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Author Topic: Faulty Brake Servo  (Read 9553 times)

Offline chrism3

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Faulty Brake Servo
« on: July 27, 2017, 10:14:43 am »
Hi all,

I'm pretty sure my brake servo is leaking. I hear a constant hissing noise in the cabin until I press the brake pedal where it goes away.

Would this vacuum leak be affecting performance and MPG? Is it essentially a boost leak? My MPG is pretty dire at the moment, around 20 average.

People that have had this replaced, what did you pay?

Thanks

Offline Paradox1

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2017, 10:51:54 am »
had a friend with the same issue on a S3, I think he paid 5-600 for it, fit and supply

Offline chrism3

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2017, 10:58:36 am »
Do you know if he noticed an improvement in MPG and performance when it was done?

Offline pudding

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2017, 10:59:39 am »
My ED30 has been doing that for 3 years.  Bought the servo from VW ages ago to do the job (approx. £200 iirc) but haven't got around to it yet.

It's not a boost leak as there is a check valve in the servo line.  It is a slight vacuum leak the intake will see though, and it is VERY slight.   My long term idle fuel trim is 2.3% and long term part throttle is 0%, so that's pretty much why I'm stalling on it, it's not affecting anything. 

Only worth doing if the hissing noise pisses you off.  It did me at first, but I got used to ignoring it.

It's a big job.  Engine has to be moved out of the way to get access to it.  Can be done DIY with an engine hoist.  Remove the driver's side driveshaft, dogbone and driver's engine mount, remove downpipe.......strap engine to the crane, lift it up a bit and walk it forwards towards the radiator.  That might give you enough room.  If not, it'll be a front end off job as well.

Complete pain in the arse mate.


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline chrism3

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2017, 11:10:32 am »
Yeah i've seen a few guides which are looking pretty scary.

So you don't think this issue will affect performance or MPG at all?

I do have a very slight miss on idle which I thought might be related as when I press the brake pedal im sure it goes away or improves at least.

Also I drove my friends 2.0tsfi TT the other day and his brakes felt far stronger than mine with a firmer pedal feel.

Offline chrism3

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2017, 11:17:39 am »
Also just called VW. They wont quote me for the job until I go in for a £75 checkup *sigh*

Offline Paradox1

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2017, 11:20:22 am »
Also just called VW. They wont quote me for the job until I go in for a £75 checkup *sigh*
Going to VW was your first mistake lol

Call an Independent garage for a quote. or call a few and choose from there

Offline pudding

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2017, 11:34:46 am »
Yeah i've seen a few guides which are looking pretty scary.

So you don't think this issue will affect performance or MPG at all?

I do have a very slight miss on idle which I thought might be related as when I press the brake pedal im sure it goes away or improves at least.

Also I drove my friends 2.0tsfi TT the other day and his brakes felt far stronger than mine with a firmer pedal feel.

If it does, it will be a very small improvement.  I don't personally care about mpg as it's tuned.  It still averages 27mpg running 300 ish hp which I'm happy with.

Yep, my brakes feel inconsistent too.  Sharp one minute, not so sharp the next.  Mine also occasionally misfires as well and it's had new injectors and a walnut blast, so it's probably all related to the servo.

AKS quoted me around the £500 mark to replace it.  I think that was including the part too, I can't remember.



2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline chrism3

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2017, 11:40:09 am »
Also just called VW. They wont quote me for the job until I go in for a £75 checkup *sigh*
Going to VW was your first mistake lol

Call an Independent garage for a quote. or call a few and choose from there

I would normally avoid dealerships like the plague, however this job requires specialist tools and knowledge so I just thought i'd get a quote to compare. Looks like thats not going to happen!

Offline pudding

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2017, 12:39:46 pm »
Also just called VW. They wont quote me for the job until I go in for a £75 checkup *sigh*
Going to VW was your first mistake lol

Call an Independent garage for a quote. or call a few and choose from there

I would normally avoid dealerships like the plague, however this job requires specialist tools and knowledge so I just thought i'd get a quote to compare. Looks like thats not going to happen!

The only special tool required (T10159) is for unhooking the servo rod's ball end clip from the brake pedal, but apparently some folk have managed without it.

Looks to be a cheap tool though. https://www.amazon.com/CTA-Tools-1437-Brake-Release/dp/B00VX0C2W0



2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline Juliand

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2017, 02:45:55 pm »
What a flippin' ball ache.....the more I discover on here re-inforces my concerns about VW egineering /design.

I thought that I was buying into a well thought through design and quality build, but I read about sooo many problems. Is it just the GTI??? Am I just looking on my previous cars from BMW (E46 330; E46 M3) and Porsche (911 / 996 C4S) with rose tinted specs?? They were all new cars kept for about 3 years each, but no problems like I see here........ :thinking:

Offline pudding

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2017, 03:37:59 pm »
What a flippin' ball ache.....the more I discover on here re-inforces my concerns about VW egineering /design.

I thought that I was buying into a well thought through design and quality build, but I read about sooo many problems. Is it just the GTI??? Am I just looking on my previous cars from BMW (E46 330; E46 M3) and Porsche (911 / 996 C4S) with rose tinted specs?? They were all new cars kept for about 3 years each, but no problems like I see here........ :thinking:

New as in brand new?  I think you were just fortunate enough to not need any work doing on them, because they were so new?

The M3 and the 911s are probably built more pragmatically, being enthusiast grade cars that require some hand finishing/building.  Check out the 911 Exclusive Edition factory tour video on YouTube to get a flavor of that  :smiley:

By comparison, the Golf is thrown together for volume sales but one thing is true of most car makers - the engineers, designers and dealers never seem to talk to each other.   It's how we end up in situations like this.  Some crazy arsed bent bit of metal being required to remove a sodding clip!!  :grin:  Proper after thought job that, and zero consideration given to the guys who have to fix these cars.

For me personally, I don't mind the quirkiness.  I like the challenge.  Cars that don't test me, bore me.  It's like Clarkson banging on about cars with no flaws are hard to develop a 'relationship' with.  Not many people like him or his approach, but I do know where he's coming from.  The cars I've enjoyed the most are the ones I had a love/hate relationship with.

The GTI was the first mass produced car, afaik, to use direct injection.  New technologies often have teething problems, and the benefit of enthusiast groups like this one is they are all well documented.  Stupid stuff like the brake pedal and moving the engine to get at a brake servo is an inexcusable waste of peoples time, but that's just how it is.  Pack 'em, rack 'em and stack 'em.  They don't give a toss because it only has to last the warranty period, and then they want you to crush it and buy a new one.

Having said all that, I've had German cars since 1990 and they're largely as bad as each other.  Who'd have thought M3s would suffer from cracked floors due to M division underestimating the loads in that area?  M division f'cking up......unheard of!  But it's a thing, and is now documented and fixable.  I haven't really seen anything so utterly ridiculous in the GTI, that makes me want to sell it yet  :happy2:



2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline mkmg76

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #12 on: July 27, 2017, 03:59:10 pm »
What a flippin' ball ache.....the more I discover on here re-inforces my concerns about VW egineering /design.

I thought that I was buying into a well thought through design and quality build, but I read about sooo many problems. Is it just the GTI??? Am I just looking on my previous cars from BMW (E46 330; E46 M3) and Porsche (911 / 996 C4S) with rose tinted specs?? They were all new cars kept for about 3 years each, but no problems like I see here........ :thinking:

New as in brand new?  I think you were just fortunate enough to not need any work doing on them, because they were so new?

The M3 and the 911s are probably built more pragmatically, being enthusiast grade cars that require some hand finishing/building.  Check out the 911 Exclusive Edition factory tour video on YouTube to get a flavor of that  :smiley:

By comparison, the Golf is thrown together for volume sales but one thing is true of most car makers - the engineers, designers and dealers never seem to talk to each other.   It's how we end up in situations like this.  Some crazy arsed bent bit of metal being required to remove a sodding clip!!  :grin:  Proper after thought job that, and zero consideration given to the guys who have to fix these cars.

For me personally, I don't mind the quirkiness.  I like the challenge.  Cars that don't test me, bore me.  It's like Clarkson banging on about cars with no flaws are hard to develop a 'relationship' with.  Not many people like him or his approach, but I do know where he's coming from.  The cars I've enjoyed the most are the ones I had a love/hate relationship with.

The GTI was the first mass produced car, afaik, to use direct injection.  New technologies often have teething problems, and the benefit of enthusiast groups like this one is they are all well documented.  Stupid stuff like the brake pedal and moving the engine to get at a brake servo is an inexcusable waste of peoples time, but that's just how it is.  Pack 'em, rack 'em and stack 'em.  They don't give a toss because it only has to last the warranty period, and then they want you to crush it and buy a new one.

Having said all that, I've had German cars since 1990 and they're largely as bad as each other.  Who'd have thought M3s would suffer from cracked floors due to M division underestimating the loads in that area?  M division f'cking up......unheard of!  But it's a thing, and is now documented and fixable.  I haven't really seen anything so utterly ridiculous in the GTI, that makes me want to sell it yet  :happy2:

Agree with all of that!!  :happy2:

Offline pudding

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2017, 04:05:23 pm »
One thing I forgot to mention about the brake servo situation is it's a punishment for being British.  Left hand drive Golfs don't have this problem as it's above the gearbox and easy to get out  :happy2:


2007 ED30 | 2009 TDI 140 | 2016 BMW 330D

Offline mkmg76

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Re: Faulty Brake Servo
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2017, 04:16:16 pm »
One thing I forgot to mention about the brake servo situation is it's a punishment for being British.  Left hand drive Golfs don't have this problem as it's above the gearbox and easy to get out  :happy2:

Ahem............and Irish.