Brakes and Swivel Questions

Tomoke24New Member
Hi all,

Just joined on here, currently have a TD5 defender (no abs) behind enemy lines on the continent.

Hope someone can help with a couple of things. Brakes very unresponsive, like there is no brake booster. This is the same even after changing to a new servo. Seems like there is a vacuum in there as I could really feel the resistance when I pulled out the vacuum inlet tube thing, followed by a noise of pressure equalisation. What would be next to check?

My second question is about the swivel system. I've just changed the seal that keeps all the lubricant in (black heavy plastic) and filled up the system. With the kit there was a replacement part that acts as a plug for the lube as well as a connection to the brake pipes. The new one has a hole in it. Is it ok to leave this open? The original had no hole, I've just jammed in a plastic stopper and used sealant to keep it in place. Is that ok?

Thanks,
Tom

Tomoke24 said:

Tomoke24New Member

Hope someone can help with a couple of things. Brakes very unresponsive, like there is no brake booster. This is the same even after changing to a new servo. Seems like there is a vacuum in there as I could really feel the resistance when I pulled out the vacuum inlet tube thing, followed by a noise of pressure equalisation. What would be next to check?

Click to expand...

By "unresponsive" do you mean they don't work? Or need a lot of effort to work? If the latter, I had the same problem and changed the easy bit first, like you. When that didn't work a new vacuum pump solved the problem. Difficult to judge what you say is real "resistance", but if the braking effort doesn't change when you disconnect the vacuum hose, I'd suspect the pump.

Can't comment on the swivel question - my Defender's a bit older than yours and I don't know if the systems are the same.

I think you may be talking about the upper swivel pin, is it held on with two bolts? If so that is not where you fill the swivel, there should be a 1/2in square headed plug about 3/4 way up the swivel, that is the fill point. Also don't fill the swivel, there is a set amount of grease that goes in there, the level should be about 1/2 way up. I think the hole you are talking about may be for an ABS sensor, if you don't have ABS then plug the hole of put the old one back on if it is ok.

You don't say which end of the vacuum hose you disconnected, but hoses can collapse internally and effectively block themselves. Should be able to feel it by squeezing when the engine is running.