That is pretty simple to answer. If the manufacturer put a servo (booster) in the system, it becomes a brake system component. Remove it and you are changing the design.

Al

Ah geez ok I'll clarify since it seems necessary: a booster on a 7.5" or greater disk braked mini will not increase braking ability.

The servo (booster) will not necessarily improve the brakes but it will decrease required pedal pressure which could improve stopping distances.

Al

Ummm..no. Assuming you can lock the wheels without a booster (and it's not that hard) then a booster simply will not increase your braking potential or decrease your stopping distance.

as I say to people when they hop in my car to have a drive - no booster, so you need to "commit" to the brakes, it's no good just waving your foot in the general direction of the brake pedal - you've gotta actually push on it...

my 13yo daughter doesn't have too much trouble stopping the car, but I've been thinking about putting it back on - don't have any room though

Depending on the vehicle it may very hard or even impossible to lock the brakes without a booster.
Even fitting the old racing favourite DS11 pads and modern sticky wide tyres to a Cooper S on a grippy track can reduce the drivers ability to reach the point of locking wheels. So a booster may shorten the braking distance considerably.

FFS I'll repeat it. I'm talking about a mini. I also spelt it out in the previous post and said assuming you can lock etc

You guys seem determined to introduce confusion into what should not be a confusing topic.

And I am just pointing out that even in a Mini you may not be able to lock the damn wheels so a booster may in fact stop you better.

I'd be really really surprised if that was the case though.

Not really that hard on a stock single leading shoe 850 or even a 997 Cooper.

OK now I know you're winding me up.....nobody's that obtuse

SMAC, why are you being aggressive? Are you frustrated because you don't explain yourself well? Take a look back, there is not too much that says this post is Mini only. Replies have been of a general nature, you are the only one that seems to think it is Mini only.

Al
(who will see you in Napier no doubt )

Making the trip up in Oct? Good for you.

Not intentionally aggressive, just frustrated when somebody comes looking for an opinion and gets a bunch of sometimes misleading, and sometimes just plain incorrect info. This post has always been quite plainly in reference to minis. Apologies if I sounded upset, I feel I've been more than clear, and yet there were repeated attempts to provide info that could easily be misconstrued by the original poster to mean that a booster would help them stop faster. In this scenario, the one we're talking about in this thread, here and now, it won't.

I liken a brake booster to power steering (obviously not talking Minis here).

Whether you have power steering or not the turning circle and other steering characteristics are the same. In normal conditions on a road (not track) I feel I have more precise control steering a car with power assistance because I don't have to wrench the wheel - I can turn the steering wheel without having to grip it firmly and without having to exert a lot of arm strength. My arms don't ache at the end of a trip. Aching arms result in less control.

Same with power brakes. Without them more leg pressure is required and, for me, it's harder to be precise about the degree of pressure and hence stopping distance if I'm simply stomping on them. Again I'm talking normal stop-start driving on streets, not competition.

_________________
ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

SMAC, I have looked back here and there is nothing anywhere in the past posts that is wrong or ill advised. Put plainly, there may be problems with eliminating a component from a system design if the compliancing or certifying officer picks up on it.

Secondly, a brake servo or booster may well improve the braking or brake feel in some applications, including a Mini with whatever sized brakes. Personal choice I think and that point has been made several times. I don't see why anything has angered or frustrated you, no need for that.

Regards
Al
(who will be there in October, for sure)