Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> ID this brake part?
Charles Freeborn
post Apr 22 2026, 03:40 PM
Post #1


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Can anyone ID this brake part? It's inline to the front brakes only. I've never seen such a thing. My pal Eric at PMB thinks it's a residual pressure regulator meant to keep some brake pressure on tap for a firmer pedal... News to me...



Attached Image

Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
Replies(1 - 18)
stownsen914
post Apr 27 2026, 07:06 AM
Post #2


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,020
Joined: 3-October 06
From: Ossining, NY
Member No.: 6,985
Region Association: None
That thing looks like a Safety Braker. In the 70s, people put them on sports cars and racecars. Not sure if they did much really, and it's probably old enough I wonder if it works anymore.

Found this reference:
http://ftp.team.net/html/vintage-race/2005-09/msg00027.html
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Charles Freeborn
post May 2 2026, 10:32 AM
Post #3


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
QUOTE(stownsen914 @ Apr 27 2026, 06:06 AM) *

That thing looks like a Safety Braker. In the 70s, people put them on sports cars and racecars. Not sure if they did much really, and it's probably old enough I wonder if it works anymore.

Found this reference:
http://ftp.team.net/html/vintage-race/2005-09/msg00027.html



That tracks. Car was converted to race shortly after it was delivered new in '72(ish).

It's only on the front brake circuit.

Maybe over winter I'll pull it and see if it's "rebuildable".

Thanks for the info.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post May 3 2026, 03:06 PM
Post #4


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,275
Joined: 12-September 04
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
Safety Braker... theres a couple of post somewhere .. my 1997 last raced 914 racer has em too
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post May 6 2026, 08:32 AM
Post #5


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,275
Joined: 12-September 04
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post May 6 2026, 08:34 AM
Post #6


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,275
Joined: 12-September 04
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post May 6 2026, 08:40 AM
Post #7


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,275
Joined: 12-September 04
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
similar dif. manufacture .. one on each rear.. big Outlaw calipers..
https://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chassis_suspension/lbs.htm


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Charles Freeborn
post May 6 2026, 08:47 PM
Post #8


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
There's my answer... So... anyone had one apart? Is it A.) worth keeping and B.) rebuildable / serviceable?
Thx!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post May 18 2026, 12:56 PM
Post #9


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,275
Joined: 12-September 04
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
Garretson Enterprises 1977


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jd74914
post May 19 2026, 09:12 AM
Post #10


Its alive
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,881
Joined: 16-February 04
From: CT
Member No.: 1,659
Region Association: North East States
Interesting...

Can someone explain to me what it is? The links make it seem like a hydraulic pulsation damper? Is that true?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
GregAmy
post May 20 2026, 06:39 AM
Post #11


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,682
Joined: 22-February 13
From: Middletown CT
Member No.: 15,565
Region Association: North East States
It's basically an air-assisted pressure damper/accumulator, used to dampen the pulses of a non-perfectly-flat rotor. It's really a bit of old technology and, if I may offer, a bit toward the "tornado intake twister for better fuel economy" JC Whitney sorta thing. I suggest it will give you a much more nebulous pedal (which you can do on your own...)

The general concept is useful but I find the declaration that "I have never had a wheel lock up under braking with them on the cars" to be a bit...specious.

Simply my opinion, of course.

I found this old article on how the general idea works, technically, when installed on larger trucks and RVs:

https://web.archive.org/web/20060317215937/...arts/bguard.htm
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Charles Freeborn
post May 20 2026, 10:22 AM
Post #12


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Properly mated with a synchronized flux capacitor one's performance could be... well... stellar...
This whole brake project of mine was kicked off because of a soft brake pedal, which I attributed to an undersized MC (19mm) and the big brakes it wears. Maybe this was contributing too. It is, after all, over 40 years old (closer to 50), so whatever is going on in there is likely crusty. Now is the time to either rebuild it or pull it out altogether. Film at 11.

PS, The company got itself into substantial hot water with the FTC over its claims of improved brake performance.... sigh... but I do still think those JC Whitney spark plugs made my go-kart go faster..
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
GregAmy
post May 20 2026, 12:52 PM
Post #13


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,682
Joined: 22-February 13
From: Middletown CT
Member No.: 15,565
Region Association: North East States
QUOTE(Charles Freeborn @ May 20 2026, 11:22 AM) *
This whole brake project of mine was kicked off because of a soft brake pedal...Maybe this was contributing too.

Well, if the device is functioning as designed, then it actually is adding compressible air to the hydraulic braking system -- separated by a diaphragm.

But if it has failed internally then it's possible that there's air trapped inside it that's un-bleed-able.

If it were me, I'd remove it entirely.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Ninja
post May 20 2026, 01:37 PM
Post #14


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 233
Joined: 25-September 25
From: Granbury Texas
Member No.: 29,004
Region Association: Southwest Region
QUOTE(GregAmy @ May 20 2026, 07:39 AM) *

It's basically an air-assisted pressure damper/accumulator, used to dampen the pulses of a non-perfectly-flat rotor. It's really a bit of old technology and, if I may offer, a bit toward the "tornado intake twister for better fuel economy" JC Whitney sorta thing. I suggest it will give you a much more nebulous pedal (which you can do on your own...)



That is the best description of one of those I've ever read! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

Love the "Tornado" comment. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

I wouldn't leave that puppy on anything, especially my sports car!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Charles Freeborn
post May 21 2026, 08:32 AM
Post #15


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
QUOTE(GregAmy @ May 20 2026, 11:52 AM) *

QUOTE(Charles Freeborn @ May 20 2026, 11:22 AM) *
This whole brake project of mine was kicked off because of a soft brake pedal...Maybe this was contributing too.

Well, if the device is functioning as designed, then it actually is adding compressible air to the hydraulic braking system -- separated by a diaphragm.

But if it has failed internally then it's possible that there's air trapped inside it that's un-bleed-able.

If it were me, I'd remove it entirely.



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

My current thought too.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Charles Freeborn
post May 22 2026, 03:58 PM
Post #16


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Here's the 411 on the "SafetyBraker"

Inside the housing is a piston that's pushed by brake fluid pressure. It bears down on a rubber gizmo, which in the case of mine is hard as a rock. There's an o-ring which I assume is meant to keep brake fluid only on the wet side of the piston. I guess there's air around the rubber plug thing, but really the resistance / dampening is done by the rubber plug. BTW, the o-ring on mine has been leaking so the rubber plug side of things was also wet.
There you have it. Analog ABS at it's finest... needless to say I'm removing it...

Attached Image

PS... for sale... guaranteed to do either something amazing or nothing at all. No lo-ballers - I know what I've got...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Ninja
post May 22 2026, 04:37 PM
Post #17


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 233
Joined: 25-September 25
From: Granbury Texas
Member No.: 29,004
Region Association: Southwest Region
Thanks for the autopsy and the comments...

This thread has made me laugh my ass off a couple of times now!

You should make a for sale add anyways.

Apply some more of that humor please!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
GregAmy
post May 23 2026, 06:05 AM
Post #18


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,682
Joined: 22-February 13
From: Middletown CT
Member No.: 15,565
Region Association: North East States
Fantastic! I've never seen the inside of those...interesting that the opposition on yours is basically a rubber shock bump stop.

I mean, it wasn't a hateful idea in context but, well...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Charles Freeborn
post May 24 2026, 09:12 AM
Post #19


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 342
Joined: 21-May 14
From: United States
Member No.: 17,377
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
QUOTE(GregAmy @ May 23 2026, 05:05 AM) *

Fantastic! I've never seen the inside of those...interesting that the opposition on yours is basically a rubber shock bump stop.

I mean, it wasn't a hateful idea in context but, well...


There is some logic to the idea. I'm not sure if the "one size fits all" rubber bumper gives any tuneability to it, but I'm likely overthinking... again...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · The Paddock · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Switch to: Standard · Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 4th July 2026 - 08:06 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2026  IPS, Inc.
...
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...