Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

VH SLX, Would a V8 master cylinder fit on a 6 cylinder braking system

griezy

Active Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
200
Reaction score
87
Points
28
Location
somewhere
Members Ride
1982 VH SL-X Wagon
im having problems in my SLX VH wagon two years ago the master cylinder completely failed (brake pedal went straight to the floor, so i took it in to the mechanics (they installed a new master cylinder completely bleed the whole system and added new fluid),about a year later the pedal went strait to the floor again, took it back, and the mechanics put new seals in the master cylinder and bleed them again and on the 1/3/20 coming from near bathurst to campbelltown they failed again (3 hour drive)
My question is would it be worth getting a new V8 master cylinder to replace the 6 cylinder one, can it fit without changing anything else or do you need a V8 booster as well?

thanks in advance
 

markovr

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2003
Messages
3,072
Reaction score
252
Points
83
Age
62
Location
northside brisbane
Website
youtu.be
Members Ride
07vessv 94vr .04vz wgn,93vp wgn,82 vhV6 wgn 88 vn
It will fit fine with no modification and should improve pedal travel....however it’s strange that the new cylinder needed new seals...a brand new one should last for years .
A dud Booster can give similar issues with a long pedal
.
 

Vin999

Active Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2019
Messages
827
Reaction score
205
Points
43
Location
SA
Members Ride
VSedanS
With boosters its more about size (thickness as single or double diaphram) and the length to the strut m/cylinder bracket bolts, rather than 6 or v8 option as vb-vh 6 cyl sle’s had standard d/d boosters the same as v8 optioned cars as well as cars that had factory 4 wheel disks, auto and air con fitted together.

Check yours and then Upgrade your existing 15/16” m/c to the VL Turbo car 1” m/cylinder is a direct fit to your existing bolt pattern booster.

Later cars the bolt pattern is different to your vh booster n m/cylinder
 

losh1971

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
22,392
Reaction score
22,006
Points
113
Location
North Tas
Members Ride
VE Series I SS Ute
Wouldn't a 1" master require a different booster? 1" master places less force on the caliper pistons than a 15/16, unless of course it has some other internal design that increases the pressure. But from my understanding they fitted the larger bore MCs with a stronger booster to compensate.
 

griezy

Active Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2014
Messages
200
Reaction score
87
Points
28
Location
somewhere
Members Ride
1982 VH SL-X Wagon
With boosters its more about size (thickness as single or double diaphram) and the length to the strut m/cylinder bracket bolts, rather than 6 or v8 option as vb-vh 6 cyl sle’s had standard d/d boosters the same as v8 optioned cars as well as cars that had factory 4 wheel disks, auto and air con fitted together.

Check yours and then Upgrade your existing 15/16” m/c to the VL Turbo car 1” m/cylinder is a direct fit to your existing bolt pattern booster.

Later cars the bolt pattern is different to your vh booster n m/cylinder
Thanks guys hmm getting conflicting info first message saying it should fit with no modifications, last message saying I would need the booster as well,

i had a look at the VL turbo - V8 master cylinder online but the front brake line is in the completely different spot (Vh front line is on the side of the master cylinder and the VL turbo / V8 one goes up from the bottom, would that means I would have to find a VL front brake line some where
 

vc commodore

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
10,651
Reaction score
12,333
Points
113
Location
Like the Leyland Brothers
Members Ride
VC, VH and VY
Thanks guys hmm getting conflicting info first message saying it should fit with no modifications, last message saying I would need the booster as well,

i had a look at the VL turbo - V8 master cylinder online but the front brake line is in the completely different spot (Vh front line is on the side of the master cylinder and the VL turbo / V8 one goes up from the bottom, would that means I would have to find a VL front brake line some where


From VB upto and including VR have identical M/C and boosters....Just make sure you have the correct booster, as to what is on your VH....Reason being, where the bracket comes from the strut tower to the master cylinder is in a slightly different position, depending on booster you have....Saves modifying the bracket
 

vc commodore

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
10,651
Reaction score
12,333
Points
113
Location
Like the Leyland Brothers
Members Ride
VC, VH and VY
Wouldn't a 1" master require a different booster? 1" master places less force on the caliper pistons than a 15/16, unless of course it has some other internal design that increases the pressure. But from my understanding they fitted the larger bore MCs with a stronger booster to compensate.

Na mate.....The 15/16 and 1" master cylinder use the same booster......Be it double diaphram or single diaphram....That being said, I personally prefer the double diaphram booster...

Originallly, I had a 15/16 master on my VC, with a double diaphram booster.....I have since upgraded to an 1" bore M/C
 

Skylarking

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2018
Messages
9,995
Reaction score
10,324
Points
113
Age
123
Location
Downunder
Members Ride
Commodore Motorsport Edition
Wouldn't a 1" master require a different booster? 1" master places less force on the caliper pistons than a 15/16, unless of course it has some other internal design that increases the pressure. But from my understanding they fitted the larger bore MCs with a stronger booster to compensate.
My understanding has always been that the pedal arrangement, via leverage, provided force to the booster which then uses vacuum to add to the drivers pedal effort. That way the driver feels less effort was needed. But the overall pedal leverage is fixed so that even with a failed booster, the driver should still be able to stop. The drivers effort and the amount of boost is what dictates brake line pressure.

The master cylinder bore size is dimensioned to ensure the correct volume of fluid could be sent to the calipers to cater for pad movement while braking. Increasing master cylinder diameter means the caliper piston mover further for the same pedal stroke while reducing the master cylinder diameter means the caliper piston moves less for the same pedal stroke. Thus, you can get a leverage change based on changing the master cylinder diameter but I’ve always understood leverage is mostly from the pedal arrangement.

So swapping parts can have a play on other parts and blindly increasing master cylinder bore diameter would mean longer brake pedal stroke and what probably feels like less brake efficiency, unless something else is changed (like pedal leverage).

That’s been my understanding and I’d be interested if anyone has references to and books if my understanding is wrong.
 

losh1971

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
22,392
Reaction score
22,006
Points
113
Location
North Tas
Members Ride
VE Series I SS Ute
I have experimented with different size MCs and the smaller bore definitely places more pressure on the caliper pistons and pulls you up quicker. The smaller bore also flexs the lines more. The larger bore generally is used on twin piston or more piston calipers. A large bore MC on single piston calipers and standard booster and all else being the same will feel like a rock.
 

vc commodore

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
10,651
Reaction score
12,333
Points
113
Location
Like the Leyland Brothers
Members Ride
VC, VH and VY
I have experimented with different size MCs and the smaller bore definitely places more pressure on the caliper pistons and pulls you up quicker. The smaller bore also flexs the lines more. The larger bore generally is used on twin piston or more piston calipers. A large bore MC on single piston calipers and standard booster and all else being the same will feel like a rock.


Speaking just about the Commodores, upto about the VZ, police cars came standard with 1" bore masters as standard....That's the way they wanted them. I know of a VP V6 ex-cop car, with a 1" bore m/c and pretty sure it only had the single diaphram booster....But don't quote me over the booster, as it was 6 months ago I had a quick look at it.....But I could find out...

Just going by VB to VK,(I think upto the VK) the V8's were equipped with double diaphram boosters with either m/c fitted and the 6's the single, with the 15/16 m/c....
 
Top