1988 240 - Hard brakes

Volgrrr · Post by **Volgrrr** » 24 Jan 2008, 04:22

My 240 station wagon has always had tremendous brakes.

Recently I noticed if the brakes were operated in relatively quick succession in situations like heavy stop/start traffic, after about the fourth or fifth time the brakes were operated the power assistance seemed to disappear completely and the brake pedal go really hard.

If you didn't have to use the brakes for a minute or so they reverted to normal power assisted boost until it was necessary to operate them again in quick succession where, once again, the pedal would go hard.

It frightened the life out of me the first time it happened but, after a bit of experimenting I found if I put my foot on the brake pedal and gently pushed it down - no matter for how long - the vehicle always seemed to have power assisted braking.

Could it be the vacuum chamber in the power brake unit is being restricted somehow or other (does it have a breather?) and is therefore not able to recover the vacuum assisted boost as quickly as it should?

Any help to rectify this problem would be appreciated.

Post by **billofdurham** » 24 Jan 2008, 11:28

Check the condition of the vacuum hose fitted to the booster. The last time this happened to me, on my 240, the hose was old and starting to collapse as vacuum was applied. The symptoms were identical.

A new hose quickly sorted it.

Bill.

Volgrrr · Post by **Volgrrr** » 24 Jan 2008, 16:00

billofdurham wrote:Check the condition of the vacuum hose fitted to the booster. The last time this happened to me, on my 240, the hose was old and starting to collapse as vacuum was applied. The symptoms were identical.

A new hose quickly sorted it.

Bill.

Thanks Bill,

Your sound knowledge of Volvos and willingness to assist others with their particular problem is very much appreciated.