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

[rijidij]

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]

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]

Cracks in the booster adjacent to the master cylinder bolts.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/09/15.jpg

If it turns out to be the booster, don't go after market http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/124678-bleeding-defender-brakes-any-secrets.html#post1468807



Martyn

[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.

[Bushie]

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 :mad::mad:


Martyn

[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 :eek:

Cheers, Murray

[wrinklearthur]

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 :eek:

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]

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]

I agree with bushie - most likely the booster.

John

[rijidij]

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

[Babs]

Murray you can now get back to making those rear wheel carriers, I'm waiting on one, Daniel Mulgo told me three months. Eeeek

Stop playing with ya 300 and back to the Grind Stone. Ha ha ha 😀

All jokes aside, happy you found the problem and is all good.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[rijidij]

Murray you can now get back to making those rear wheel carriers, I'm waiting on one, Daniel Mulgo told me three months. Eeeek

Stop playing with ya 300 and back to the Grind Stone. Ha ha ha 😀

All jokes aside, happy you found the problem and is all good.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

The grind stone has never spun so fast :D For the first time I've got an extra pair of hands working on them at the moment, so hopefully they'll be done sooner than later.

Cheers, Murray

[dromader driver]

Rijidij,

did you get an intermittent brake warning light when the booster started leaking? Mine is playing up and trying to fault find vis electrical or mechanical.
:cool: