Looking for a different kind of Power...

Hi guys and gals,
I just returned from looking at a 83SC. I'd really like to buy this car, but didn't make the fellow an offer. What bothers me is this: It didn't have power steering or power brakes. I asked the owner, and he said it didn't come with them. I've a hard time believing a car that has power windows, elect. sunroof and cruise doesn't have power brakes and steering. So- my question is were these standard and are now broken, or can this porsche neophyte posting here just not be aware of what should exist as standard equip?

Thanks

Lee

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Lee Hamner of Knoxville, TN
1994 Mazda Miata
2000 (1965) FFR Cobra

It may be that the owner of the car you looked at isn't that knowledgeable about his car's inner workings, especially brakes, but the SC's do have power brakes! The owner was most likely just not aware of that aspect of the braking system. If it wasn't working properly, both you and the owner would have noticed during a test drive!

But, no, neither the SC's or any other 911 or Turbo (prior to '90) had power steering, or needed it, either, since it has no engine up front, and probably the most sensitive steering ever put on a car with four wheels ... for the street!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Not sure about SC's, Warren, but my car certainly does not have power brakes. There is a lot more effort required at the pedal to stop the car than, say, my Escort. And there's no change in brake feel whether the engine is running or not.

Of course there's no power steering. It's a sports car.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

I understood the SCs and the Carrera's have servo assisted. Not sure about power assisted.

Nick
my .02

As far as I am aware, all 911s from 1976 on had power brakes. That is what the big black servo attached to the master cylinder in the front trunk is for.

Now for a trickier question. My car has been "upgraded" to servo brakes, but it sure doesn't feel like it. Why would my brakes feel pretty good but require a lot of pedal pressure, or is this normal?

Could it be that the servo assistance is not working properly?

Any thoughts?

Cam

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Cameron Baudinet
1975 911S

the big black thick saucer that the brake master cylinder is bolted to is a vacuum actuated power assist unit. I've heard them called 'servo' but am not sure what power brakes would entail other than this vacuum system. It seems to be on basically ALL CARS.

I was flattered by someone's recent (few weeks ago) post lauding SC brakes. I'd agree. The brakes on my car kick butt. If the driver needs to use a lot of pressure on the pedal, there may be something wrong with the brake vacuum booster. They should work very well. It takes a littel more pressure than many newer cars, but still not much.

It would be soemwhat difficult and unnecessary to put power steering in a 911. Bad ideal actually. Yes, you have to drive with your hands on the wheel. Jim Morrison said so and it's the way to drive a car. He was right about the eyes on the road part too.

My car is teaching me to be a better driver. I LOVE my '83 SC, Lee. It's my daily thrill.

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'83 SC

I also understand that pre 90 911s have power assist brakes. I just changed the fluid in my system to ATE Blue, and made sure there were no air bubbles at all. The brakes now fill like a million bucks. It cut about 4% off of my last autocross times.

some owners removed the power assist servos to get the real feel

90 and up 911s c2s have power steering necessary as the cars got heavier

I have a '76 Coupe ("Rest of the world" spec), and I am pretty sure that its the latest model w/o power brakes (and I love it BTW).
From '76 onwards, all models had power brakes, I think working not with a servo but with vacuum assistance, like all other kind of cars of these years (VW, BMW, Benz). I don't know about 964 and following.

Having an SC w/o assisted brakes is definitely strange, but if the system is running well, I would not be afraid of. You need more "feet pressure", but according to the specs, the braking performance is nearly the same. But check on a test stand before buying!

Jens