[Mike]

Andrew Curtis called me this afternoon, on a real high, to say how thrilled he is with the new Dual 7" servo in his BMW Sportster set up. He is another person who says it has "transformed" his car.

Whilst Andrew's call echoed GOO's comments, and those of Alan Hogg, the difference this time is that Andrew has access to a disused airfield behind his farm, so he has been out and conducted some "semi-scientific" tests. The results were quite startling.

Travelling at a constant 70mph, he braked at a fixed marker point, and measured the travel distance before coming to a complete stop.
The average stopping distance of the 4 tests with the original Metro servo was 210 feet, braking as hard as he could.

Under the same conditions with the new Dual 7" servo the average distance was 103 feet, without having to try as hard.

Out of interest Andrew then tried to brake as though in an emergency, standing on the brakes: the front wheels could be made to lock upand the stopping distance was 85 feet.
This latter test was a one off though as he did not care to waste his tyres, but felt he knew now there was a point at which the wheels would lock up at the front.

Not only is he thrilled with the improvement in stopping distance, but with the 'feel' that he now has too. He feels he can brake hard in control without excessive pressure. The emrgency stop required significant effort, and he did not happen without knowing that he was braking very hard. In an absolute emergency it was possible to make the brakes slow the car to its maximum if required.

These are the first empirical tests which actually put numbers to the improvement we anticipated for the benefits of changing the Metro servo for the Dual 7" servo.

Andrew has fitted the Ford 22mm master cylinder, with standard BMW brake components, and piped it up as per his original set up, with only two outlets being used: one to the rear, and on to the front.

He was so pleased he wanted to tell everyone how good it is!! And to thank everyone involved in bringing the project about.

I am obviously pleased for Andrew, and it confirms what GOO has experienced is now being repeated by others, both in the Ford and BMW set ups.

It is interesting he made the oft repeated decision to buy a new Metro servo as he felt his old one must have been under performing! How manyof us have gone round that circle?

For the rest of us with cars still to be put on the road, and who will never experience the limitations of the Metro servo performance, I think this shows it has been a very worthwhile upgrade: and at a very reasonable cost.
Many thanks to all who have been involved and offered encouragement or joined the project to help make it happen.

Hopefully this brings the quest for better brakes to an end.

Mike