checking brake vacuum, how?

[Jacques]

Hi all,

I think I am a bit down on vacum assist on the brakes, so how can I as a private owner, not having Lotus test tools, look into this?

I tried a  friends Esprit with same setup, and it does not a tall require as high a pressure on the brake pedal, for same amount of braking.

I should mention, that the car does brake, just not as lightly as I want.

The vacum for the heater/Cold air flop Works fine, and the Little White plastic one way valve also Works. I want to keep the original system.

Kind regards,

Jacques

[Escape]

Put a vacuum gauge in the line to the servo and compare with the other Esprit. Could be a worn vacuum pump.

[CarBuff]

Jacques,

 

 

If your '90 SE has the Delco ABS, you don't have (or need) any vacuum. It uses a pump for assist, and an accumulator to maintain it.

Edited April 24, 2018 by CarBuff
spelling

[CHANGES]

1989-90 SE's  were vac pump and servo.....  a much better system than the later Delco crap..   ( personal view )

[Barrykearley]

I’d second that 👍

[CarBuff]

I always understood the 89.5 SE was the UNICORN in that it had no airbag fitted and the 'traditional' brakes.

That said, my '88 has a Low Vacuum switch that lights the BRAKE telltale on the dash if you have too much of a leak.  IIRC the spec is 18 hg or something like that with the car running.

 

You can use a hand vacuum pump/brake bleeder as below to see if the system holds vacuum. A convenient (<--- relative term, it's an ESPRIT after all) place to check is the Y connector by the RH quarter window.  (Block off the connection to the engine and HVAC and see if the vacuum holds)

 

If the vacuum doesn't hold, another likely fault is a split T on the large vacuum hose (under the car, near the crankshaft pulley).  I've seen hard to discover cracks twice, there.

[Jacques]

I have no abs, thank God, so vacum pump and servo. So what kind of meter to use?

 

Jacques

[CarBuff]

Sorry forgot the Link, doing three things at once today...  It's just a picture. Mighty-Vac is the 'name brand'.  For vacuum testing, you hook the pump directly to a vacuum line (the bottle is for brake bleeding).

 

https://www.amazon.com/HFS-Brake-Bleeder-Vacuum-Tuner/dp/B00NP60URE/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_263_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=P4A05EDR8APSE537PE08

 

Edited April 24, 2018 by CarBuff
additional Info

[Escape]

59 minutes ago, CarBuff said:

I always understood the 89.5 SE was the UNICORN in that it had no airbag fitted and the 'traditional' brakes.

Both my '89 and '90 SE had vacuum assisted brakes without ABS, no airbag and no PAS. And I like it that way! Maybe US spec added the airbag before other markets. There is indeed a low vacuum switch connected to the brake tell tale light. Only car I know that has one of those. Came in handy when one of the vacuum pipes worked lose when I had the engine out.

[bogle]

Hey Jacques,

Heads up only.

Double check your vacuum pump bracket while you're in there.  Reason why is because mine cracked which caused my water pump belt to go slack and boom goes the coolant.  I have unfortunately ABS so my vacuum pump is only controlling the heater/cold flap at the moment.  I've disabled the EBPV and throttle jack (think vacuum pump controls these as well).   Had to weld the bracket back together since we were unsuccessful sourcing a replacement bracket.

Edited April 24, 2018 by bogle

[Chillidoggy]

1 hour ago, Barrykearley said:

I’d second that 👍

I'd third it.

[bogle]

1 minute ago, Chillidoggy said:

I'd third it.

Mark me down as number 4.  Not a Delco ABS fan.

[Sparky]

I've heard a rumour that an excellent replacement system is soon to be available..?

[Barrykearley]

I’ve heard that - apparently it’s superb - won’t go obsolete - and - here’s the big thing - it’s works really really well

[Sparky]

Wow!  Take my money, even though I don't need one.  Who can I speak with about this?

[Chillidoggy]

Ahem.......

[Barrykearley]

54 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Wow!  Take my money, even though I don't need one.  Who can I speak with about this?

You need to discus with the specialist agents !! 

[Chillidoggy]

Margate Exotics.

[Sparky]

What's that name again? 

[CHANGES]

MARGATE EXOTICS             are you going deaf     

[Barrykearley]

It’s available through 3 licensed resellers only 👍 

[Jacques]

Well, that thing is nearly ready to go on the market and it's being done by Yasou here in Denmark. I am sure he can chime in on the matter. I saw the prototype just a couple of days ago. Electric vacuum pump (come in two sizes), small one Work for up to 600 hours rating. Big one double. And he also made the wireing, relays, fuses, bracketry in light weight aluminium, suspended in small rubbers etc. And the hydraulic steering can replace the former belt driven vacuum pump instead. Hydraulic steering: retro-popular it seems at the mo.

Kind regards,

jacques

 

Atwell: I cannot make the link Work.

So could this kit do the job?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vacuum-tester-brake-bleeder-device-kit-vacuum-pump-set-car-motorbike/272618022926?hash=item3f794ce80e:g:J7YAAOSw4A5Y2htK

[Sparky]

Hey Jacques!

That will work, but they can be very flimsy and not too accurate.  Search for "Mityvac" - more expensive but outstanding quality.

[Jacques]

Hear you, but looking at fleabay, I can only see them from say USA. I'd like to get it from germany or the uk, so postage is nill in comparison and to doubl e up prices on import tax...

Is it important which model? 4000,7000,8000?

jacques

[CarBuff]

Yes  Mity-Vac is the name brand that I like, too. I'm sure you can source one close by.