Mk1 with no servo does it work?

[super427]

Hi all,
Back from a 'short break' and now concentrating on getting my Mk1
all pretty again.Currently the engine is out and I am re installing
a slightly frutier 8V, with webers.
Question: has anyone run a Mk1 with just a master cylinder connected
on the drivers side? (ditch the linkage)
Does it miss the carbs? does it stop!!!?
can you get a bigger 'race' master cylinder?
If anyone has experience of this would be grateful to know.

thanks
Mark

[richy_b]

not sure if this is right but never mind  cant you use the mk2 16v setup?? apprently it gives alot better breaking?
like i said im not 100% sure so dont quote me 

[super427]

Hi,
Yes I think your right about the 16v and a bigger master cylinder, but I was wondering if
anyone has ditched their servo and cross linkage altogether and sited a bigger possibly
non vw or'motosport master' cylinder on the driver side of the engine bay?

Its probably been done in racing to save weight just wondered if anyones ever seen this?


thanks

Mark

[richandhazel]

I used to have a mk1 '1100' golf that had exactly that. No servo, no linkage, just straight into the master cylinder. TBH I don't think it felt any worse than having the servo and linkage. I modified the car and later put an 1800 engine in there with standard Pierburg and I could still make the car stop ok on the same set up.

[super427]

thanks for that it sounds promising, I am going to contact a local
tuning firm that used to sprint a very modified MK1, I am sure
I never saw a servo in it.Just a matter of finding the right master cylinder.
Lets face it anything will be better than that damn linkage!

Used to have LHD GTI in the 80's and the brakes were exceptional
even considered getting another LHD on the strength of the brakes.

thanks again,

Mark

[benji mk2]

Hi Mark,

I'd be really interested in the outcome of this as I want to do the same. I know some of the rally supply places do stuff along this line. I'm going to e mail them soon to find out. I'm doing a similar thing to u, in that I'm fitting throttle bodies to an 8v. I agree that anything that can be done to remove that linkage and cross section would be a good thing. It looks bloody horrible! Have you come across any clearance issues with the carbs? I'm thinking about removing the rain tray thing in front of the wiper motor, hopefully this will free up a bit of space. Are you going to heatsheild or lag the exhaust manifold??

  Good luck, I'll let you know if  i hear anymore!

Ben

[super427]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for your reply.Not sure about the clearance as yet as my engine is one place being built and the body in another. My gut feeling is that a master cylinder will fit as it hasn't got to miss the injection manifold and assoaciated
cold start valve under it. I think I will need to make a special bracket to bolt to the bulkhead or I might be able to canniblise the existing servo bracket.
I think that you can get remote sevo's but I don't know a lot about these as yet but will keep looking.Will let
you know of developments.
I think I am going to shield it, have heard of problems on other cars where a lagged exhaust has built so much heat
up it has damaged the head. Might be an idea to remove the tray but not sure how much more room it would give,
it also seems to keep any engine fumes in the engine bay and out of the heater.

regards,

Mark

[benji mk2]

Hi Mark,

 hadn't thought about the fumes!!!!
 I spoke to a company called Rally Design yesterday, they do a servo less pedal box. This bolts into the existing place but has two adjustable mastercylinders and no servo. It costs 140 plus the vat. Not really sure if you could modify it to fit but it would look a lot better and i think it should improve the braking performance.  Have a look at the rally design and TAS motorsport sites. They have a pretty good range of stuff. Good luck!!


Ben

[super427]

Hi Ben,

Have had quite a lot of stuff from Rally Design and thet are very good and
reasonably priced.Thought about twin servos but not sure how much it would help
pedal pressure (not into hydrualics).Have run a dax cobra with a golf mk2 master cylinder
and can lock the brakes up without a servo, but then again its got Jag 4 pot brakes and disks front and back
and is only stopping 800kg and not 2000kg!

I will try and track down someone who's sprinted a GTI without a servo.

cheers

Mark

[Bronze MK1 Cab]

Good luck with it mate 

I've had the MK2 16v servo and 22mm mc fitted to mine, also got a weber conversion. The servo and mc made a big difference. My next step is to get the 280mm G60 front disks fitted  Just waiting for the brackets to come off Velly.