servo

[londonron]

have identified my van brake problem as the servo, if you pump brakes they fade and end up crashing the van like i did before xmass in ireland.
anyone know what other cars have the same one

[francophile1947]

I'm no brake expert, but can't see why a servo would cause the brakes to fail If the servo fails the brakes should still work, but you really need to push the pedal hard. As I understand it, the servo just takes the hard work out of braking and allows the use of harder linings. Be interesting to see what more knowledgeable people have to say.

[missfixit70]

When I've let mine roll forward on my driveway without starting it, after the first application of the brakes, you really have to stand on the brakes to slow it, let alone stop. I'd imagine if you were doing normal road speeds & the servo went, it'd feel like you had no brakes, the same as if you hadn't turned on the ignition.
Ron it may be worth pming Harry for a servo as he's breaking his bongo, but you may have to wait a week or 2 as I think he's been a bit busy rescuing people
I certainly wouldn't drive it until it's sorted if you have a known braking problem.

[londonron]

brakes work if you applied them once and press, lift off and press again and again and you then lose them, wait a moment and they are back. so im saying its the servo.

[Trouble at t'Mill]

It's a 'funny' thing about servo-assisted items such as brakes and steering.

Yes, they are meant to 'assist', and the items are still meant to 'work' without them, but - have you tried turning power-assisted steering rack without the, er, power? Crazily, it's far more difficult than normal unassisted steering.

Ditto with brakes.

I guess there must be a logical reason, but it's as tho' the manufacturer first makes it harder to use, and then fits a servo! (Ok, I know it's not really like that...)

As said above, the brakes should still have been working, but requires such effort that it feels to the unwary that it simply doesn't. Similarly, if one of the dual circuits fail, the pedal virtually touches the floor before anything happens - and what does happen is not very effective!

[helen&tony]

Hi
The handbrake warning light also will (or should) light if there is either
1/. loss of fluid
2/. loss of vacuum
Cheers
Helen

[bongosailor]

When you pump the pedal it finishes up touching the floor, I'd say it was the master cylinder, if the pedal just got harder to press, then servo.

[dandywarhol]

I agree with sailor bhoy

[missfixit70]

Just get the whole lot off Harry anyway.