Brake Servo Hose
 

Some of you will recall Chesters6 pointing out that my brake servo hose was looking a tad past it's best in this photo (taken for another thread):

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...0240/PCV21.jpg

The perished looking one to the right of the pic attached to the air intake manifold.
Well at long last I have received a new pipe, and yes with the two side by side, the old is very tatty!
My daughter collected it for me on her way home from work, so it has literally just
arrived here.
It is an original piece from Pemzec Volvo in Vannes at 24,76€ and is long enough to make two, so will have a piece for back up should I ever need it.
I shall fit it tomorrow and will snap a pic or two just to show how bad the old one is.
If these pipes do fail, then brakes fail too, or at best braking efficiency is majorly reduced.
I really hadn't noticed my one perishing, so if you haven't noticed yours, do have a peek next time you are tinkering:thumbs_up:

Its not so much the outside but it would be interesting before you bin the old one to take a peek at the inside:thumbs_up:

Yes, me too, will do!

While you have the hose disconnected it would be worth blowing down it into the servo to check that the non return valve is working. If it leaks it won't hold vacuum properly.
Finally when you start up, keep your foot on the brake pedal and it should rise as the vacuum builds up. That means the servo is working properly.

Right, job done:
Another pic of my worn hose:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...0/db71d9ad.png

I first removed the air intake manifold end of the pipe. Just release the spring clip, slide it back and then twist and pull. I then blew into it S per Cliffords advice. My non-return valve is solid :thumbs_up:

The old pipe, although dry and perished externally looked okay internally.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...0/6dd99f55.png
Still flexing, but compared to the new one very dry and 'stiff'
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...0/84dbad52.png
Finally the new one in place. I replaced the old spring clips with new jubilee type ones.
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...0/b3a18e5b.png
Note the cable ties on the accelerator cable to help support it. I used the old ones by slipping the old pipe out and the new in.
Foot on the pedal, again as per Cliffords post whilst starting confirmed all is well with the servo.
Another job by ticked off of the list.

mine was the opposite fine on the outside but almost closed on the inside right by the metal pipe it connects to ,i presume the vibration hastened its demise

I've asked for this to be put over to articles. Not so much for the how too side of things ( although Cliffords tips make it worthwhile) as it is quite simple. But thought it worthy of 'articles' even it only serves as a reminder to us all:thumbs_up:

Hi all..took a trip up to oxford from canterbury yesterday for a friends party..The car ran like a dream all the way there..my very last braking as i parked up the old bus found me with a rock solid brake pedal and no brakes..about twenty minutes later tested brakes and they had returned..After reading this useful thread i checked the hose and yes it was almost completely blocked..(collapsed inner wall one end)..It seemed the heat from under the bonnet and age reduced this pipe to almost a putty..I shudder to think what might have happened if i had of been coming off a motorway slip road to meet a roundabout..My bad and straight down to main dealers tomorrow.With the nature of the issue and intermittance could it be anything other than just the hose.?.Cheers hj.

Hi..after my interesting trip to oxford and replacing servo hose i have a few symptons which i would like to put forward to you guys..Firstly brakes work fine but to be honest i"m a gentle driver so perhaps something more acute is called for..as clifford suggested start car with foot on pedal and pedal should rise..I have to say mine did not in fact it may have dropped a little?..and while car was ticking over i pressed pedal several times quite firm and this made the engine grunt and lumpy which cleared when pressure was released..finally..i pumped brakes with engine off until brake pedal was at its upper point and firm..then started engine and pedal dropped down to usual position..I"m confident the brakes are working..but how efficient..well i would like to hear your opinions before next move..thanks all..hj.

That's a good question HJ, like you I look forward to a learned reply which will no doubt arise.
If it helps, when I did the 'Clifford test' lol, I could feel it push as the pressure built. No great pressure mind. My peace of mind, using the quiet lanes was to do a few emergency stops. Tank stops on a ninepence! Certainly not difficult to lock up the rears:thumbs_up:
If yours is similar I'd go with it. If not, when was your fluid last changed?
good luck