master cylinder replace or refurb?

[Dean.s]

I found out why my brakes weren't working properly, fluid is leaking past the piston and ending up in the pedal cluster.

I've sent an email to bigg red to see if they have a cylinder or a refurb kit and am now waiting their reply. In the meantime i've found an ate replacement on rose passion (my new favourite supplier) for €240.

Mine is a 19mm cyliinder which i'm sure was working when i stripped but it happens.

any advice from people who have bought new & replaced and those that may have refurbed their original one.

[davep]

I will be interested to see what rebuild kits you find. I successfully rebuilt a 19mm master on my VW411 a few decades ago. I have replaced 6 to 10 on 914's over the past 40 years.
Currently I have two 20mm masters and just one rebuild kit for them. Would like to find another one or two kits.

[LMR]

Dean

My master cylinder was sent away 6 months ago to be refurbished. I am still waiting for a seal kit to arrive.....

If you go down that route, I hope you are more success than me. I am close to giving in and buying a new one

[Dean.s]

Dave i'll update the thread with my findings.

Lmr, who did you send it to?

The only reason i'm holding back on buying a replacement is that i prefer to fix rather than throw away. Plus i guess replacements are either refurbs or copies in the main.

[LMR]

My master cylinder is with a chap who is supposedly very good at sourcing obscure parts. I did the same as you - why replace when you don't have to - but I may have to....

[Dean.s]

I'll see what happens with mine and it may help you.

I've found this on design 911

http://www.design911.co.uk//fu/prod1263 ... m_content=

This from auto Atlanta

http://www.autoatlanta.com/results.php? ... der&page=2

[Mr Pharmacist]

The advice I've seen before is that it isn't worth the risk - the most important part of the car. So always replace with new

[middlefour1]

The advice I've seen before is that it isn't worth the risk - the most important part of the car. So always replace with new

Quite right, easy to find and not worth the effort to refurb.

[davep]

I agree that replacement is usually the best answer. However, if the quality of the replacements is in question (like URO parts), then a refurb may be the better option. For my 20's it seems to be the only option.

[middlefour1]

Fair point, I have always used Kontakt Porsche in London for brake parts, never had a problem.

[Ashley James]

We send older brake parts to Past Parts of Bury St. Edmunds. They stainless steel line the cylinders so they then last better than new ones.

[Dean.s]

Spoke to biggest red today but they can only supply the 23mm cylinder kits. So that's a no go.

I'm going to call past parts tomorrow and see what they can do, thanks for the reference on that one.

[davep]

If Past Parts use a stainless steel liner, find out what the wall thickness of it is. That may dictate the original size of the master to be used for the refurb. For those that do not already know, the master cylinders are actually in inch sizes with increments of 1/16". The popular 19mm is actually 19.05 mm or 3/4" bore size.

[Dean.s]

Having spoken to past parts they can refurbish the 17mm and 19mm cylinders. They have the seal kits in stock and quoted £80 to £100 plus vat. Will send mine off once i have removed it.

[914 KEV]

Having spoken to past parts they can refurbish the 17mm and 19mm cylinders. They have the seal kits in stock and quoted £80 to £100 plus vat. Will send mine off once i have removed it.

When required on my 914s and other 914s that I work on I will always fit a new brake master cylinder.
The rebuild kits if you can find one are very expensive and for peace of mind prefer fitting a new one.

Personally I can’t justify paying £80-100 + VAT and postage both ways to have 19mm brake master cylinder rebuilt when you can buy a new ATE one for £108 (Euro spec) and £119 (US spec) including VAT and delivery from Mister Auto UK at the moment!
http://www.mister-auto.co.uk/en/brake-m ... _g258.html