also needs to be mentioned is re-sleeving the aluminum canister with brass, or not. Perhaps it is implicit that you would have that done as a part of a professional rebuild. That is the only way to do it, IMHO. I tried replacing the seals, etc. myself and the results were just a waste of money. Just be prepared for a bit of sticker shock when you get the quote!

I had my 7 inch (?) booster redone about a decade or so ago by White Post in Virginia. Has worked fine since then. But I think they subbed out that particular job. The booster came back with packing that was newspaper from a city in the San Francisco Bay area. Something Mercury, as I vaguely recall. White Post may well still be in business and have a web site with a list pricing various services.

Gene
 
After experiencing similar problems as Duke describes, one sugesstion is to buy the booster bypass from Cat warehouse and replace the Tiger master cylinder with one from an Alpine series II. If the pedal still feels too hard replace the rear wheel cylinders with Alpine II cylinders. ( Look in the CAT Tech tips manual) Tiger Tom Ehrhart has probably rebuilt more boosters than any one alive, and written many Tech tips on what not to do. I'm not sure as to what degree of retirement is in he may still do boosters !

A couple dumb questions, what is the CAT Tech Manual? I've recently joined CAT but have yet to receive any information

I don't find a booster bypass listed in the CAT warehouse.

http://www.catmbr.org/Parts/parts11.htm
 
I had my 7 inch (?) booster redone about a decade or so ago by White Post in Virginia. Has worked fine since then. Gene

White Post still do them.. they are still expensive and they still do a great job from all the reports i have heard on the SAOCA... betyter to pay high $ once and have it done right.. than cheaply several times and all the mucking around removing and installing several times.
 
"... A couple dumb questions, what is the CAT Tech Manual? I've recently joined CAT but have yet to receive any information

I don't find a booster bypass listed in the CAT warehouse. ..."


Better have another look at that list...

Misc Parts

m 01 shop notes / tech tips manual $31.00


Engine/Drivetrain Parts

e 17 emergency brake servo by-pass line $17.00


Jim
B382000446
 
Booster

Larry Atkisson up in Washington did a great job for my son's SV Alpine. I rebuilt my own with a servo kit from cat back in the 90's. Still works but be aware that the leather seal may hang up. Needs some lubrication or will hold brakes in on position. :eek:

PM me for contact info for Larry.

CAT sells Shop Notes which is great reading. Tech tips and Tiger minutia compiled over decades of real life Tigering. Yes some is dated (quaint), some very helpful. Check www.catmbr.org and look for the Parts pages. Did I say we sell rebuild kits? We do.

Rick
 
Last edited:
"... A couple dumb questions, what is the CAT Tech Manual? I've recently joined CAT but have yet to receive any information

I don't find a booster bypass listed in the CAT warehouse. ..."


Better have another look at that list...

Misc Parts

m 01 shop notes / tech tips manual $31.00


Engine/Drivetrain Parts

e 17 emergency brake servo by-pass line $17.00


Jim
B382000446

Thanks, the "emergency" threw me.

How does the tech tips manual differ from this?

http://www.tigersunited.com/resources/wsm/wsmk21.asp

http://www.tigersunited.com/resources/wsm/wsm3.asp
 
Shop Notes

CAT Shop Notes is from user experience and dealing with a world without a Rootes Group to lean on.

The Manual on TU web site is from the factory I thinks.

All fun stuff or not?

Rick
 
On all the Tigers I have owned I have never had a working servo--does it make that much difference? Just curious, I like the way the pedal feels now.
 
BRAKE BOOSTER

One other alternative is to upgrade the whole system as was done in the Tiger restoration series in Classsic Motorsports magazine( check their website). They with the help of Bill Martin of Rootes Depot replaced the master cylinder with a dual master cylinder from a Suburu and used new lines
from Classic tube, and did not use a brake servo. The original design of the Girling servo is antiquated and if the seal between the vacumn canister and the booster master cylinder fails you got no brakes. It'll scare the XXXX out of you and hope you don't crash into something. For the Concours type people there are ways to bypass the servo, like plug the vacumn line, and still look original.
 
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