Went flying last night and when I landed at home, I noticed my left brake felt a little soft. No fluid eaking anywhere so I am assuming the O-rings in the master cylinder are needing replacement. WHile looking for the rebuild kit, I noticed that Matco has an 'intensifier kit' that supposedly increases pressure by 60%. Having installed 29" Bushwheels, a little more braking force would be nice.

Has anyone installed the intensifier kit in their Matco MC-4A master cylinders? Asking your opinion on what you experienced for improved braking and if the modification was much better.

Yes well worth it .
Doug

brown bear wrote:Yes well worth it .
Doug

Thank you Doug!!

First question I’d ask is: Are the brake master cylinders vented? If not, I’d pass.

The North River brake boosters are unvented brake boosters. I know of one really nice airplane wrecked with those. They do work, but if they’re topped off and temps change, you can have a locked brake.

This is the reason I installed Steve’s boosters on my Cub.

MTV

Matco only makes vented type master cylinders.. the intensifier is simple a sleeve insert with new piston that makes the bore smaller.. Smaller bore equals more pressure with less volume displacement.. Pretty ingenious actually..

Brian

We have the intensifier as well as 2 brake calipers per wheel. We found the single caliper too weak for 29” Bushwheels. We like to have brakes, don’t have to use them all but nice to have them there when you need them.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll order a set. Cost is definitely minimal compared to most aircraft parts.

Sounds familiar. Poor braking in my ‘54 180. Any tip or suggestion on installing the Matco Brake Intensifier? I see in the instruction you may have to adjust the length of the sleeve. Best way to do that?

Kbinmxy wrote:Sounds familiar. Poor braking in my ‘54 180. Any tip or suggestion on installing the Matco Brake Intensifier? I see in the instruction you may have to adjust the length of the sleeve. Best way to do that?

Never heard of anyone doing this on a Cessna master cylinder.
Master cylinder issues are usually bad o-rings or a bad lock-o-seal.
Poor braking is often caliper related.
What wheels & brakes are you running?
I've got double puck Clevelands on my 180 (kit # 199-62) and they work great.

I talked to George at Matco and he said that they didn’t make an intensifier for the 180 specifically. I had the brake cylinders rebuilt a while back but didn’t improve the braking.I’ve go braided steel lines on the gear legs going to the calipers. I guess I’ll have to go through the master cylinders again although the pedal are firm, not spongy. Or maybe put another Cleveland double puck caliper on the wheel as yours suggested. How do you get two torque plates mounted on the axle to accommodate the extra caliper?
Thanks

My 180 has Cleveland double puck brakes and wheel. I had the same problem with a C-185 I owned and operated commercially in the backcountry in Alaska for years. Just go used to it. With 29” tires the double pucks just don’t work as well as they should. Anyway, looking for a solution.

Kbinmxy wrote:..... maybe put another Cleveland double puck caliper on the wheel as yours suggested. How do you get two torque plates mounted on the axle to accommodate the extra caliper? Thanks

I think you misunderstood me--
I have a single p/n 30-52 double-puck caliper at each wheel.
My 180 is fitted with a standard p/n 199-62 wheel & brake kit.