Hi all, I have a problem with the brakes on my FD.

Recently, about the last 3 out of 5 times iv driven it, I have had no brakes for the first 10-20 seconds or so after startup...
After a few seconds of the car being on, the brakes go back to normal.
When they are not working it feels like im trying to use the brakes with the car turned off, and although it returns to normal quickly after startup it dosent exactly instil confidence!

Looking in the engine bay the brake booster hose looks a little old, there is some minor cracking - cant tell if it goes right through or not...
Would the brake booster hose likley cause my problem?
cheers

 

yes.

there is a check valve in that hose, which also could be bad.

 

^^^ Absolutely correct. Best place to start looking, and by far the most likely culprit(s). Fortunately, they are also dirt cheap and easy repairs.

Good luck. And please post back with the results...






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Vacuum pukes on a large diaphragm inside the brake booster that helps pull the master cylinder. Ide say that's def your prob.

 

I replaced the brake booster hose the other day- havent had the problem since.

 

Make sure you replaced both hoses. It was a recall. Originally the one right off the manifold had the check valve. The recall replaced that hose with just a open hose and moved the check valve to the hose off the brake booster.