TVR Vixen - Braking System

The Vixen S3's braking system is the same as a TR6 system. This makes parts easy to get.

When I bought the car the only parts I needed were some new pedal rubbers (conveniently marked with a T for TVR). However when I fitted them I realised that hydraulic fluid was dripping from the brake pedal. I thought that this indicated that the master cylinder seals were leaking and that fluid was passing through the servo.

I removed the master cylinder and took it to bits - it looked perfect - like new. I reassembled with some new seals somewhat puzzled as to why it was dripping brake fluid - but while the master cylinder was off I took the servo off to paint it. Slosh, slosh, the mystery was solved. The master cylinder had leaked and half filled the servo with brake fluid and the master cylinder had been replaced without emptying the servo.

The other brake fault was that the brake fail warning light didn't work but that had to wait for work on the electrical system as various bits (like the wiring) were missing. Once replaced the brakes only had to be bled to centre the Pressure Differential Warning Actuator

(Have you ever wondered how a servo works?)