Hard brake pedal....what to look for ??

**rijidij** · 25th April 2011, 08:48 PM

Over the last few weeks the brake pedal on my '96 300Tdi 130 has gradually got harder. I thought it might be the Vac pump on it's way out as I'd heard they do fail, but I took the vac line off the booster and there seems to be good suction there still.
Would I be correct in suspecting the problem might be a split diaphragm in the booster ? What else should I be looking for ?
Just wanted to ask the question before pulling anything apart.

Cheers, Murray

**mechanic2you** · 25th April 2011, 09:30 PM

Hey

Sounds like you have either a vacum pump/line, check valve or booster problem.
Check the level of vacum at the cabin side of the check valve, if ok suspect the booster.

Hope this helps

Peter

**Bushie** · 26th April 2011, 09:44 AM

Cracks in the booster adjacent to the master cylinder bolts.

If it turns out to be the booster, don't go after market Bleeding Defender Brakes - Any secrets ?

Martyn

**Bazzle218** · 27th April 2011, 09:29 PM

I had the same symptons turne out to be the booster, It can be removed and fitted without fully removing the master cylinder. A bit of effort and pull it out ( the master cyl) of the way without disconnecting all the pipes.

**Bushie** · 27th April 2011, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Bazzle218

I had the same symptons turne out to be the booster, It can be removed and fitted without fully removing the master cylinder. A bit of effort and pull it out ( the master cyl) of the way without disconnecting all the pipes.

Tried that over the weekend, buggered if I could get enough room

Martyn

**rijidij** · 27th April 2011, 10:32 PM

Thanks for the replies,
The most difficult part is finding the time to start pulling stuff off. It looks like my alternator is playing up too. Bad things happen in three's don't they ? What else is gunna break

Cheers, Murray

**wrinklearthur** · 27th April 2011, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by rijidij

Thanks for the replies,
The most difficult part is finding the time to start pulling stuff off. It looks like my alternator is playing up too. Bad things happen in three's don't they ? What else is gunna break

Cheers, Murray

Hi Murray

Be careful mentioning the word alternator around here, as there are some under currents !!

I have an intermittant problem with my brakes going hard briefly, then working fine for weeks.
Do we just jack up the number plates and then roll another Land Rover underneath ?

Cheers Arthur

**Warby** · 7th December 2015, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by mechanic2you

Hey

Sounds like you have either a vacum pump/line, check valve or booster problem.
Check the level of vacum at the cabin side of the check valve, if ok suspect the booster.

Hope this helps

Peter

So drove out of my mechanics yard in my TD5 Defender & only realised the issue when I needed to STOP!!! Hard as a rock brake pedal & no Stopping power... Pumped brakes about 2mm of travel... got home 'slowly'
Started the googling process.... found the hissing noise... my mechanic had inadvertently knocked the vacuum hose away from the T section... problem solved and no $$$ spent. Many thanks

**JDNSW** · 7th December 2015, 01:52 PM

I agree with bushie - most likely the booster.

John

**rijidij** · 7th December 2015, 07:32 PM

I never followed up this thread after I fixed it.

Yes, it was a cracked booster, just like Bushie suggested. Fitted a new one and brakes are better than ever. I suspect it had a crack slowly increasing in size over a long time as the brakes were never as good as now as long as I've had the car.

Cheers, Murray

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