I've got a '67 122 SW and my brakes are about to go... I gotta keep pumping that pedal so it doesn't hit the ground and keep on rolling...

No brake fluid leakage, etc... it's definitely the Master Cylinder. I need to replace it before I roll into something unwantedly. So I've been looking around and finding it very difficult to find a replacement for my dual circuit set up.

Anyone know where I may be able to find one?

Or are there options for using other model dual circuit Brake Master Cylinders? (currently a Wagner; vertically mounted)

And what about rebuild kits? Does anyone recommend those? And if so, where does one best get them?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Stefan

Hello all

Another route that can be followed is to use an ATE MC from a 1974ish W115 Mercedes-Benz series which was the same as the one that was on my 122S. The only difference was that the pipes of the MBenz MC came out the R/H side and on the L/H side of the Volvo's. It also made it easy for me to get overhaul kits for the MC from my local MBenz dealer.

I did have an original dual circuit MC just like the one you have. I gave it a light honing, cleaned it up and used the original seals (I could not find a replacement seal kit at the time and the original seals looked fine to my untrained eye). The MC worked great - firm pedal, no sinking feeling.

I located new seals for this particular MC from CVI. When I put the new seals in, the MC did not work properly. By all appearances the new seals were exactly the same as the originals - I spent hours trying to figure out why it wasn't working and eventually decided after many hours of exasperated messyness (is there such a word?) that a fussy MC is not something I want to rely on under any braking situation. So it now sits alone in my parts box.

I thought of getting it rebuilt by Whitepost, but decided to get the the IPD MC and conversion kit (it is on their website). Apparently there are other MC's that will work, but this kit has a stock look to it which is important to me.

Installation was straightforward and it works fine. I even rebuilt the original Girling booster and the whole braking system works really well.

My heart still yearns to have the original MC back in its rightful place so it may yet find its way to Whitepost, but for now I am happy with the IPD kit.

waggin
65 220 wagon
85 245 turbo wagon

s.

thank you for your response waggin

after much mulling, I too went the route of the conversion - IPD doesn't have them anymore - I got a conversion kit + rebuilt MC from voluparts in Georgia (I'm in Seattle). Just came in yesterday - will try to get it in by the end of the week. Seems like a pretty straight forward installation, though if you have any tips that a first time installer like me may overlook, let me know.

thanks again - eno

I bought a spare ring from a seller on eBay for ~$60.00 USD. The ring bit appears identical to the IPD kit and can be purchased from a couple of other sources (a couple of the mainstream parts houses have them listed - weird)

Anyway, this was for my 1967 220 wagon, and I already had an 1800E MC and only needed the ring. The ring went on just fine, but I found the that actuator/pushrod supplied was too short to properly activate the MC.

So, I went to the hardware store and picked up a the longest Grade 8 1/4" fine thread bolt available (about 6.5 inches I think) I cut the hex head off and ground it round. This gave me a rod about 1" longer than the one supplied with the kit.

Sorry no pics of this handy. It should be a very straightforward fix if your supplied pedal actuator rod is too short.

Overall, the whole setup worked very well, but I never trusted that external Girling booster, so opted to undertake a fully boosted dual-triangular 1800E system upgrade.

I finished plumbing up the brake system, but it did not get too much past here, when I had to stop work on the project...


It's sitting in the garage now while I weigh the need for bodywork and painting and my desire to install the rest of the D-jet system for that sweet little B20E - against my need to finish writing my Master's Thesis...

That is odd. I ordered the IPD kit from them just over a month ago - maybe I got the last one is stock?

The only advice I have is to bleed the MC first before attaching the lines (I attached short lines, and then attached clear hoses which went back into the M/C reservoir and kept pumping the pedal which circulated the fluid until no there were air bubbles in the hoses). This got the air out of the M/C before attaching the brake lines to it and made bleeding the system easier.

Be thorough in bleeding the brakes. Air bubbles appeared long after I thought I had completely bled a line. Bleed from each wheel starting the farthest from the MC (rear passenger side) and then each wheel in turn that brings you closer to the MC. It can be messy - use gloves and keep it away from painted surfaces and anything you value. If your pedal feels mushy then re-bleed until firm.

waggin.

1965 220 wagon
1985 245 turbo wagon

I made an adaptor that will let you use the ATE MC from the 164/1800 (and I think, some 140/240) cars that is available at many parts stores.
E-mail if you would like the dimensions, I thought about the Mazda MC, but decided to keep mine looking fairly stock. Photo below, this is on a '68 220 wagon, the only other year afflicted with this MC.

Cheers!
OK

nice pic Old Kombi

that's the route I went too - got an adaptor + rebuilt MC from voluparts in Georgia (I'm in Seattle). Just came in yesterday - will try to get it in by the end of the week. Seems like a pretty straight forward installation, though if you have any tips that a first time installer like me may overlook, let me know.

thanks - eno

btw, I've always called my 67 wagon a 122, but everybody seems to be calling theirs a 220...

Lots of options. Find a conversion ring and an 1800E master cylinder (have one works just fine). Or go "crazy" and put in a 140-style booster and MC to mimic the setups on the 1969 and 1970 euro-amazons.



This cost me ~$40.00 for the custom welded bracket and about $25.00 for the booster (plus sipping). I love it and the repair kit is off-the-shelf hardware.

I have a spare 1800E conversion ring and I know there's a 140 booster setup on eBay right now.

thanks Jack

I went the conversion route and skipped the booster. I'll be putting it in later this week.

Thanks for the offer and the tips - eno

I went through this nightmare about five or six years ago. The problem is that this master cylinder was only used for part of a model year. Folks will be more than happy to send you stuff that doesn't work, even people who are supposed to be volvo experts. If you have the master cylinder that I have, it is dual circuit, and it looks similar to the ones used later, but the mounting ears are clocked 180 degrees.

I finally got mine resleaved and rebuilt by White Post Industries, it was kind of expensive, but it came with a lifetime warranty.

Later I found that if you call IPD and talk to someone you might be able to find an adapter to mount the later master cylinder to your car, but it is not in their catalog. Or you can make a pretty simple mounting plate to adapt a later dual circuit or go for the dual with integrated booster.

yeah, it took a while to situate my situation... not quite a nightmare, but it did take some time. I went the adapter route - there's a a few out there, I ended up talking to folks in Massachusetts and Georgia, where I had it sent to me from voluparts, a rebuilt MC and the horizontal bracket, bout a $120 altogether.

thanks for the reply

I believe Olof at http://www.vintageimportparts.com/ has the repair kit.

Cheers,
--
Barry -- 1967 122S 'Betty'

thanks Barry,
I didn't come across Olof in my search, so it's good to have that for future reference - we're in the same state, WA. I got an adapter and a rebuilt MC for about $120 from voluparts in Georgia. Just got it yesterday and will be putting it in soon.

CVI sells the vertical mount MC ($410US):

http://www.cvi-automotive.se/webshop/

or the adapter plates for the horizontal MC.

Paul

Mid-80s Mazda's use a vertical mount MC with the same bolt pattern as the 122s that usually can be bought on ebay for cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brake-Master-Cylinder-Mazda-RX7-S-GS-GSL-LTD_W0QQitemZ270076666572QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270076666572&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Wilwood also sells a MC that mounts vertically with the same bolt pattern as the 122's:

http://www.wilwood.com/Products/006-MasterCylinders/008-CRTMC/index.asp

Paul

Anyone know what the bore and stroke of the stock master is?

Thanks!